Blocked drains in Maroubra: a local guide for homeowners and unit owners

The detailed guide

Clay pipes and tree roots: why older Maroubra homes block

Much of Maroubra's housing dates from the middle decades of last century, and many of those homes still drain through their original vitrified clay pipes. Clay is durable, but it was laid in short lengths, and the joints between them are the weak point. As the ground settles, joints open slightly and the mortar or rubber seals break down.

Tree roots are attracted to the moisture and nutrients inside a sewer line. A hairline gap is all a fine root needs. Once inside, it grows into a mat that catches toilet paper, wipes and grease until the drain blocks. Clearing the roots restores flow, but they'll grow back through the same gap. That's why a drain that blocks every year or two is usually a sign of a damaged joint rather than bad luck.

Sandy coastal soil, common across Maroubra, can also move around pipes over time, and it doesn't always support old pipework as well as firmer ground. Add in mature trees in back yards and along streets, and you've got the classic recipe for root intrusion.

Who's responsible: you or Sydney Water?

This is one of the most common questions we get. According to Sydney Water, it owns and maintains the main wastewater system, including the junction where your pipe joins its sewer. The property owner is responsible for their own private pipework, up to and including their connection to Sydney Water's system (the point of connection). That usually includes the section of pipe running under your yard, and in many cases part of the line beyond your boundary.

• Your pipes, your responsibility. Blockages and damage in your private sewer pipes, including root removal at your point of connection, are generally the property owner's to fix.
• Sydney Water's main. If the blockage is in Sydney Water's main sewer, it's Sydney Water's job. A tell-tale sign is when several neighbouring properties are affected at once, or wastewater is overflowing from a maintenance hole in the street.
• Junction damage. Sydney Water says that if roots damage the junction itself, it may repair it at no cost, although the owner may still need to pay to expose it. Sydney Water also asks that no excavation happens without its approval if you expect it to cover costs.

In strata buildings, the drains serving the whole building are usually common property, which makes them the owners corporation's responsibility. Pipes serving a single lot can be treated differently depending on the scheme's by-laws, so check with your strata manager. For rentals, tenants should report blockages to their landlord or agent.

Rules and details can change, so if you're unsure, check Sydney Water's website or ask us. A camera inspection is often the quickest way to show exactly where a blockage sits.

What to do before you call a plumber

1. Stop using water. Stop flushing toilets and running taps, the washing machine and the dishwasher. Every litre adds to the backup.
2. Check the overflow relief gully. This is the grated outlet in your yard, usually near the bathroom or laundry. It's designed to let sewage overflow outside rather than inside your home. If it's overflowing or the grate has lifted, the blockage is in the sewer line downstream.
3. Work out what's affected. Is it one sink, or the whole house? A single slow fixture is usually a local blockage. Several fixtures at once points to the main line.
4. Ask your neighbours. If they're having the same problem, it could be Sydney Water's main, so contact Sydney Water.
5. Skip the chemicals. Harsh drain cleaners rarely shift roots or serious blockages, and they can be hazardous for whoever clears the drain next.
6. Keep clear of sewage. Keep kids and pets away from any overflow, and wash hands thoroughly after contact.

When to call a plumber

Call us if more than one fixture is draining slowly, the toilet gurgles or rises when you run other taps, the overflow relief gully is overflowing, you can smell sewage inside or in the yard, or the drain has blocked before. A plunger can sometimes free a single blocked basin, but repeated or whole-house blockages need proper equipment.

We clear drains using high-pressure jetting and root cutting, then use a CCTV camera to check the pipe. If the camera shows cracks or broken joints, pipe relining can seal them from the inside without digging up your yard. Patch relining is done by our team, and full-length relining is arranged through our specialist relining partner.

Preventing blockages

• Only flush toilet paper. Wet wipes, even 'flushable' ones, don't break down like paper.
• Wipe greasy pans with paper towel before washing, and never pour fat or oil down the sink.
• Use sink strainers in the kitchen and hair catchers in the shower.
• Think about where you plant trees and large shrubs, keeping them clear of sewer lines.
• If roots are a recurring problem, ask about a camera inspection and a longer-term fix.