Randwick Drain Cleaning Services

Blocked Drains Randwick

Centennial Park has 189 hectares bordered by Randwick on one side. The other one is located in a 2 billion hospital construction area. In between, there are almost 29,000 individuals, terracotta sewer pipes since the 1800s and tree roots which are indifferent to property lines. When the drains are obstructed here we are perfectly informed what we have to do with.

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Blocked Drains?

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In 189 Hectares of Parkland Root Systems meets a Suburb of Ageing Pipes

Randwick is located on the high ridge between Centennial Park and the coast. That location provides residents with an easy access to green space and beach living, but it comes with the tradeoffs of having two forces straining the private drainage in the suburb that most suburbs do not experience at the same time: a large root system that is pushing in on the park side and aging council infrastructure that was designed decades ago when no one thought development would densify the area as it has done.

At 189 hectares, Centennial Park boasts of some of the oldest and well established trees in Sydney. Moreton Bay figs, Port Jackson figs, eucalypts and paperbarks, whose root system can spread 20 to 30 metres in all directions. Those roots don't stop at the park fence. They dig under footways, under roads and into the sewer mains of the houses along the Darley Road, Alison Road, Avoca Street and blocks of houses nearby. All terracotta pipe joints in root range have the potential to be entry points.

Randwick City Council has a total of more than 261 kilometres of drainage pipes and more than 10,120 drainage pits in the total local government area, and recognises that most of the drainage network was constructed in the 1950s and 1960s. But the residential streets of Randwick are a lot older. In 1859, the suburb was declared a municipality. The original stone house, Blenheim House on Blenheim Street, was constructed in 1848, and much of the Victorian and Federation houses in the suburb remain on sewer lines which are some of the oldest in the Eastern Suburbs.

To add to that, there is 9.7 square kilometres of the Kensington-centtennial park flood catchment which drains into the western section of Randwick to Centennial Park and Eastlakes Ponds. In this catchment, the flood analysis was updated in 2019 to consider the development relating to the light rail, i.e. the drainage landscape has been physically modified over the last few years by significant infrastructure projects.

Drain Services: What We offer

  • ✓ Obstructed sewer pipes unblocking.
  • ✓ Drains in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
  • ✓ Blocked toilet repairs.
  • ✓ Stormwater drain clearing.
  • ✓ Sewer pipes Unrooting of tree roots.
  • ✓ Inspections of CCTV drains.
  • ✓ Jet blasting with high pressure water.
  • ✓ No-dig repair (pipe relining).
  • ✓ Trenching and replacement of pipes.
  • ✓ Share house and commercial drainage, strata.

Randwick Drainage - The Numbers That Explain the Problem

9.7km²

Kensington, centennial park flood catchment This area is the catchment of the Randwick, western streets leading out to the park and Eastlakes ponds.

261km

The drainage pipe of the council-managed drainage system in Randwick City, most of which was constructed in the 1950s-60s, now is loaded with loads which are not intended.

28,943

Residents of Randwick (2021 Census), tens of thousands of UNSW students and hospital employees, who go through each day.

189ha

On the border of Randwick with Centennial Park. The root systems are laid along our residential streets and extend into the surrounding ones.

Data: Randwick Council drainage assets; KensingtonCentennial Park Flood Study (adopted 2019); ABS Census 2021.

What Blocks Drains in Randwick

The three directions of the drainage problems at Randwick are: huge root systems of a huge park, old infrastructure straining under the new demands, and the dirtiness of people and institutions using the same.

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Centennial Park's Root Invasion

The area with the most root intrusion issues in the Eastern Suburbs is the streets surrounding Centennial Park. In Australia, some of the most aggressive root-spreading species are Moreton Bay figs and Port Jackson figs, whose roots may reach 20 to 30 metres in length, out of the trunk. In the case of the properties in Darley Road, Alison Road and the blocks leading southward to High Cross Park, the penetration of tree roots into terracotta sewer pipes through all joints is a long-standing, recurring problem. Jetting removes the symptom, though when the pipe itself is broken, roots regenerate in a few months.

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Heritage Pipes Since the 1800s

Randwick was declared as a municipality in 1859 and has been under development ever since. There are also old homes along the Belmore Road, Blenheim Street, and Avoca Street that are more than 100 years of age that remain on earthen or early terracotta sewer lines. The longevity of these pipes is very impressive but they are way beyond the design life and each joint is an area of weakness. Those joints have been under the hammer of decades of thermal cycling, root pressure and soil motion.

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Oil and Grime in Share Houses

The fact that Randwick is close to UNSW implies that a considerable amount of rental properties are shared houses. A single household does not demand as much as four or five people that use a kitchen and a bathroom. The sink goes down with cooking oil, food scraps beyond the drain cover, hair and soap in the shower, multiply the habits by four or five occupants and the accumulation occurs much quicker than in a typical family home. We empty greasy kitchen drainage in Randwick exchange houses once a week.

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Wet Wipes in Stacks in Apartments

Randwick has approximately 68 per cent apartment dwellings. In the shared sewer stack buildings, wet wipes of several households accumulate at all the bends and junctions. They mix with grease and soap to create thick plugs that will not move by plunging. The units on the ground floor are the most affected when the stack reverses, the sewage is forced up through the lowest drain before others. It is the most avoidable type of blockage which we encounter, and the most prevalent in the apartment stock of Randwick.

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Construction Zone Disruption

The 2-billion Randwick Hospitals Campus redevelopment project entailed the purchase of 92 adjacent properties and the years of extensive excavation, piling, and construction. That magnitude of ground shaking does not occur in a vacuum, it shakes the soil, pipes installed in the ground and strains the connections in sewer and stormwater lines on the adjacent streets. The problem of drainage has been an issue in properties around the Hospital Road, Barker Street, High Street, and Magill street since the major construction started. We have witnessed the trend with our own eyes.

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Flood Catchment Stormwater Overflow

The flood catchment of Kensington-Centennial Park is 9.7 square kilometres. Randwick western streets are stormwater run-offs to Centennial Park and Eastlakes Ponds. The flood research found certain streets such as the corner of Doncaster Avenue and the Anzac Parade which constantly flood in intense rain. When your own stormwater drains are partially blocked at the time of the storm, your own property is the one that is used to overflow.

Six Signs a Clogged Drain Is Constructed

Blockages develop gradually. You save money by catching them early, and you save a bathroom and a Saturday by avoiding the overflow.

1

Several Fixtures With Sluggish Drainage

The issue is not in one particular outlet, when the kitchen sink, shower, and basin are all slow simultaneously, the problem lies farther down the line of the main sewerage. The greater the number of fixtures involved, the deeper the blockage will be.

2

Gurgling Between Drains

Flush the toilet and the shower drain bubbles. Turn on the dishwasher, the kitchen sink gurgles. Air that accumulates behind a partial obstruction causes the closest water seal to open. It is among the first indications that flow is limited.

3

Bad Smell in Drains or the Yard

Waste that is in a partly blocked pipe decomposes and gives off hydrogen sulphide, rotten egg gas. In the case where the odor is intense close to an outside grate or the floor drain of the laundry, the obstruction is in the main sewer between the residence and the boundary.

4

Abnormally Green Patch in the Lawn

An underground broken sewer acts as a slow release fertiliser. A greener place in the garden than another, and particularly where the sewer line of the house is likely to pass on its way to the street, means that the pipe is being compromised.

5

One Fixture Backs into Another

You flush the toilet and the water comes up in the shower. You do the laundry and water is in the drainage of the laundry floor. Obstructed downstream: Fixtures that depend on each other have a common drain line. Let it and it is a complete sewage overflow.

6

Overflow at an External Grate

The first visible indication of a completely blocked main sewer line is dirty water or sewage flooding around an external grate at the ground level, particularly at the boundary of the property. The entire line must be cleared and the situation does not get indoors.

The way we unblock and reseal drains in Randwick

📹 CCTV Inspection of Drain Camera

Diagnostic

We put a camera down the pipe before we clear it. The live feed will reveal to us what precisely is blocking it, roots, grease, displaced pipe, foreign objects and exactly where it is located. In Randwick, where the pipe material is as old as the 19 th century earthenware and the new PVC, it saves time to know what we are dealing with. We film the video and send it to you, your strata manager, or your landlord.

💦 High-Pressure Jet Blasting

Clearing

The high pressure and focused water jet slices through root masses, grease, wet wipe deposits, and sediment. Jetting cuts the entire pipe bore as opposed to drilling a narrow hole as is the case with a drain snake. In the case of the majority of blocked drains in Randwick, houses and apartments, share houses included, jetting puts it back on the same day. Preventatively jetting on the Centennial Park side of the suburb is a frequent occurrence to prevent the blockage of the roots of properties that are frequently affected.

🔧 Pipe Relining (No-dig Repair)

Permanent Fix

In cases where the camera shows broken joints, root points and corrosion destruction, especially in the older houses around the park in Randwick, relining is in most cases the most effective permanent solution. A resin liner is placed and allowed to cure in the middle of the existing pipe forming a smooth inner pipe within the existing one. None of the joints implies no entry of the roots in the future. Relining can save the property in heritage properties where the driveway is original sandstone or the garden is established with plantings, but repairing the drainage permanently. Warranties of relined pipes are 35 years or above.

⛏️ Excavation and Replacement

When Necessary

In the case of a completely collapsed or displaced-pipe or many structural failures of a short length, the damaged part must be excavated. We dig, replace with new PVC, and repair the surface. Excavation is more troublesome and expensive compared to relining, we do not recommend it unless there is no viable alternative. However, once the pipe is truly not salvageable, it is the sole right thing to do.

The Root Zone: Why Streets Near Park Block More Often

Traced around Centennial Park and out 30 metres in all directions you would have the root zone of the largest trees on the park boundary. The roots of trees in that zone are actively in search of moisture and a sewer line with warm, nutrient-rich waste is the best target underground.

The terracotta sewer pipes have a metre long joint. They had been initially cement-mortar-sealed but the mortar cracks and moves over decades and wears out. Each compromised joint becomes an entry point. A root tip once established inside the pipe grows, trapping debris as it passes through, and gradually plugs the flow. During the initial phases you may find the shower to drain slower than normal. When the sewage is overflowing in the backyard grate, the mass of roots has been growing in the pipe, months or years long.

This trend is observable in Randwick more than in nearly any other suburb that we service. This is due to the fact that it is one of the most root-infested areas in Sydney, as the huge, mature trees stand directly next to residential streets, and the sewer pipes are so old that they have several damaged joints. In the case of properties located on the park side of the suburb, we suggest CCTV inspection and preventive jet clearance annually. It is only a fraction of an emergency call-out and intercepts root growth before it can lead to a failure.

Three dissimilar drain jobs include Victorian Homes, Shared Houses and modern apartments

The strangeness of Randwick with regard to drain work is the sheer number of properties that we attend to within a day. A morning call could be an earth-choked sewer in a Victorian terrace in Blenheim street, earthenware pipe, trench dug by hand in the 1800s, original installation. It might be the grease-clogged kitchen sink in a four-shares-house near UNSW with the terracotta line under the slab becoming years of years of cooking oil. And the evening could be a congested sewer stack in a 1960s walk-up apartment at The Spot, where damp wipes of a dozen apartments have been plugged into the first perpendicular turn.

All of them necessitate various tools, various approaches, and a different discussion with the owner or tenant on what led to its occurrence and how to avoid its recurrence. In the case of heritage homes, root management and pipe condition is the most important aspect. In the case of shared houses, it is the usage habits and grease prevention. In the case of the apartments, wet wipes and strata are in charge. We are familiar with enough of them to know the script, but we do not phone it in. Each obstruction receives a camera check, a due clearance and sincere counsel on the way ahead.

The way a Drain Call-Out Works in Randwick

1
Call and Describe

Inform us about what has happened, slow drains, overflow, nasty smell, flooding backyard. We will ask two questions, determine urgency and set a time to arrive.

2
Going in the First

A CCTV camera is fed down the line to find the obstruction and determine the state of the pipes. No conjecture, no excavations in the dark. You watch the video with us.

3
Clear the Blockage

We add jet blasting, mechanical clearing, or both ways, to get full flow restored. A fair price is offered at the time of work. We verify that the line is clear by passing the camera a second time.

4
Report and Advise

In case we detect structural damage, we clarify the options and give a written report. In the event that it only required clearing, we provide practical prevention tips depending on the type of property.

Words of Our Customers

★★★★★

"Our drain in the back yard kept filling up. Plumber Sydney, came out and got it sorted within no time and cleaned it up the right way and advised us on how to prevent the same happening in the future. "

Confirmed Customer — Eastern Suburbs
★★★★★

"Fast and efficient service offered. I made an enquiry call-out and they responded within two days, reasonably priced to get services and I highly recommend them to take care of your plumbing."

Frances C. — Sydney
★★★★★

"Callout was fast, excellent service. Recommend highly and thank you again."

Debbie R. — Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions Blocked Drains Randwick

No. We have a call-out fee of 0 in all the areas that we serve. We visit the drain to have a look and you are quoted a clear quote. Nothing begins till you have assented.

Regular obstructions at the same position nearly always indicate structural damage in the pipe, a crack, a dislocated joint, or a fixed root mass that re-grows each time it is cleared. Root intrusion through broken terracotta joints is the most prevalent source of recurring blockages in Randwick, especially along streets around Centennial Park. Jetting relieves the symptom, but relining or replacement of sections are required to correct the problem permanently.

In most cases, yes. Relining is applied on terracotta, earthenware, cast iron and PVC which can be found at various times in the various properties of Randwick. The pipe must be intact so that the liner can be passed through and thus completely collapsed parts are not allowed. We first always check with the camera. In the case of Randwick, heritage homes whose gardens and original pathways are well established, relining is especially beneficial as it does not involve any digging up of the ground.

In most cases, the landlord is in charge of structural drainage problems, damage of tree roots, collapsed pipes, old pipe damage, and so on. In case the blockage was as a result of misuse (wet wipes flushing, pouring of grease), the tenant can be held responsible. We record the reason and the place of each blockage and this will assist in clearing the issue of responsibility between the tenant and the landlord. but we empty the drain first, as sewage on the floor does not bide its time till we have a discussion on the subject of who is to pay.

It is possible in case your property is close to the Randwick Hospitals Campus especially on or close to Hospital Road, Barker street, High street or even Magill Street. In neighboring premises, decades of excavation, piling, and building vibration may cause stress on underground pipes, particularly on older terracotta and earthenware pipes. We are able to inspect, record the state and give our opinion on whether the damage is in line with external ground disturbance, which is valuable in case you wish to file a formal complaint or claim.

We would highly discourage it. Old terracotta and earthenware pipe joints are corroded by chemical cleaners, which are the type of pipes that are still present in many Randwick homes. They seldom repair more than superficially blocked pipe, and they pose a chemical risk to the next operator. Professional jet clearing is safer and more comprehensive and quicker to the drainage system.

The biggest difference is made in three things. No wipes, no cotton buds, no sanitary items, keep all but water, toilet paper, and human waste out of the drains. Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and then wash. And when you are in an old sewer pipe and your property is close to the established trees, especially on the Centennial Park side of Randwick, you should have an annual CCTV inspection and preventive jet clearance. It is a fraction of an emergency call-out, and prevents problems before they turn into overflows.

Areas We Service Near Randwick

We clear blocked drains across Randwick and all surrounding Eastern Suburbs locations.

Randwick Coogee South Coogee ClovellyKensington Kingsford Maroubra Bronte Bondi Junction Waverley Queens Park Paddington Woollahra Centennial Park MatravillePagewood

Blocked Drain in Randwick?

Don't let it get worse. A slow drain today is an overflow tomorrow. Call us and we'll get it sorted, properly, same day, at a price you've agreed to upfront.

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