High-pressure drain jetting in the Eastern Suburbs
When a drain keeps blocking, a plunger or a hire-shop snake only pokes a hole through the problem. A jetter scours the whole pipe wall clean. From our base in Matraville we jet sewer and stormwater lines for homes right across the southern Eastern Suburbs, and before we start you get your options and a fixed price, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Signs your drain needs jetting
The same drain blocks again and again
If a plumber cleared it a few months back and it is slow again already, something is still lining the pipe. Jetting removes the build-up rather than just punching through it.
Gurgling and slow draining
Bubbling in the basin or shower when the washing machine empties is a sign the line is partly choked and air is struggling to get past.
Bad smells from floor wastes
Rotting fat, soap and food sludge stuck to the inside of a pipe gives off a sour, sewer-like smell long before the drain stops altogether.
Water backing up outside
A sewer gully or stormwater pit that overflows after heavy use or rain usually means sand, roots or silt are sitting in the line further down.
How a jetter clears a drain
A drain jetter pushes water at very high pressure through a flexible hose with a special nozzle on the end. Some jets on the nozzle face backwards, which drives the hose forward up the pipe, while the forward jets cut into whatever is blocking it. As the hose is pulled back, the spray scrubs the full circumference of the pipe and flushes the loosened material down to the main.
Different nozzles suit different jobs:
- Sand and silt: a flushing nozzle lifts settled sand off the bottom of the pipe and carries it away, which is common in stormwater lines near the beach.
- Fat and grease: hard kitchen fat that has set like candle wax gets broken up and rinsed out of the sink line.
- Scale and soap: crusty deposits that narrow older pipes can be stripped back so the full bore of the pipe is open again.
- Tree roots: a root-cutting head chops through fine roots that have pushed in through joints, so water can flow freely.
Jetting and the drain camera work together
Clearing a drain without knowing why it blocked is guesswork. That is why we pair jetting with our CCTV drain camera. After the line is flushed, we feed the camera through and watch the pipe on a screen, joint by joint. You can see the footage with us, and we can point out exactly where roots came in, where a joint has dropped or where the pipe is cracked.
If the blockage is unusual, the camera may go in first. Either way you get a clear answer, not a vague promise.
When jetting is enough, and when it isn't
Jetting is the right fix when the pipe itself is sound and the problem is what has built up inside it. Fat, sand, soap scum and light root growth all fall into this group. Once they are gone, the drain should run well.
Jetting will not mend a broken pipe. If the camera shows a cracked clay pipe, joints that have pulled apart, a collapsed section or a heavy root mass forcing its way through a split, the roots will grow back and the blockages will return. In that case we talk you through the repair options, which may be pipe relining to seal the old pipe from the inside, or digging up and replacing a short damaged section. You get the choices, the reasons for each and a fixed price, and you decide what suits your home.
Drain jetting in southern Eastern Suburbs homes
A lot of the older brick and fibro houses in Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar and Botany still have their original clay sewer pipes. Those pipes were laid in short lengths with many joints, and every joint is a spot where roots from a nearby tree can find their way in. Jetting with a root cutter is one of the most common jobs we do in these streets.
The sandy soil across this part of Sydney brings its own trouble. Sand washes into stormwater pits, downpipes and cracked pipes, then settles in low spots until the line chokes. In the newer townhouses around Pagewood and Eastgardens, the pipes are usually PVC, so roots are less of an issue, but kitchen fat and wipes still cause plenty of call-outs. Jetting handles all of these.
Before you call, a few things worth checking
- Find out whether one fixture is slow or several. One slow drain is usually a local blockage; several at once points to the main line.
- Look at your overflow relief gully outside. If it is spilling, stop using water and give us a call.
- Skip the caustic drain cleaners. They rarely shift a real blockage and can be dangerous to the person who opens the pipe next.
Why locals choose us for drain jetting
- Our base is in Matraville, close to most of the southern Eastern Suburbs
- Over 100 five-star reviews on Google
- No-cost quotes on site and a fixed price agreed before we start
- A lifetime warranty on the labour for our workmanship
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters, Lic. 398171C
Common questions
Will drain jetting damage my old pipes?
Jetting is safe for pipes that are in reasonable condition, including older clay. We set the pressure to suit the pipe, and if we suspect a weak or broken section we look with the camera first so we are not jetting blind.
How long does drain jetting take?
Most household jobs take a couple of hours, including the camera check afterwards. A long line or a heavy root blockage can take longer, and we will tell you what to expect once we have seen it.
Is jetting better than using a drain snake?
A snake or electric eel can punch a hole through a blockage, which gets water moving again. A jetter cleans the whole inside wall of the pipe, so the drain is properly cleared and less likely to block again soon.
Can jetting get rid of tree roots for good?
Jetting cuts roots back and clears the pipe, but roots that got in through a crack or loose joint will usually return. A lasting fix means sealing that entry point, which the camera will show us.
Do you jet stormwater lines as well as sewer?
Yes. We jet both. Stormwater lines in sandy areas often fill with sand and leaves, and jetting flushes them clear so rain can drain away from the house again.
Will I see the camera footage?
Yes. We are happy to show you the screen while we inspect, so you can see the inside of your pipe and understand what we are recommending and why.
How do I know if I need relining rather than jetting?
If the camera shows the pipe is cracked, has broken joints or has partly collapsed, jetting alone will not last. We will explain what we found and give you the repair options with a fixed price for each.
Jetting is one part of our blocked drain service. You might also find our pages on CCTV drain inspection, pipe relining and blocked toilets useful. We jet drains for homes in Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar and Botany.
Want to know more first? Read our free guide to tree roots in pipes, which explains how roots get in and what you can do about them.