Blocked Drains Adelaide
A blocked drain is more than an inconvenience — left alone it can cause overflowing gullies, sewage smells and water damage. As Adelaide's blocked drain specialists, we don't just clear the symptom; we find the cause with CCTV and fix it properly.
$0 call out fee. During normal business hours only. After-hours work excluded. Terms apply.
5.0· 23Read our Google reviews
“When you call Dowell, I want you to feel confident about who’s coming to your home and how we’ll help. We take the time to find the cause. We explain what needs doing and give you a clear price before you decide. Then we get on with the work, leave things tidy and follow up afterwards.”
Ash Dowell — Owner, Dowell Plumbing
Why choose Dowell?
Licensed & insured
Your home is in qualified hands. Licensed plumbing and gas work, carried out with care.
Clear, upfront pricing
Know the cost before you commit. We explain your options and quote the work—so you stay in control.
Local & owner-led
A real person behind the promise. Ash owns Dowell and takes pride in the work we put our name to.
Same-day service
Need it sorted today? Call us. We’ll check availability and tell you when we can get there.
Find the cause. Fix it properly.
We look beyond the obvious problem to recommend a lasting solution.
Your home gets proper care.
We protect the work area, clean up afterwards and treat your home with respect.
Blocked Drains services
- Drain Camera InspectionsYou can't fix what you can't see.
- Hydro JettingHydro jetting is the most thorough way to clear a drain.
- Pipe ReliningPipe relining repairs suitable damaged drains from the inside, often avoiding extensive excavation.
- Blocked Sewer & StormwaterA blocked sewer or stormwater line is one of the most urgent plumbing problems a home can face — overflowing gullies, gurgling toilets and sewage backing up inside.
What happens when you book with Dowell
Tell us what's happening
Call us or request a callback online. We'll discuss what you need and confirm a suitable time to visit.
We assess the problem
We'll call about 20 minutes before arrival, then inspect the issue and explain your options in plain English.
You approve the price
We explain what needs doing and give you a clear price before you decide.
We get it sorted
We complete the agreed work, tidy the work area and follow up afterwards to check how everything's going.
Book online
Tell us what’s happening. We’ll call to discuss the job and confirm a time.
From a slow bathroom sink to a completely blocked main sewer line, our team arrives with high-pressure jetting equipment and drain cameras to get your drains flowing fast — with upfront pricing and free onsite quotes with a $0 call-out fee and no obligation to proceed.
Blocked drain clearing and repairs
CCTV camera inspections
We send a waterproof camera down the line to pinpoint the exact location and cause of a blockage — roots, collapse, grease or foreign objects — so you only pay for the repair you actually need.
High-pressure hydro jetting
Hydro jetting blasts away grease, sludge and root intrusion, restoring the full diameter of the pipe. It's far more effective and longer-lasting than a traditional drain snake for recurring blockages.
Pipe relining & sewer repairs
Damaged or root-affected pipes can often be relined without digging up your garden — a durable, cost-effective fix backed by our 20-Year Workmanship Warranty* on eligible work.
Signs you have a blocked drain
Most blockages show themselves before they become an emergency. Look out for water draining slowly, a gurgling toilet, wastewater rising in the shower or laundry when you flush, or a bad smell around gullies and floor wastes.
Where the problem shows up is a clue to where it sits. A single slow fixture usually points to a local blockage, while several fixtures backing up at once suggests the main line is affected.
How we find the cause
We confirm what's actually going on with a CCTV drain camera rather than guessing. The camera shows the exact location, depth and cause — roots, grease, a foreign object or a collapsed section.
A camera inspection is included in every blocked-drain job at no additional charge, so you can see the problem for yourself and only pay for the repair you actually need.
Your options to clear and repair it
For a straightforward clog we clear the line and confirm flow. For grease build-up, sludge or fine roots, hydro jetting scours the pipe wall-to-wall for a longer-lasting result than a drain snake.
If the camera shows a cracked, root-affected or sagging pipe, we'll talk you through pipe relining (a no-dig repair) or, for a main-line problem, sewer and stormwater clearing and repair.
What affects the price
Every drain is different, so we quote after we've seen it. The main factors are the severity and location of the blockage, how easy the pipe is to access, its depth, and whether the line simply needs clearing or also needs a repair.
You'll always get an upfront, fixed price before any work starts, with free onsite quotes and a $0 call-out fee — no obligation to proceed. Terms apply.
What happens after you book
Booking online sends us a request — we'll contact you to confirm a time that suits. A licensed plumber arrives, inspects the drain with the camera, explains what they've found and gives you a clear price before starting.
Once you approve, we clear the blockage and, where needed, carry out the repair and re-camera the line so you can see it's genuinely clear.
What a drain camera can reveal
Images from a drain camera inspection showing different sections of the pipe.
Price guide
Indicative pricing for common blocked-drain work in Adelaide. The right method depends on the cause, so these are starting ranges.
| Job | Price guide |
|---|---|
| Minor one-fixture blockage | $99–$285+ |
| Main-line hydro jetting | $320–$600+ |
| Complex or recurring blockage | $320–$1,000+ |
A drain camera inspection is included with every paid blocked-drain service.
Dowell uses hydro jetting for drain-line clearing, assessing the pipe condition first. Minor fixture clearing is separate from main-line jetting. Any pipe repairs are quoted separately.
Guide prices. We’ll confirm your quote on site before you decide.
Blocked drain questions answered
Why do my drains keep blocking?
Recurring blockages almost always point to an underlying cause rather than a one-off clog. The most common culprits in Adelaide homes are tree roots entering pipe joints, a build-up of fat and grease, or a partial pipe collapse or misalignment.
Read the full guideHydro jetting vs drain snake: which is better?
A drain snake (electric eel) punches a hole through a blockage, which is great for a quick clear but leaves grease and debris clinging to the pipe walls. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the entire inside of the pipe, removing roots, grease and sludge.
Read the full guideHow much does pipe relining cost?
Pipe relining cost depends on the length and diameter of the damaged section, access, and the condition of the existing pipe. Because it avoids excavation, it's often more cost-effective than dig-and-replace once you factor in restoring landscaping and paving.
Read the full guideCan tree roots break sewer pipes?
Yes — tree roots are one of the leading causes of sewer damage. Roots seek out moisture and nutrients and enter through tiny cracks or joints, then expand as they grow, eventually cracking or blocking the pipe.
Read the full guideRelated services
Servicing the greater Adelaide metropolitan area. See areas
Save $55 when you book online
Book online and your eligible discount is applied to your booking.
One offer per job. We’ll apply your best eligible saving. Offer terms.