How Much Does Blocked Drain Clearing Cost in Adelaide?
Blocked-drain clearing starts from $99. See Dowell’s price guide for minor, moderate and complex blockages, what is included and what affects your quote.
Quick answer
Blocked-drain clearing starts from $99 for a minor single-fixture blockage. More involved clearing commonly falls within the ranges below, depending on the cause, access and equipment needed.
A drain camera inspection is included with every paid blocked-drain service.
Blocked-drain clearing price guide
Here’s a guide to our blocked-drain clearing prices. We’ll confirm your quote after inspecting the problem.
| Type of blockage | Price guide | What this can involve |
|---|---|---|
| Minor / single fixture | $99 – $200+ | Hair or food scraps close to a sink or basin outlet, or a simple toilet obstruction, cleared using basic hand tools. |
| Standard / moderate blockage | $150 – $350+ | Debris further along the drain, cleared using a motorised electric drain machine (plumber’s eel). |
| Severe / main-line blockage | $320 – $600+ | Heavy grease build-up or tree-root intrusion requiring high-pressure hydro jetting. |
| Complex / recurring blockage | $320 – $1,000+ | More involved fault-finding and clearing where access, recurring blockages or suspected pipe damage make the job more complex. |
The higher range reflects the complexity of the work—not an extra charge simply for including a drain camera inspection. Pipe repairs are quoted separately.
What changes the price?
The main things are:
- Getting to the drain: Is there an easy opening to work from, or does the plumber need to do more to reach the pipe?
- What's causing it: A small blockage near the sink is a different job from tree roots or heavy build-up.
- Equipment and time: What tools are needed, and how long will it take?
- When you book: Is it during normal hours, or will after-hours charges apply?
If you know which drain is blocked (toilet, kitchen, shower or a stormwater drain), let the plumber know.
What should the quote include?
Compare the whole job, not just the first price you see. Ask for the work and any limits in writing.
Check whether the price includes:
- Call-out costs, labour, equipment and GST.
- How much time is included, and what extra time costs.
- A drain camera inspection.
- The camera footage or a written report.
- What happens if the blockage can't be cleared.
If more work is needed, the plumber should explain it and get your OK first. A "no call-out fee" offer doesn't always mean the inspection or repairs are free.
Is a drain camera inspection included? 🎥
A drain camera inspection is included with every paid blocked-drain service.
A drain camera lets us see inside the pipe on a screen. It can help show why the drain blocked, such as roots, a crack or a build-up, so you're not just paying to clear the same blockage again and again.
Not every plumber includes this in their price, so it's worth asking when you compare quotes.
A camera can't always see everything. The pipe may need to be cleared first, and the camera may not get past a heavy blockage or badly damaged section. We'll tell you what we could see and what we couldn't.
Does clearing include fixing the pipe?
Finding a damaged pipe doesn't mean the repair is included in the clearing price. You should get a separate explanation and quote before any extra work starts.
Repairs might mean digging, replacing a section of pipe or putting a new lining inside the old pipe. Putting paving or garden beds back afterwards can also affect the cost.
If the problem might be in SA Water's pipes, check its sewer blockages and overflows guide. Having a tree nearby doesn't decide who pays for the repair.
How do you compare two quotes fairly?
One quote might cover clearing only. Another might include clearing, a drain camera inspection and a report. The cheaper price doesn't tell you which is better value until you compare what's included.
For repair quotes, also ask about taking away rubbish and fixing any paving or garden that gets dug up. Check what any guarantee covers: the work, the parts, or a future blockage.
Need a hand? 👋
Tell us which drains are blocked, whether anything is overflowing and whether it's happened before. Photos taken from a safe spot and any old reports can help, although we may still need to visit.
⚠️ If dirty water is coming back up, stop using that toilet, sink or shower and keep clear. Don't go near sewage or lift heavy drain covers just to take a photo.
We help homes across Greater Metropolitan Adelaide with blocked drain clearing. We'll explain the work and the price before we start.
📅 Book online or 📞 call (08) 7534 5448
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