How Much Does It Cost to Clear a Blocked Drain? [2024]

An immediate action you can take upon finding blocks in drainage is to clear away the way as soon as possible. If the reason for the blocked drain is as simple as toilet paper stuck in the lines, then you can implement DIY tips and tricks. However, if there are different reasons for this happening, then you cannot resolve the issue despite having the right tools and equipment. So, if you want to find plumbing costs for blocked drains, then you have to know about the factors responsible for blockage and who can unblock them.

Who Can Clear Your Blocked Drains?

A straight-away answer to who can unblock your drain is a professionally licensed plumber or a recognised drainer. Plumbers for unblocking the drains are not the same as hot water system plumbers. Therefore, the licence a drainage plumber carries is different from that of other plumbers like gas fitting plumbers, water leaking plumbers, etc.

In NSW Fair Trading drainage work means anything related to drains, such as drain installation, drain maintenance, drain repair, etc. In fact, draining work also usually involves ventilation, alteration and extensions of drainage systems to solve blocked drain problems. Hence, depending on this drainage plumbers will be classified differently and can obtain their licences respectively.

The Cost Of Hiring A Drain Plumber

The one thing that people keep wondering about is the cost it takes to hire a drain plumber. When some plumbers charge you hourly, some also take additional charges like call-out fees. This call-out fee is approximately between $60 and $100 and from here on hourly charges vary which is between $100 and $150. Note- The hourly charges will be based on the location where you reside. However, the hourly costs for plumbing services increase if you book plumbers for emergency services and on public offs.

Moreover, a plumber fairly increases the charges depending upon his skill set and experience in the industry. For suppose, if you see master plumbers, they charge more than licensed experts as they know the latest and advanced techniques in the industry. So, depending upon the company, the plumber's skills and your location, cost changes in hiring a plumber. If you want to know how plumbers charge based on location, here are a few that enlighten you regarding plumber costs.

• Unblocking kitchen drains or simply a toilet- Between $80 and $120


• Clearing short blocked drain stretches- Between $300 and $500


• Replacement of partial drainage pipe- Between $1000 and $3000


• Replacement of an entire drainage pipe- $5000 and $20000.

Therefore, if you have an idea of how plumbers charge you for their services based on location, hire licensed plumbers.

How Do Drainage Plumbers Fix Your Blocked Drains?

The first and basic thing any plumber does on taking the job of fixing your blocked drains is to find the exact location of the problem. After this, drainage plumbers gather all the necessary equipment and the right devices that help unblock the drains. Although it was not an easy task to locate the exact point of blocked drains previously, it is not the same case in the present scenario. This is because drainage plumbers use sewer drain cameras to detect these blocks by identifying the reasons by seeing what's happening in pipes.

In fact, there are many causes that lead to severe blocks for partial or entire drainage systems. For example,

• Tree roots


• Trapping of hair and such other things


• Female sanitary napkins building in drains


• Building up of solid wastes such as toys, paper towels, tissues, etc.

So, as soon as a drainage plumber finds the reason for a blocked drain, then the right tools are brought into the picture to unblock the drain. In fact, for something like unblocking drains, most plumbers use an "electric eel" as this is a one-time use of equipment. The electric eel is a flexible tool made of a long steel rod that has to protrude as these protrusions help in cutting the trees.

As these electric eels damage sewer pipes and don't reach far places into drainage lines, plumbers also use other tools. One such tool is motorised plumber's augers as they are structured like snakes and are extremely flexible, thus reaching deep into drains. In addition to this, a few safest tools drainage plumbers use are ultra-high pressure drain jetters, no-dig pipe relining and other powerful devices. In fact, plumbers also have drain cleaning agents to clear away the odour problems of blocked drains.

So, depending on the reason your drains are blocked, drainage plumbers work to do the installation, maintenance or repair work. Accordingly, you will have to pay for them.