
Are You Facing Some Of These Common Blocked Drain Problems?












How Much Does It Cost To Have Drains Unblocked?
For Clyde siders, a blocked drain can be concerning. Questions immediately come to mind –
- Is this really bad?
- Can it be fixed?
- How much is this going to cost?
- Is this going to be expensive?
- Can the drain be cleaned effortlessly, or is this going to be a significant job?

Most homeowners will opt for a cheaper, “DIY” option. You’ll often see them in Bunnings or the local supermarket, filling their trolleys with Drain-O and other drain cleaning products. The majority of these products are simply gimmicks and will do nothing but waste your money. Many of these over the shelf type drain cleaners are acid-based, which can cause corrosion to metal components within your drain system, leading to additional problems later on,
It’s difficult to put a fixed value on clearing blocked drains in Clyde because so many things affect the price - like finding the right Sydney plumber, we suggest you do your research and look for a licenced and credible plumber like ours to save yourself on a $$$ bill. Blocked drain problems can occur for many reasons, and the right solution depends entirely on the cause. For example, a simple blockage caused by organic debris, such as food scraps in the kitchen sink, can be quick and cheap to fix. However, a blockage in your sewer pipes caused by a solid mass of wet wipes and grease will be more difficult and expensive to resolve,

behind every strong man is a stronger woman
Hi, my name is Emily and I am the co-owner of proximity plumbing along with my husband William, Whilst William may be good at drain clearing it takes a woman’s touch to book the job & coordinate the diary ensuring the tradesman appointed is a specialist in the field you require, as you can appreciate whilst busy on the road it’s important to take the time required to listen to your concerns. The first and most obvious question I always ask is whether you have a simple blocked drain or overflow sewer outside, it’s important to know if your drain is clear outside as this will immediately determine the next best course of action required.
Clyde blocked drains are more common than you would think so it’s necessary to discuss options and solutions before dispatching a local plumber to your home. You would be surprised how much I know, and often I can provide some simple steps you can try before we attend saving yourself a visit from us, I’ve even created the chatbot on the right-hand side, so even if you don’t have time for a phone call you can reach out and I will personally respond.
Down below we have to go to the liberty of answering some of the most common questions we often get asked, like why are my drains blocked?
Clear Drains Vs Blocked Drain
We Implement 4 Methods to Unblock Your Drain
As every job and situation is different so too are the tools we use in managing a Clyde blocked drain, some of the tools at our disposal include drain rods, high-pressure jet blaster machines, and electric eels. Once the drain is cleared, we use CCTV cameras and pipe locating equipment to identify the cause of the blockage, why do we recommend using CCTV footage?
Eastern suburbs clogged drains are usually caused by loose and undermined pipework, although we are blessed to live in such beautiful areas, most of the pipework is original Earthenware pipe (clay pipes) which are prone to crack and cause dislodgement. For this very reason, every blockage is treated differently, and the tools required vary for each job.

Option 1
The
Old-Fashioned Way
You can’t go past the good old fashion plunger to force the block from the plumbing pipe. It’s the force of the push that forces air through the pipe to clear the clog sewers.

Option 2
The
Mechanical Way
An electric eel is a snake-like device used to clear blockages in drains and septic systems. It is comprised of a coiled metal wire that rotates as it travels down a pipe. This is ideal for a small drain that requires clogged sewer repairs.

Option 3
The
Advanced Way
High-Pressure Jet Blasting, as the name implies a technique involving the use of high-pressure water to clean clogged drains. We often find this is the most practical way to address drain problems.

Option 4
The
Chemical Way
Used responsibly chemical and biological treatments are a useful tool in unblocking drainage systems, inhibiting root growth and melting body oils and alleviating a clogged sewer drain and eliminating drain problems.

How We Work On Clearing Clyde Drain Blockages
Our highly trained tradesmen can often resolve a common blocked toilet basin or shower with drain rods to shift the blockage. More complicated blockages may involve our state-of-the-art high-pressure jetting system that operates at 5000KPA, which can cut through tree roots and other debris. For this reason, this is the most common method we use to combat blocked drains Clyde siders experience and is our most successful tool for all blocked drain repairs.
Once the blocked drain is cleared, we can then use closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage to identify the cause of the blockage. With our highly advanced locating equipment, we can also pinpoint the exact spot above the ground of the blockage, including the depth and direction of flow. This ensures, if required, that only a specific area is to be excavated. As standard, we offer a copy of the footage on DVD and a full report at no additional cost.
On completion of the job, our tradesmen will explain the underlying problem and schedule serviced maintenance at a reduced cost for the future. As part of a scheduled maintenance plan, you will be entitled to discounts and free of charge advice at any stage. Depending on the property's needs, a scheduled maintenance plan can involve visits monthly, quarterly or as required.
Don’t Believe Everything You Read On The Internet Believe What You Watch Instead
Guarantee Same Day Service and 30 min Response Times
Has 25 Years Collective Experience
Has an impeccable reputation within Sydney's Eastern Suburbs
Offers A Lifetime Warranty On All Workmanship
Family Owned & Operated
Believes In Supporting The Local Eastern Suburbs Community


Why Choose Us For Your Blocked Drain Emergency?
Rest assured our Clyde emergency plumbers are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your blocked drain emergencies. When our expert Proximity Plumbing crew attend your property to clear a blocked drain, we focus on 4 things:
- 1
Locating the exact spot of the blocked drain.
- 2
Clearing the drain so it becomes usable ASAP.
- 3
Determining the reason why the drain became blocked and provide advice to reduce the chances of it happening again.
- 4
Preventive maintenance every 6-12 months especially if you are surrounded by trees.
Unlike most of the work we do, a blocked drain is something you really have to rely on the ethics and honesty of the plumber you choose to use. A lot of the work we do is in the ground and thus you cannot see it. For that very reason, so many other cowboys out there take advantage and in turn, portray most plumbers as deceitful and dishonest, this guide will ensure you never deal with a cowboy plumber again!
We have worked extremely hard to break that stigma and have a reputation for providing not only superior service but also honest solutions and options for addressing your blocked drains. Often there is more than one method we can attempt, and we prefer to inform you first so you can make the best decision and ultimately feel comfortable with the work we do.
Being a family run business that lives and breathes the Eastern suburbs means that we have a duty of care to look after our neighbour clientele. We want to be relied upon as the number one Clyde plumber of choice for the next 30+ years and thus go above and beyond to ensure our reputation is kept impeccable - don’t believe us check out our 5-star Google reviews here.

Our Relationships





























How You Can Try Unclog Your Own Drain?
- Step 1
Good old fashioned boiling water
Put the kettle on Jan!
To loosen up any build-up of grime or grease, get that water boiling. Boiling water is a great first step to try and unblock your drain, and you can’t get more eco-friendly than H20. Best not to use boiling water on PVC pipes, only use on metal or ceramic pipes. For PVC pipes you can use plain hot water.
- Step 2
Baking soda and vinegar
Another Clyde excellent eco-friendly option. Start by pouring some boiling water down the blocked drain then pour half a cup of baking soda and leave for a few minutes before pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it sit and fizz up and hopefully clear out the residue that’s blocking things up. Finish with another cup of boiling water.
- Step 3
Try a plunger
For those drains, sinks, or toilets with a physical blockage (something you know is stuck) it’s time to take the plunge and give a drain rods a go. Get those elbows pumping and use a plunger to ‘bring up’ anything that’s blocking the drain. Plunging can get messy to be prepared with some drop sheets or rags to clean up any mess.
- Step 4
Invest in a drain snake
A drain snake is a more invasive tool but can do the job of unblocking your drain quickly. For more stubborn blockages you may have to repeat the process multiple times. You can find these at your local Bunnings or hardware store under the blocked drain repairs section or drain service section.
- Step 5
Buy a chemical drain cleaner
At your local hardware store, you’ll be able to find chemical drain cleaning solutions which is typical drain unblocker. Please read the label and instructions carefully before use as they aren't a good solution to fix blocked drains Clyde lines that are not caused by oils, fats and hair. This product can be sourced as a drain cleaner Coles and drain clear Bunnings.
Blocked Drains Clyde Comes In Many Forms
We have worked with just about every possible scenario of blocked drains in homes, businesses, offices, and factories over the last ten odd years. Blocked drains are often associated only with toilets, but we see many other areas where blocked drains occur. These include
Kitchen Sink Blockages: we see many blocked kitchen sink. Typically this is because the build-up of grease and waste from washing up and dishwasher feeds can combine to block kitchen sinks. Generally, the remedy is relatively straightforward, and we can advise you on reducing the likelihood of further blockages in the future.
Bathroom Sink Blockages: A recent call out to a property in Clyde revealed the cause of the bathroom vanity sinks being very slow to drain. We disassembled to ‘S Bend’ under the sink to find it clogged with a mixture of hair and soap. However, a simple, clean and rinse and reassembly of the drainage pipework had the sink draining perfectly.
Blocked Shower Drains And Blocked Bath Drains: Another common problem we see regularly is a slow draining shower drain. Over time shower drainage systems can get blocked by an accumulation of soap, hair, and general grime. Whilst there are ‘over the counter products that claim to fix blocked showers and bathtubs, we can be confident in our ability to get you up and running in no time.
Blocked Toilets: Probably the number one drain blockage problem that we see is a blocked or slow draining toilet. The causes can be varied but can include tree roots growing into the drains, sewer lines cracking or collapsing or even ‘foreign’ objects falling into the drain like brushes, toilet rolls. We can employ CCTV cameras that feed down into your drainage systems to pinpoint the exact location of the blockage as well as the likely cause. In addition, we can use “electric eels’ and water jetting plumbing machines to clear the vast majority of toilet blockages. We have over ten years of troubleshooting all aspects of drain and sewer line blockages.
Gutter Blockages: You may notice that your downpipes do not seem to be allowing rainwater to pass at the usual rate. Often this can cause guttering systems to overflow, which, in turn, can create problems of its own – like rainwater running down the sides of your house, which can create damp issues in many homes. We can fault find your entire guttering and downpipe system and get it working efficiently, so rainwater is moved away from your property and into the stormwater system.


Why Are My Drains Blocked?

Foreign Objects
You wouldn’t believe how frequently we fined children flushing toys, rocks & stones which end up causing blockages

Tree Roots
Tree roots love cracked pipes as they provide nutrients and ensure constant growth.

Build Up Of Grease
Cooking oils used in the kitchen daily are a major cause of clogs in the drains

Wet Wipes
Although often branded to be flushable, wet wipes don’t break down causing blockages

Hair
One of the most common causes within the shower and something often overlooked.

Too Much Toilet Paper
Manufacturers make toilet paper to dissolve easily in water, but often too much can overload the drain.

Damaged Pipes
The unsettling of the subsoil structure supporting the pipe often causes misalignment and restricts the flow.

Food Scraps
Food particles are a common cause of kitchen sink blockages, using a simple strainer can avoid 92% kitchen sink blockages.

Storm Water
Blocked stormwater drains in Clyde usually caused by a lack of preventative maintenance such as clearing out gutters and storm water pits.

Defective Installation
We come across a lot of defective installations from plumbers who take advantage that their work is often unseen.

Sanitary Items
Unlike loo, sanitary pads and similar items, are designed to absorb large volumes of moisture. instead of breaking down, they expand.

Tissues
We come across a lot of defective installations from plumbers who take advantage that their work is often unseen.
Who Is Responsible For A Blocked Sewer Drain?

The property owner is responsible for any blockages or problems in the plumbing systems from the sewer connection point up to and including drains and pipes in, under, and around your home. The local council or wastewater authority is responsible for the water meter, pipes, and drains leading away from the property. They take care of unclogging the main sewer line if problems arise. They also cover the stormwater network from your property boundary.
The Blockage Is Likely To Be In Clyde Water’s Pipes If:
The overflow is visible beyond your property boundary, e.g. From a manhole located on public land
Your neighbours are experiencing the same problem
There is widespread flooding in your local area
You’re experiencing a continuous overflow and you’re not currently using water on your property.

You May Be Asking What A Boundary Trap Is?
A boundary trap is a pipe that runs from your property, all the way to the main sewer line. It’s the last length of pipe that plumbers are allowed to handle before you need to call in a water services provider. the boundary trap creates a water seal between the authorities drains and property drains. It is the last point of connection that is raised to the surface and allows plumbers direct access from an owner’s private network to the Clyde water main.
How To Avoid Clyde Blocked Toilets
Having a clogged toilet is never ideal, but when you need an immediate plumber now for blocked toilets Clyde siders turn to proximity plumbing as we provide friendly plumbing advice before confirming a blocked toilet service appointment which can often avoid the need for a plumber at all. We have to stress the obvious If your clogged toilet is overflowing it may be something you rather leave to the professionals as overflowing clogged toilets aren’t really that hygienic and can be a potential flood risk. Furthermore, it may be something that a standard Clyde toilet plunger won't resolve and something better left to a Clyde blocked drain expert. Here's our guide to using a plunger from your local hardware store yourself.
Tips To Avoid Blocked Toilets
Don’t treat your toilet as a garbage bin.
Only Flush the three P’s – Poo, pee, and toilet paper.
Don’t flush anything that isn't biodegradable.
Don’t overload the toilet with to much toilet paper.
Read our blog ( LINK ) for further details.

If Your Drain Is Blocked, CALL US NOW. Our Clyde Plumbers Can Find The Solution That Best Serves Your Needs.


Is There A Permanent Solution?
Sometimes the only solution is repairing or replacing the damaged line. Using an up to date Clyde water sewer service diagram and our advanced locating tools, we mark out the sewer line and come up with the most cost-effective and practical solution for a permanent drain repair solution.
Often sewer lines can run underneath a concrete slab, garden or driveway and digging this up can be expensive and inconvenient to customers. We have established methods that aid in avoiding high-cost exercises these include, relining
With our latest technology, we can use a two-part epoxy, which is pulled through the pipe and expanded to leave a hard fibreglass shell, which can’t be penetrated by roots. Although only relatively new to Australia, Relining has been tried and tested overseas for over 25 years and has a life expectancy of over 50 years.
Have One Of Our Highly Trained Staff Come To Your Place And Provide You With A Camera Inspection To Identify Any Problems Before They Occur.
Do Not Plant Any Of These Trees Within 10 Metres Of Your Sewer Or Storm Water Drain.
If there is one thing that we see demolishing pipes and plumbing systems around the eastern suburbs, especially Woollahra, Paddingtonand Centennial Park its tree roots! Trees need water to flourish and they are experts at ‘sniffing’ it out. When they find it (usually in your pipes) they establish an elaborate ‘home’ of roots that wreak havoc on your pipes, drainage and potentially, your sewer system, want to know what tree's you should avoid planting or purchasing a home over? Click here: ' Tree's you should avoid planting near your pipes! '
When the pipes finally crack, break down or are just too full of roots to carry water, you have a real plumbing issue on your hands! That’s when you call us, and we can investigate using CCTV to see how extensive the damage to your pipes really is. If there is a pesky tree that needs some maintenance, just who is responsible for it? Well, this diagram explains the boundary lines and when the tree maintenance if your issue or not

Bunya pine

Illawarra Flame trees

Jacaranda

Poinciana

Sheoaks

Wisteria

Figs

Wattles
Recent Community Projects
News About Blocked Drains



