Blocked Drains in the Blue Mountains

Why Mountains drains block

Mature gums, ferns and big gardens are what make the Mountains special, and they are hard on drains.

• Tree roots push into joints in older clay and earthenware pipes and grow into a mat that catches everything.
• Leaf litter clogs gutters, downpipes and surface drains, then overflows against the house.
• Ageing pipes in older cottages crack, sag and collect debris.
• Steep blocks mean fast, heavy runoff in storms that can overwhelm stormwater pits.

What we do

• Clear kitchen sinks, laundry drains, showers and toilets
• Clear blocked sewer lines with a drain machine or high-pressure water jetting
• Camera inspection, so you see what is in the pipe and where
• Cut roots and advise on repair if the pipe is damaged
• Clear stormwater drains, pits and downpipes

We start with the simplest fix that works. Not every blockage needs a machine, and not every slow drain means a major repair.

Your drain or Sydney Water's?

In most Blue Mountains towns, Sydney Water owns the sewer main in the street or in an easement at the back. The pipe from your house to that main is your responsibility.

If sewage is overflowing from a gully trap or manhole in your yard, the blockage may be in your line or in the main. Sydney Water has a number to report main problems and deals with main blockages itself. If you are unsure, call us. We can tell you which side of the boundary the problem is on.

Some properties are not on sewer and use a septic or pump-out system instead. That is a different job. Tell us when you call.

Is it a blockage or something bigger?

One slow fixture is usually a local blockage. If several fixtures are slow at once, or a toilet gurgles when you run the washing machine, the main line is the likely problem.

A camera inspection is worth it if blockages keep returning. It shows whether you have roots, a collapsed section, a belly in the pipe (a low spot where water sits) or just build-up. Then you choose a fix with the facts in front of you.

Repeat blockages in the same spot within weeks almost always mean a pipe problem, not bad luck.

What to do while you wait

• Stop using water in the house if toilets or showers are backing up
• Do not pour chemical drain cleaners into a fully blocked drain. They sit in the pipe and make the job harder and less safe
• Keep children and pets away from any overflow
• Take a photo of where water is surfacing so we can see it

Keeping drains clear

Keep gutters and downpipes free of leaf litter, especially after autumn and before storm season. Do not flush wipes, even those labelled flushable. Put fats in the bin, not the sink.

If you have a large tree near your sewer line, ask us about a camera check every year or two. It costs less than a dug-up yard.

For more on drains, see blockeddrainsbluemountains.com.au.