Blocked Drain Pricing Explained
Home > Blocked Drain Prices > Blocked Drain Pricing Explained
Fixed Price vs Do & Charge
Why I don't quote cheap fixed prices for every blocked drain
When your sewer is blocked, you probably want three things:
Get it flowing. Know what's wrong. Know what it's going to cost.
That's completely understandable.
The problem is that a blocked sewer is hidden underground, and the cause of the blockage can be very different from one property to the next.
A cheap fixed price can sound very attractive.
But before you choose a plumber based solely on a low fixed price, it's worth understanding what you're actually paying for and what happens after the drain is flowing.
Your old sewer may not be broken because of tree roots
Many Australian homes still have old earthenware sewer pipes that were installed decades ago.
Earthenware pipes are strong, but they are also stiff and brittle and have a finite service life.
As they age, they can develop:
-
Cracks
-
Broken sections
-
Defective joints
-
Movement caused by ground settlement
-
Damage from building or landscaping work
Tree roots usually don't cause the original damage.
This is an important point that many homeowners don't realise.
When an earthenware sewer develops a crack or defective joint, liquid containing nutrients can escape from the pipe into the surrounding soil. This is called "exfiltration".
Tree roots are naturally attracted to that moisture and nutrient-rich environment on the outside of the defective pipe.
The roots can then enter the existing defect and continue to grow inside the sewer. This is called "root intrusion".
As the roots grow and multiply inside the sewer pipe, they catch toilet paper and other waste material and eventually cause the sewer to block.
In simple terms:
Pipe defect → leakage → tree roots enter → roots grow → waste gets trapped → sewer blocks.
So when you see tree roots inside an old earthenware sewer, the roots may be the consequence of the pipe defect rather than the original cause of it.
Does a damaged sewer pipe have to be replaced?
A damaged sewer pipe may eventually need to be repaired, replaced or relined.
But that doesn't necessarily mean it needs to happen today.
If I clear a blocked sewer and discover tree roots, my job is to remove as many of those roots as possible and get the drain properly clean.
I don't provide excavation, sewer replacement or pipe relining services.
My job is to clear the drain properly.
Once the roots have been removed, I can inspect the pipe with a CCTV drain camera and show you exactly what is happening inside your sewer.
You can then make an informed decision about what you want to do.
Clearing a blockage and repairing pipes are two different jobs
This is where blocked drain pricing becomes important.
A penetrating water-jet nozzle can be used to restore flow through a blocked sewer.
But getting the sewer flowing is not necessarily the same as completely removing the tree roots causing the blockage.
Once the drain is flowing, I can inspect it with a CCTV drain camera.
If tree roots are present, specialised hydraulic root-cutting equipment can then be used to remove them.
The process is:
Clear it → Inspect it → Explain it → Then you decide
If you want the roots removed, I'll explain what is involved.
If you don't want to spend more money at that time, that's your decision too.
I can leave you with a flowing drain and you can decide what you want to do about the underlying problem later.
Why do I charge "Do & Charge"
Because I want to clear your drain properly, not simply get water flowing long enough to finish a fixed-price job.
Some blocked sewers are easy.
Others can take considerably longer.
I don't know what is inside your sewer until I get access to it, clear the blockage and inspect it.
That's why I don't pretend I can accurately quote every blocked sewer before I start.
My Do & Charge pricing means you pay for the actual work required.
I can spend the time necessary to clear the sewer properly, inspect it and explain what I've found without having to work within an artificially low fixed-price allowance.
Why can a cheap fixed price be a warning sign?
Imagine two businesses receive exactly the same blocked sewer call.
Business A
Is a blocked drain specialist.
Charges by the hour.
Its objective is to:
Clear the blockage → clean the pipe → inspect it → explain the problem.
If the customer wants the underlying problem repaired, they can arrange that separately.
Business B
Is a drainage repair specialist who also clears blocked drains.
Advertises:
“Blocked drains from $99”
or
“Fixed price blocked drain clearing”
The customer may think:
| “Great! I'll only have to pay $99.”
But getting the drain flowing may only be the beginning of the sales process.
The business may then identify damaged pipes or tree roots and recommend expensive drainage repairs.
This is where you need to ask an important question:
Is the business being paid to clear your drain — or is the blocked drain call being used to sell you drainage repairs?
There is nothing wrong with recommending a drain repair.
However, plumbing businesses providing drainage repairs and pipe relining are not blocked drain specialists, they are first and foremost drainage repair specialists and the overwhelming number of drainage repair or pipe relining jobs they do start with a call from a homeowner with a blocked drain.
The problem occurs when the homeowner is then led to believe that an expensive repair is the only option when the drain could instead be properly cleared and continue operating for some considerable time.
If you have found yourself in this unfortunate position, calling another drainage repair business for a second opinion will only result in the same advice, expensive drainage repairs.
The only way to know if drainage repairs are really required or you have more palatable options available is to get a second opinion from an experienced licenced professional that has no apparent conflict of interest.
Be careful of prices that sound too good to be true.
When comparing blocked drain services, don't only ask:
“How much does it cost?”
Also ask:
“What exactly does that price include?”
Ask:
-
Does the price include properly clearing the blockage?
-
Does it include removing tree roots?
-
Is CCTV drain camera inspection included?
-
Will I be shown what is actually inside my pipe?
-
What happens if tree roots are found?
-
Will you recommend repair, replacement or relining?
-
Can I choose to simply have the drain cleared and leave the repair for later?
-
What happens if the job takes considerably longer than expected?
A low advertised price doesn't necessarily mean the final cost will be low.
Why I don't offer "Blocked Drains From $99"
Because I don't want to get your drain only partially clear for the cheapest possible price and then try to sell you something else.
I want to clear the drain properly.
If I find tree roots, I'll show you.
If I find a damaged pipe, I'll show you.
If I find a foreign object, I'll show you.
If I find a collapsed pipe, I'll show you.
Then I'll explain your options.
You can decide whether you want me to do more work.
You don't have to agree to an expensive repair simply because I've found a problem.
What about old earthenware sewers?
An old earthenware sewer can continue operating for many years if not decades even though it has defects.
That doesn't mean the pipe is perfect.
It means there can be a difference between:
“This pipe is damaged.”
and
“This pipe must be replaced or relined immediately.”
Those are not necessarily the same thing.
If your sewer can be properly cleared and the roots removed, you may decide that continuing to use the existing sewer and having it serviced when necessary is the most practical option.
That is ultimately your decision.
My approach is different
I am a drain servicing specialist.
I don't provide or sell excavation.
I don't provide or sell pipe relining.
I have no interest in turning every blocked drain into a drainage repair or pipe relining job.
I only clear blocked drains.
My objective is simple:
Get your drain flowing.
Get it properly clean.
Inspect it.
Show you what's happening.
Explain your options.
Let you decide.
Clear it. Inspect it. Explain it.
That's how I have approached blocked drains throughout my career.
I would rather have a customer who calls me every year or two to properly service their existing sewer than pressure them into spending thousands of dollars on drainage repairs they don't want or need immediately.
If the drain eventually needs to be replaced or relined, that's something you can deal with when the time is right.
You should be given the information and allowed to make that decision for yourself.
Learn why Preventive Drain Maintenance is advisable for tree root affected drains.
Before you choose a blocked drain plumber
Don't just ask:
“What's your fixed price?”
Ask:
“What are you actually going to do for that price?”
A blocked drain is not always a simple job.
And the cheapest way to get water flowing is not necessarily the best way to deal with the problem.
Get the drain cleared. Get the problem explained. Then decide what you want to do.
That's the way I believe blocked drains should be handled.
DRAINS 'R' US
Clear it. Inspect it. Explain it.
Got a blocked sewer?
Now that you understand how blocked drain pricing works, find out exactly how I charge.
$380 FIXED PRICE*
*For simple sewer waste blockages with suitable cleanout access.
Or call DRAINS 'R' US — 0414 516 215