Blocked drains, North Shore
Toilet or drain backing up?
Toilet filling to the top, water coming up through the shower, or a smell from the yard. We clear it, put a camera down so you can see what caused it, and price it on the spot. Same day in most cases.
- Same day in most cases
- Priced on the spot for every choke
- Camera footage shown to you
- Since 2007 on the North Shore
Backing up right now?
Stop using the toilets, showers and sinks, and ask everyone in the house to do the same. Every flush adds to what is coming back up. Do not pour drain cleaner in: it rarely shifts a real blockage and it makes the job harder for whoever opens the drain. Then ring us on 9904 3074.
We come out the same day in most cases. Outside office hours we can still come, for an after-hours fee.
Sound familiar?
- "The toilet fills right to the top, then slowly drains away." The line is mostly blocked. One more flush and it can come over the rim.
- "Water comes up through the shower when we flush." The blockage is further down, past where the shower joins the line.
- "The gully in the yard is overflowing, and it smells." The sewer is backed up to the overflow point. Often tree roots.
- "It keeps blocking, even after someone cleared it." Clearing is not repairing. If a joint has opened or a pipe has broken, it will block again until that is fixed.
What happens if you leave it
A blocked drain does not clear itself. Wastewater backs up into the house or spills into the yard and under the floor, and that is a health risk as well as a mess.
Roots keep growing into the joint, so a partial blockage becomes a full one, and a cracked pipe can collapse. The repair gets bigger the longer it waits.
How it goes
Cleared, shown, priced
- Ring us. Tell us which fixtures are backing up. That tells us roughly where the blockage is before we arrive.
- We come out. The same day in most cases. We find the inspection opening and the boundary trap.
- We clear it. A small jet head opens the drain without damaging old pipework.
- You see the cause. A camera goes down the line and you watch the screen with us. Roots, a cracked pipe, a sag in the line, or something that should not have gone down there. If it needs a repair, you get the price on the spot.
Clear it or fix it? A straight answer
If the camera shows a sound pipe, clearing the drain is the whole job. You pay for the clear and you are done.
If a joint has opened, roots are through the pipe or a section has broken, it will block again however well it is cleared. We show you on the screen and price the repair: relining from the inside, or digging out and replacing the section, with the reasons for each. You decide.
What we clear
- Blocked toilets
- Sinks, basins, showers and laundry tubs
- Sewer lines and boundary traps
- Stormwater drains and pits
- Tree roots in the line
Before you book
What people ask us
What will it cost?
Every choke is priced on the spot, before we start, and you decide. If it needs a repair, you get that price too, with the camera footage behind it.
Will it just block again?
Not if we have found the cause. That is what the camera is for. If it is likely to block again, we tell you why and what fixes it.
Will you dig up the yard?
Usually not. Most blockages are cleared through the inspection opening. If a pipe needs repairing, relining from the inside often avoids digging at all.
Will you leave a mess?
No. The area is cleaned up and anything that came out of the drain goes with us.
Drains on the North Shore since 2007
Our job records run from 2016. Since then we have cleared more than 2,500 blocked drains. Licenced plumbers, contractor licence 227192C.
What customers say
Our go to plumber! Blocked drain very quickly and efficiently fixed. And they are a delight to deal with. Highly recommended!
Jeni O'Dowd, Google reviewSTS Plumbing were quick to respond when our kitchen sink backed up unexpectedly. The plumber arrived on time, explained the problem clearly, and fixed it efficiently.
Sarah J., ForestvilleSTS Plumbing solved our drain problem quickly and professionally. The plumber explained everything clearly and left our home spotless. Highly recommended.
Helen S., ChatswoodDrain backing up? Ring us.
Tell us what is backing up. We clear it, show you the cause on the camera and price it on the spot. Same day in most cases.
From our blog
Worth a read
Signs of a blocked drain
The smells, gurgles and slow drains that tell you a blockage is on the way.
Read itHow to unblock a drain safely
What you can safely try at home, and when it is time to ring a plumber.
Read itThe truth about $99 blocked drain deals
Why the cheap clear so often turns into a bigger bill, and what a proper job includes.
Read itCommon questions about blocked drains
How do I know if I have a blocked drain?
The early signs are a smell you cannot place, a gurgle when the toilet flushes or the sink empties, water going down slower than it used to, or a toilet that fills to the top and then creeps away. Outside, it is water pooling near a gully or a patch of lawn that stays soggy. None of those fix themselves.
What causes a blocked drain?
Around here it is usually tree roots. The older streets are on clay pipe laid in short lengths, and a root only needs a hairline gap at a joint. After that it is what goes down the drain: wipes, hair, cooking fat and food scraps. Sometimes the pipe itself has cracked, collapsed or lost its fall, and then no amount of clearing will hold.
Can you clear it on the first visit?
Usually, yes. Most blockages are cleared the day we get there. If what we find is a broken pipe rather than a blockage, we will show you on the camera and price the repair rather than keep charging you to clear the same line.
Why do you put a camera down the drain?
So you can see what was actually in there instead of taking our word for it. If the pipe is sound, jetting is the whole job and you know it. If a joint has opened up or a section has collapsed, you see that on the screen before anyone talks about digging.
My drain keeps blocking even after it has been cleared. Why?
Because clearing a blockage is not repairing a pipe. If a joint has opened or a section has failed, roots and debris find it again within months however well it was jetted. A camera run tells you which of the two you have, and it is worth doing before you pay for a fourth clear.
Is a cheap drain clean worth it?
A ninety-nine dollar drain clean buys you a quick poke at the blockage with no camera, no cause and no fix. The drain blocks again and you pay twice. We would rather find out what is wrong the first time.
Do you do call outs after hours?
Our office is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. We do call outs outside those hours for a fee. Ring us and we will tell you honestly what it usually means and when we can be there.
Are you licenced and insured?
Yes. STS Plumbing Co Pty Ltd holds NSW licence 227192C and carries insurance, and the blokes who turn up are our own team, not subcontracted labour.
Word gets around
Neighbours telling neighbours. Give us a call and spread the word.
Would rather not ring?
Send a photo of what is happening and the suburb you are in. If it is overflowing now, ring us rather than send the form.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.