A simple sink or shower blockage usually runs $150 to $300. A toilet blockage is $180 to $350. If it’s the main line or a bigger job, you’re looking at $300 to $800 or more. The honest answer is it depends on where the blockage is and what it takes to clear it, but here’s what actually drives that number so you’re not guessing.
Three things move the cost more than anything else: access, cause, and depth.
If there’s a clear cleanout point I can get a machine or jetter into straight away, that’s the quickest and cheapest job. If I’ve got to work out where the blockage even is first, that adds time.
Tree roots, grease buildup, and old clay or concrete pipes (common in a lot of the older Northern Beaches homes) all take longer to clear than a straightforward soft blockage. And a blockage close to the house is a different job to one further down the line.
A CCTV drain inspection is a camera run through the pipe so I can actually see what’s going on instead of guessing. Usually $200 to $550 depending on how far the camera has to travel and whether you want a written report with footage, or just a verbal rundown of what I found.
If I’m already out for a blockage, I’ll often roll the inspection into the same callout rather than charging it as a separate job; it depends what we find. Worth doing any time a blockage keeps coming back, or before you buy a house with older pipes.
Most sink, shower, and toilet blockages are a straightforward clear with a machine or plunger, no camera needed. If it clears easily and there’s no sign of a bigger issue, that’s the whole job.
If the same drain keeps blocking, or water’s backing up in more than one spot at once, that usually means the problem is further down the line, root intrusion, a collapsed section, or a genuine blockage in the main. That’s when a CCTV inspection earns its keep, because it tells us exactly what we’re dealing with before any digging happens.
A blocked drain quote covers clearing the blockage itself. It doesn’t automatically include pipe repair or replacement if the camera shows the pipe’s actually damaged, that’s a separate conversation once we know what we’re looking at. I’ll always tell you before any extra work happens, not after.
Does insurance cover blocked drains? Sometimes, depending on the cause and your policy. Tree root damage or a collapsed pipe is more likely to be covered than a simple blockage from grease or hair. Worth checking with your insurer if it’s a recurring issue.
How long does a blocked drain job take? A straightforward clear is usually under an hour. If it needs a CCTV inspection first, or the blockage is harder to reach, it can run longer. I’ll give you a realistic timeframe once I’ve had a look.
Can I clear it myself first? For a simple sink or shower, a plunger or drain snake is worth a try before you call anyone. If it’s not clearing, or it’s happened before, that’s usually a sign it’s worth getting looked at properly rather than making it worse.
Plumbing License No. 346 268C
© 2024 Kelly's Plumbing & Drainage, All Rights Reserved.