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Drain unblocking
Blocked drain clearing in Wellington and the Hutt Valley
Efficient clearing of residential sewer lines, stormwater drains, slow sinks, gurgling pipes and overflowing gully traps. Most blockages are cleared on the first visit.
At a glance
1 to 2 hours
Typical time on site
$95 per hour
Plus travel, excl GST
24/7
Available for overflows
Signs of a blockage
If you are seeing any of these, call before it overflows
Slow drains
Sinks, showers or the bath emptying slower than they used to.
Foul smells
A drain or sewer smell inside, or around the gully trap outside.
Gurgling pipes
Air moving past a partial blockage, often heard when the toilet flushes.
Water pooling
Wet ground or standing water near the drains or downpipes.
Overflowing gully trap
Treat this as urgent. It means the main line is blocked.
How we clear it
Cleared first, then we find out why it happened
Clearing a blockage is the easy part. The value is in knowing whether it will come back, so you are not paying for the same visit twice a year.
Step 01
Locate the blockage
We check the fixtures and the gully traps to work out whether it is one fixture or the main line.
Step 02
Clear it mechanically
We clear the line safely, using the right tools for the job to break up the blockage and restore full flow. No harsh chemicals poured down your pipes.
Step 03
Camera the line if it repeats
If the blockage is severe or keeps coming back, we can organise a CCTV camera inspection through a specialist to look for roots, scale, sags or a broken pipe.
Step 04
Quote the repair, if one is needed
You get a written quote before any further work. As certified drainlayers we can carry out full drain repairs, section replacements and new pipe laying.
Before we arrive
Three things that help
Stop using the fixtures
Every flush and every sink of water adds to what has to go somewhere.
Clear access outside
We need to reach the gully traps and inspection points, so move bins and pot plants if you can.
Know where your toby is
Usually near the street boundary. Handy for any job, essential in an emergency.
FAQs
Blocked drain questions
How quickly can you clear a blocked drain?
Most blockages are cleared on the first visit, usually inside one to two hours. Overflowing gully traps are treated as emergency work, day or night.
Should I use drain cleaner from the supermarket first?
We would not. Harsh products rarely shift a real blockage, they damage older pipework, and they make the job less pleasant for whoever opens the line.
Why does my drain keep blocking?
Repeat blockages usually mean tree roots, a partly collapsed pipe or a sag holding water. We can organise a camera inspection to pinpoint the problem, and then we can quote a permanent fix.
Is the blocked pipe my responsibility or the council's?
Generally the drainage on your property is yours, and the main in the street is managed by Tiaki Wai (or Kapiti Coast District Council if you are on the Coast). If we find the blockage is on the public side, we will mark the location and help you contact the right authority, so you do not pay for public infrastructure repairs.
Do you cover the Hutt Valley and Kapiti Coast?
Wellington City, Porirua and Lower Hutt are Zone 1. Wainuiomata, Eastbourne, Upper Hutt, Pukerua Bay and the Kapiti Coast are Zone 2, with a slightly higher travel charge.
What counts as a drain emergency, and how quickly can you arrive?
If sewage is backing up inside your home or your gully trap is overflowing outside, treat it as urgent. We take emergency call-outs 24/7 across Wellington. An after-hours or emergency call-out fee applies on top of standard rates, but we will always talk you through the exact pricing on the phone before sending someone out, so there are no surprises.
How can I stop my drains from blocking again?
The main culprits inside are wet wipes, sanitary products and cooking fats poured down the kitchen sink. Outside, keeping leaves, dirt and garden debris away from your gully traps makes a big difference, especially before heavy Wellington rain.
How do your billing and travel charges work?
Our base rate is $95 per hour (excl GST) plus travel, depending on your zone. Most standard blockages are cleared on the first visit within one to two hours. If the job turns out to be bigger than a simple unblock, we will talk you through it before doing any extra work.
Related
Other services
Drain blocked right now?
Stop using the fixtures and call us. We take drain call-outs 24 hours a day.