Blocked Drain Cost
Blocked Drain Cost in Adelaide
Most blocked drains in Adelaide clear for $220 to $480. If a plumber quotes $1,500+ without a CCTV inspection, get a second opinion.
What you are really paying for
Blocked drains are the single most common plumbing job in Adelaide - and the most price-inflated by franchise plumbers. The real range is $220 to $1,400 for 95% of jobs. Quotes above that should come with hard evidence (CCTV recording, photos, council notice).
Indicative Adelaide price bands
Quick rod (single fixture)
Electric eel through inspection point, soft blockage
$220 - $380
Standard clear (multi-fixture)
More extensive eel work, multiple drains
$380 - $580
Hydro-jet + CCTV
Pressure clean plus camera inspection (gold standard)
$650 - $1,400
Sewer line clear
Main line back-up, jet from public boundary in
$850 - $1,800
Pipe relining (root damage)
Cured-in-place liner for cracked/damaged pipe
$1,800 - $8,500
Indicative ranges drawn from real Adelaide jobs. Your matched plumbers quote a fixed price for your specific job before any work starts.
Usually included in the price
- Diagnostic visit (call-out often waived).
- Mechanical clear (eel or hand auger) for soft blockages.
- Hydro-jet pressure cleaning where required.
- CCTV inspection (often included with hydro-jet).
- Itemised invoice with parts and labour separated.
Usually quoted separately
- Sewer work beyond your property boundary (SA Water responsibility - free).
- Pipe relining or replacement quoted separately if needed.
- Excavation for collapsed sections.
- After-hours emergency surcharge.
What moves the price in Adelaide
- Pre-1980 homes typically have clay sewer pipes prone to root intrusion.
- Mature street trees (jacaranda, Norfolk pine, eucalyptus) drive most root-blockages in heritage suburbs.
- Coastal suburbs see sand and salt scaling in drainage.
- Northern growth corridor has more rental properties with recurring blockage issues.
A blocked drain in metro Adelaide typically clears in 1 to 4 hours for $220 to $1,400. The variation depends on what's blocking the line. Soft blockages (hair, soap, light grease) clear with an electric eel for $220-$380. Heavy grease, mineral scale, or root intrusions need hydro-jet ($650-$1,400 including CCTV).
Reddit shows multiple Adelaide consumers quoted $1,500-$5,000 for blocked drains by franchise plumbers. In most cases these jobs cost the franchise plumber the same as anyone else - the $1,000-$3,500 difference is overhead, call-centre, and margin. Independent CBS-licensed plumbers in our network don't have that overhead.
If a CCTV inspection shows a damaged or collapsed pipe, the next-step quote should compare pipe relining (no-dig, 50-year warranty, $450-$650 per metre) against excavation and replacement. In 8 out of 10 cases relining wins on price after restoration costs.
Blocked Drain Cost - questions
Three possibilities. (1) You called a franchise plumber who pads the bill. (2) The plumber recommended hydro-jet + CCTV without telling you the eel option ($220-$380) might work. (3) The drain actually has root damage requiring pipe relining. Get a second opinion from a network plumber - the diagnostic is usually $150-$280 and saves you $1,000+ if relining isn't needed.
Electric eel is fine for hair, soap scum, and soft blockages on single fixtures. Hydro-jet is the modern standard for grease, mineral scale, and root intrusions. If you've had three blockages in two years, hydro-jet + CCTV is the smart spend.
CCTV records the inside of the pipe so you (and the plumber) can see cracks, root entry points, sags, and pipe condition. It's $180-$320 standalone or often free with a hydro-jet job. Always ask for the recording - it's your evidence of what's been cleared.
Modern blocked drain work is no-dig. Eel and hydro-jet go in through the inspection point. Pipe relining is also no-dig. Excavation only happens when the pipe has fully collapsed - and even then, your matched plumber should quote relining vs replacement.
Every plumber in our network holds a current SA Plumbing Contractor's licence under the PGE Act 1995. Drainage work on your property side of the inspection point is licensed plumbing work. Verify any plumber on the CBS public register before they start.
Cost guides give you the range. Three quotes give you the price.
Tell us the job once. We match you with 3 independent local plumbers within 24 hours. No call centres, no obligation, no nasty surprises.
Every plumber CBS-licensed under the SA PGE Act 1995