Do you warrant your work?
Yes, At Pipe Doctor, we do what it takes to earn your satisfaction because we know that our customers are the reason we are here. You can count on us to ensure the job is always done right, no matter how big or small. We are so confident about our quality service that we guarantee our workmanship with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee.
Please read our T & C's or see our About Us page for more information.
Can I make a booking via email?
You can use our simple online booking form, and one of our friendly team will contact you to arrange and confirm your booking. For more information, please see our contact us page.
How much do you charge?
Depending on the services you require, our charges do vary. When you book an appointment with Pipe Doctor, we make sure that there are no hidden charges, and if a job requires additional work, we make sure these are always discussed with you first, so there are no nasty surprises.
For more information, contact us and one of our friendly team can discuss your requirements today.
Can I make a booking in advance?
Yes, give us a call, and one of our friendly team will arrange a time that suits you. Alternatively, you can use our simple online booking form, and we will be in contact soon.
For more information, please see our contact us page.
How long will it take to unblock my drains?
Depending on the job, our operators will indicate timeframes when booking and once they have assessed the works required.
How quickly can you arrive?
Wherever possible, we aim to arrive within an hour of your call. However, our friendly team can schedule a convenient time if you have a preferred time.
For more information, please see our contact us page.
Can you come on at night, at weekends or on public holidays?
Yes, our team is always there for you when you need us most, 24/7, all year round, including public holidays.
What would be considered a plumbing emergency?
A plumbing emergency will commonly involve the risk of water damage or safety concerns such as damaged pipes or clogged drains. If your problem is more severe than usual, don't hesitate to give one of our friendly team a call to help.
Can I pay using a credit or debit card?
Yes, all our operators can accept MasterCard, Visa, Cheque, and cash on site.
How long have you been unblocking drains?
Established in 2003, we have worked hard to build a long-standing reputation for being the best in drain cleaning, inspection, and drain maintenance throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Can you send me an invoice after the work is complete?
Yes, account facilities can be arranged for large and regular clients subject to the usual credit checks.
My drains keep blocking; what can I do?
Some blockages are easy to fix with a simple plunge, but if you are having recurring blockages and ongoing issues with your fixtures, it could indicate a more significant problem in your drain. If you have frequent blockages in your home or business, it may be as simple as your pipes require a proper clean or something more serious such as a damaged pipe.
Our trained technicians can conduct a CCTV drain inspection to get the inside story on your drain would be the first place to start to identify the source of the recurring issue.
See our CCTV Drain Inspection page for more information.
My drains are gurgling; what does that mean?
One of the first symptoms of a blocked sewer drain is the gurgle. This gurgling is caused by air bubbles that are getting in the drain and the drain "gasping for air". This is a sure sign that somewhere in your sewer system is at least partially blocked.
When you hear your drains gurgling, it might not seem like much of a problem at first, but it's essential to have the drain looked at before it becomes a more significant issue and blocks entirely. Our trained technicians are fully equipped to quickly diagnose and resolve drainage issues to minimise your stress and the costs of repairs.
See our Blocked Drains page for more information.
My kitchen sink is blocked and drains slowly; what can I do?
When you have a blocked kitchen sink, chances are it's because of a build-up of one of 3 things – grease and oils, soap and chemicals, or food scraps. If you find yourself with a kitchen sink that won't drain, there are a few things that you can try if it is a minor blockage, such as plunging the drain or running boiling water down the drain, but if you have tried a few tricks and it still won't drain it might be time to call in an expert.
Our trained technicians specialise in clearing blocked drains coming fully equipped with various nozzles and cleaning attachments for our high-pressure jetting equipment. They will have your kitchen back and running in no time.
See our Drain Cleaning page for more information.
I keep getting food and grease blockages; how can I fix it?
Most people know not to pour cooking oil directly down the drain, but many don't realise that grease builds up over a prolonged period and comprises many elements. For example, once we finish our meal, and wash the grease, oil, and food scraps from our dirty dishes with soap, many of which contain animal or vegetable fats. When we're finished, all the water goes down the drain, and as it cools, the grease, fats, and oils rise to the top and start solidifying, sticking firmly to the sides of the pipe. While this isn't a problem initially, over time, large clumps of grease will build up and eventually block your drain.
Prevention is always better than a cure, so avoiding putting eggshells, rice, coffee grounds, oils, and food scraps down your drains is best. You could also try adding a sink strainer to prevent food waste from falling into the sink drains, wiping pots, pans, or plates with a paper towel before washing, and placing excess grease into bottles rather than down the drain.
Using our high-pressure water jetting equipment and treating the drain with Grease Release, our trained technician can clear and prevent future blockages caused by grease or fat build-ups.
See our Programmed Maintenance page for more information.
How do I tell if I have a blocked sewer?
It may take a while for a blockage to build up, but it will be noticeable very quickly once a problem has started to take its toll. One of the most obvious signs that a sewer drain is blocked is if your toilet, shower, bath, or sinks are draining slowly or not at all. Other common symptoms of a blocked sewer drain are foul smells, gurgling sounds from your drains or toilets, or wastewater appearing in sinks, bathtubs, or showers.
Any one of these symptoms is a cause for concern on its own, but if you notice two or even three, then it's time to tackle the issue head-on; in our experience, a blockage will go from being a minor problem to an emergency at the worst of times.
Each of our units is fully equipped with the most advanced drain-cleaning equipment, ready to clear every drainage blockage imaginable.
See our Blocked Sewer page for more information.
My drains are not draining. Do I have a blocked drain?
If you find yourself thinking, "does the water always take this long to drain out of the sink . . .?" the answer is probably no. Slow draining water could mean you have a blockage in the sink P-trap, somewhere in your kitchen waste pipe, or even further down the drain.
When you suspect something is wrong with your drains or sewer pipes, getting the correct diagnosis and identifying potential future problems is essential to getting fast and effective results.
See our Blocked Drains page for more information
I can smell sewer; what should I do?
A foul smell is usually a sign of something wrong and can indicate a severe problem in your drains. Sometimes there are simple reasons behind sewer odours, such as the water traps have dried out, or your toilet needs a new pan rubber and isn't sealing. But if you have poured water down all your drains or your toilet is sealing correctly, it could indicate a more severe drainage problem.
Finding the source of the odours can be difficult, so getting your drains thoroughly inspected with a colour drain inspection camera will give you the inside story on your drains, and performing a smoke test will test for any leaks or breaks.
See our CCTV Drain Inspection page for more information.
My toilet is overflowing; HELP!
An overflowing or blocked toilet is not fun to deal with. If the toilet begins to overflow immediately after flushing it, you need to find out what's causing the problem so you can fix it immediately. There are a few likely reasons if your toilet is about to overflow or keeps flooding your bathroom.
The primary reason for an overflowing toilet is because of a blockage; plunging a blocked toilet may solve the issue, but if the blockage is further down the drain, a plunger may not be able to reach the problem. Sometimes an overflowing toilet can indicate a blockage in the drain that runs from the house to the main sewer line or septic tank – this could be foreign objects, tree roots, or a damaged drain.
If you are on a septic system, if your septic tank has not been emptied in the past 3-5 years, your septic tank may be full and need to be emptied, or the distribution lines out of your tank might have been blocked, which means the water cannot be released from the tank and will cause your tank to fill up. Sometimes it becomes necessary to remove the toilet if there are no other access points into the sewer system. Our team of experts has all the tools and experience to provide you with reliable, cost-effective solutions.
See our Blocked Sewer page for more information.
I think I have tree roots blocking my drains. Do I have to remove my trees?
Tree roots naturally seek out water and, if they can, will enter your pipes because your sewer is an excellent source of water and fertiliser for them. Tree roots will only cause problems in your drains if there is somewhere where they can get into them, such as a crack, a broken pipe, or separated joins.
Depending on the severity of the tree roots, you can take a couple of options. A long-term solution is to repair the drain to stop the tree root from getting in. This can be done by digging up and replacing parts of the drain, or by relining the damaged sections of the drain.
See our Pipe Relining page for more information.
A mid-term solution for tree roots that haven't caused significant damage is conducting a yearly root control treatment on your drains. Our trained technicians combine our high-pressure jetting equipment with a CCTV drain inspection and Sanafoam Vaporooter to provide a cost-effective solution for your peace of mind.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
There is water overflowing from a drain outside, are my drains blocked?
In the event of a blocked sewer, the Overflow Relief Gully (ORG) grate is designed to pop up and release excess water from your sewer system. The ORG connects the main sewer line into the property and the pipework from within your house. The base of the ORG should be lower than all the other outlets in your home so that if the sewer main becomes blocked, the wastewater from your home will overflow out of the ORG rather than back inside your home.
If the fixtures in your home are not draining correctly, a quick inspection of your ORG will tell you if the blockage is in the main sewer line or in the pipework from that particular fixture. If the ORG is clear, this indicates the blockage is in the pipework to the fixture itself, but if the ORG is full of water or overflowing, you may find you have a blockage down the line or that it has been filled with something that shouldn't be in there such as rocks, toys, balls or dog toys.
Our trained technicians utilise state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and resolve drainage issues and blast away years of drain build-up.
See our Drain Cleaning page for more information.
I have a blocked stormwater drain; can I prevent it?
You may have a blocked stormwater drain if you notice water overflowing from your gutters or water pooling around your home. The most common blockages in stormwater drains are caused by leaves, dirt, pebbles, silt, sticks, rubbish, or garden debris, and an accumulation of any of these will cause a blockage.
Ensuring the drainage system around your home is clear and free from blockages is essential to safeguard your home from a possible flood; any blockages should be fixed as soon as they are identified.
Depending on the blockage, you may be able to fix it yourself using a plunger, but in most cases, the use of high-pressure jetting equipment is the best solution to blast the blockage away and ensure the drain is clear. Our drain and sewer experts are ready to save you time and money and are always available to help.
See our Blocked Stormwater page for more information.
What is a pre-purchase drain inspection? Isn't that included with a pest and building inspection?
When buying or building a new home, it's essential to ensure the reliability of your sewer and stormwater drains. Drain inspections are not part of the pre-purchase pest and building inspection process, nor are they required to be inspected at the handover stage of a new home.
Ensuring that there are no hidden defects within the sewer or stormwater drains could help you avoid significant structural damages to your home and save you thousands of dollars down the track.
As most plumbing is hidden behind walls and underground, our team can perform a detailed video inspection of your drainage system using our cutting-edge CCTV drainage inspection equipment specially designed to detect any drainage abnormalities and provide you with a complete high-resolution colour assessment of your internal and external drainage systems.
See our New Home Drain Inspections page for more information.
I have a broken pipe; what are my options?
A cracked or broken drain is an extreme drainage issue. It is usually a result of poor drain maintenance or damage caused during construction, landscaping, shoddy workmanship, or simply from the pipes' degradation. Some tell-tale signs that there could be something serious going on in your drains are if you have had your drains thoroughly cleaned, but you are still experiencing regular blockages, or your fixtures remain slow draining, there is a consistent foul sewage smell or damp areas around your drains.
If you suspect that your drains are severely damaged, blocked, or have no idea what the issue might be, conducting a CCTV drainage inspection to get the correct diagnoses and identify potential future problems is essential to getting fast and effective results.
See our CCTV Drain Inspection page for more information.
What is a blocked stormwater drain?
Stormwater drains are connected to your roof via downpipes and are designed to take the water away from your property to either a tank, catchment area, curb, or council stormwater drain. If your stormwater system becomes blocked, the water has nowhere to go and begins to flood your garden or driveway instead. It is essential to carry out regular maintenance on your stormwater systems to ensure they are clear and prevent damage to your property due to flooding.
See our Blocked Stormwater page for more information.
What causes a blocked stormwater drain?
Blockages in stormwater drains are generally caused by a build-up of dirt, debris, or tree roots. If you notice water overflowing out of your gutters or water pooling around your home, more likely than not, you have a blocked stormwater drain.
See our Blocked Stormwater page for more information.
What is Vaporooter?
Vaporooter is a foamed-based herbicide formulated to keep root growth out of your sewer drains. It works by penetrating the root cell walls and bursting them, causing the roots to die and decay.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Will Vaporooter destroy the roots in my sewer drains that cause blockages?
Yes, not only does Vaporooter destroy existing roots, but with the repeated annual application, it also prevents regrowth.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
How does Vaporooter stop roots from growing back?
Vaporooter contains a root growth inhibitor called Dichlobenil that attaches itself to any organic material inside the pipe and sterilises the soil wherever roots have previously gained entry.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Will Vaporooter harm the plants and trees near my sewer drains?
No, Vaporooter can only travel a very short distance up the root. It's a non-systemic herbicide, which means it's specifically formulated to affect only the root material it comes in contact with.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Is Vaporooter safe to use?
Yes, Vaporooter is 100% safe and effective, and it has been safely and successfully used worldwide for over 40 years.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Why does Vaporooter foam up?
Vaporooter is a foam-based herbicide rather than a liquid-based one because roots typically penetrate sewer drains from above rather than from the base of the pipe. A liquid herbicide would be less effective as it would quickly pass through the pipe. The Vaporooter foam base ensures that the essential ingredients get directly to the source of the problem and stay there for longer.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Can I pour it down the toilet and flush it?
No, if Vaporooter is poured down the toilet like some caustic and copper sulphate products, it won't foam up and may therefore have limited contact with the root mass.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
Can I apply Vaporooter myself?
No, Vaporooter must be pumped into your pipes by a trained technician using a foaming machine. Only a trained technician can calculate how much foam is required to completely fill your pipes to achieve maximum contact with the roots.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
How long does it take to pump Vaporooter into my pipes?
It depends on the length of your pipes, but most jobs take less than an hour.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.
How long does Vaporooter take to work?
Vaporooter gets to work almost immediately. The herbicide penetrates the roots inside the pipe and pipe wall and at the entry point, causing the roots to die. As the root mass decays, it rots and is swept away in the flow.
See our Tree Root Control page for more information.