Your drains carry everything that leaves the house: toilet waste, water from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, plus the rain that runs off the roof and driveway. When a pipe blocks, cracks or backs up, the trouble tends to grow fast, and under many Christchurch homes the drains were shaken, shifted or dipped by the ground movement of 2010 and 2011.
Choose a service by what you are seeing. One slow sink, shower or toilet usually needs a straightforward clear. Blockages that keep coming back need a camera to find the reason. Roots, cracks and sagging sections are fixed with drain repairs, relining or new drainlaying, depending on depth and what sits on top. Rainwater pooling against the house is a stormwater job, and rural sections without sewer need septic care.
Our Blocked Drains Services
Blocked Drains
Clears a sink, shower, gully or main sewer line that has stopped draining, and finds out what caused it.
View serviceDrain Cleaning
Routine cleaning that strips grease, silt and fine roots from pipe walls before they build into a full blockage.
View serviceCCTV Drain Inspection
A camera survey of your drains to pinpoint cracks, roots, sags or the exact spot where blockages keep forming.
View serviceHydro Jetting
High pressure water cleaning for stubborn blockages, hardened fat and roots that a standard drain cable cannot shift.
View serviceDrain Repairs
Fixes broken, cracked, collapsed or root-damaged drain pipe found on camera, from one joint to a longer section.
View serviceDrainlaying
New or replacement drains for extensions, new homes and badly damaged runs, laid at the right fall and connected properly.
View servicePipe Relining
Seals cracked or root-damaged pipe with a resin liner fitted from inside, so driveways, gardens and paths stay untouched.
View serviceStormwater Drains
Sorts out rainwater pipes, sumps and soak holes that flood, overflow or leave water sitting against the house.
View serviceSeptic Tank Cleaning
Pump-outs, inspections and repairs for septic tanks on country properties that are not connected to a council sewer.
View serviceBlocked Toilets
Clears a toilet that will not flush or keeps overflowing, then checks the drain beyond it runs freely.
View serviceGully Trap Repairs
Repairs or rebuilds the outdoor gully where kitchen and laundry water enters the drain, including cracked surrounds and overflows.
View serviceWastewater Pump Stations
Servicing and repair of private sewage pump units, covering the pump, float switches, alarm and the chamber itself.
View serviceDrains after the earthquakes
The quakes bent, cracked and pulled apart a great many private drains, and some repairs made since then have not held up. A line can look fine at the gully while a joint further along has opened just enough for roots to get in or for silt to settle. If you own a home that went through the repair programme, or you are about to buy one, a CCTV drain inspection gives you a clear picture before small faults turn into a dig.
Some eastern suburbs, including Shirley, Aranui and Prestons, are on council vacuum sewers, and other parts of the city use pressure sewers with a pump unit on each section. Those units need power, a working alarm and the occasional service, which is where wastewater pump station work comes in.
Keeping drains running
Most household blockages are made inside the house. A few habits keep the pipes clear and push out the day you need a plumber.
- Wipe pans and plates into the bin before washing up
- Use strainers in the kitchen sink and the shower
- Flush only toilet paper, never wipes or sanitary items
- Keep the gully grate clear of leaves and above the ground
- Plant trees and large shrubs well away from drain lines
What affects the price
Drain repairs, drainlaying, relining, septic work and pump stations depend on depth, length and access, so we quote them once we have seen the pipe.
Blocked Drains Questions
Why does my drain keep blocking?
A drain that blocks again within weeks usually has a fault such as roots, a cracked joint or a dip where waste settles. Clearing it only buys time. Putting a camera down the line reveals the real problem, so the fix lasts.
Who is responsible for a blocked sewer?
The pipes within your section are your responsibility, while the public sewer belongs to the council. If neighbours are also backing up, the fault may be on the public side, and we can tell you which before any work starts.
Is relining better than digging up the drain?
Relining suits pipes that are cracked or root-damaged but still roughly in line, especially under concrete or gardens. If a pipe has collapsed or sagged badly, a dig and replacement may be the only lasting fix.
What should I do if sewage comes up through the gully?
Stop using water in the house, keep children and pets away and call us. An overflowing gully usually means a blockage further down the line, and clearing it quickly limits the mess and the clean-up.
Other Services
- Plumbing Services
- Hot Water
- Gas Fitting
- Bathroom Renovation Plumbing
- Water Filtration
- Commercial Plumbing
Blocked Drains Across Christchurch
We send blocked drains specialists to every suburb. Find your area: Central Christchurch, North Christchurch, East and Coastal Christchurch, South Christchurch and Port Hills, West Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.
