Blocked drain plumber Melbourne

Got a blocked drain? Joniec Plumbing clears blocked drains across south east Melbourne, 24 hours a day. We are a family owned, licensed and insured plumber with more than 600 five-star reviews. We find the real cause, clear the blockage, and help stop it coming back. No mess, no guesswork, and an upfront fixed price before we start further work. Call 1300 575 862 for same day blocked drain help, or use the contact form.

This sits under our residential plumbing work for homes, and under plumbing for home owners if you own the property. Larger site drains belong with commercial drainage. If sewage is coming back or water is uncontrolled, treat it as 24/7 emergency plumbing. A burst water line is a different job and sits on burst pipes.

Signs you have a blocked drain

• Sinks, showers or the bath draining slowly
• Gurgling sounds from drains or the toilet, as air is pushed back because water cannot flow forward freely
• Wastewater backing up, or overflowing at the outside relief gully or toilet
• Foul, sewer-like smells coming from drains
• Damp patches or pooling water that will not dry out around drains or in the yard
• Several fixtures slow or backing up at once, which usually points to a main sewer line blockage

What causes blocked drains in Melbourne homes?

• Tree roots, the most common cause of serious sewer blockages, especially in the older clay pipes common across established Melbourne suburbs
• Fats, oils and grease that go down warm then set hard and trap food scraps, the leading cause of kitchen drain blockages
• Hair tangled with soap scum in showers and bathroom drains
• Foreign objects and non-flushables, including sanitary products, nappies, cotton buds and wet wipes (even wipes labelled flushable do not break down like toilet paper, so they belong in the bin)
• Ageing clay or earthenware pipes that crack, misalign or collapse and let tree roots in
• Gradual build up of grease, scale and sediment that narrows the pipe over the years

How we clear your blocked drain

We use a CCTV drain camera to find the cause and exact location of the blockage. On a heavily blocked line we clear a path first, then run the camera through to confirm the drain is clear and check the condition of the pipe. We clear the blockage with the right tool for the job: high pressure water jetting to blast away grease, tree roots and debris and scour the pipe walls clean, or an electric drain machine (electric eel) with a rotating cutting head to cut through tough blockages and roots and reopen the drain. We then show you the footage and give you an upfront, fixed price for any repair before we carry it out.

Blocked drain pipe repair and relining Melbourne

If the camera shows a cracked, broken or root-damaged pipe, we can often repair it with pipe relining, which forms a new pipe inside the old one with no digging. Severely collapsed pipes, or pipes with several major breaks, may not suit relining and can need excavation. We confirm which option suits your pipe after the inspection and quote it upfront. There is no separate relining page on this site yet, so that decision starts with the camera inspection above.

Types of blocked drains we clear

• Sewer and sanitary drains
• Stormwater and outdoor drains
• Kitchen and sink drains
• Toilet blockages
• Shower and bathroom drains
• Agricultural (ag pipe) subsoil drains

Blocked drain repair cost in Melbourne

The cost to clear a blocked drain depends on where the blockage is, what is causing it, and how easy the drain is to reach. A simple clear is quicker, while tree roots or a collapsed pipe take more work. That is why we give you an upfront, fixed price before we start further work, once we have seen the problem. We do not charge by the hour after that quote, and we do not add a surprise call-out on top of what we have already explained.

Blocked drain FAQs

How much does a plumber cost to unblock a drain in Melbourne?

It depends on the cause and location of the blockage. Before attending, we will clearly explain the initial cost for the first half-hour. During this time, we will aim to make the situation safe, prevent further damage where possible, and assess the cause of the problem. As every plumbing issue is different, an accurate quote may not be possible until we have inspected the job and determined whether additional work or parts are required. We will discuss our findings, explain the available options, and provide a quote before carrying out any further work.

Can a plumber fix a blocked drain?

Yes. A licensed plumber can clear the blockage and, using a CCTV camera, find and repair the underlying cause, such as tree roots or a broken pipe, so it does not keep happening.

How long does it take to clear a blocked drain?

Many simple household blockages are cleared within the hour, though tougher blockages or those needing a camera inspection can take longer. We give you a clear idea once we have seen the problem. We will not invent an arrival window just to win the job.

What is the 135 rule in plumbing?

The “135 rule” is a North American plumbing term, not an Australian one, so you will see it a lot online but it is not part of the Australian standard. It comes from the US Uniform Plumbing Code, which requires an access point (cleanout) wherever a horizontal drain line builds up more than a combined total of 135 degrees of change in direction, for example one 90 degree turn plus one 45. It is often summed up as “use gentle bends instead of sharp 90s,” and that part is sound practice we follow too: sharp right angle turns slow waste down and catch grease, hair and debris, while gentle, swept bends keep things flowing. The key point for Melbourne homeowners is that the 135 rule itself does not apply here. In Victoria we work to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500.2, which sets its own requirements for inspection openings and changes of direction rather than a “135 rule.” That work is overseen through the Victorian Building Authority. Treat it as a handy general principle, not a local code requirement.

Do you offer emergency blocked drain service?

Yes, we clear blocked drains 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across south east Melbourne. Call 1300 575 862 and let us know the address, the nature of the issue, and whether the water has been isolated. We will check whether a plumber on our current roster is available and let you know promptly. After-hours jobs also sit on the 24/7 emergency plumbing page.

How do I book a blocked drain plumber?

Call us on 1300 575 862 and let us know the address, the nature of the issue, and whether the water has been isolated. We will check whether a plumber on our current roster is available and let you know promptly.

Before attending, we will clearly explain the initial cost for the first half-hour. During this time, we will aim to make the situation safe, prevent further damage where possible, and assess the cause of the problem.

As every plumbing issue is different, an accurate quote may not be possible until we have inspected the job and determined whether additional work or parts are required. We will discuss our findings, explain the available options, and provide a quote before carrying out any further work.

We treat every job with the same care and consideration we would give our own home or a family member’s, always looking for a practical solution while keeping costs reasonable. Our goal is to leave you completely satisfied and confident in calling us again, or recommending us to others. You can also use the contact form if it is not urgent.

Blocked drain? Call Joniec Plumbing now on 1300 575 862 for same day service across south east Melbourne, or request a free quote through the contact form.