How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain in Sydney?
Most standard blocked drains cost $200–$500 to clear. Simple internal blockages (one sink, one shower) sit at the lower end; main-line blockages needing high-pressure jetting or root cutting sit at the upper end.
What moves the price: where the blockage is (internal branch vs main sewer), what's causing it (soap and hair vs tree roots), and access (an easy inspection opening vs pulling a toilet). What doesn't move our price: how desperate you sound. The quote is fixed before we start. More detail on the blocked drains page.
How much does pipe relining cost in Sydney?
Typically $500–$800 per metre for standard 100mm house sewers. Most complete residential jobs land between $3,000 and $15,000 depending on length, diameter and junction count.
Per-metre pricing drops as jobs get longer (setup is a fixed cost), and rises with diameter, depth and each junction that needs robotic re-opening. A patch repair of one damaged section — rather than a full-length reline — can come in between $500 and $2,500. Full breakdown on the pipe relining page.
Why is pipe relining so expensive?
Because it's structural work: certified installers, inversion and curing equipment, robotic cutters, and a liner with a 50+ year design life. But compare totals, not line items — excavation plus a new driveway usually costs far more than the reline that avoided both.
The honest comparison is: reline ($3k–$15k, driveway intact, done in a day) vs excavate ($ variable, plus concreting, landscaping or re-tiling, plus days of machinery). Relining only looks expensive next to a $300 drain clear — which is treating the symptom, not the cracked pipe that keeps causing it.
How much is a CCTV drain inspection?
Typically $250–$550 in Sydney, including recorded footage and a written report. We commonly credit the inspection fee against repair work quoted from the footage.
Treat any "free CCTV inspection" as marketing maths — the cost is baked into the repair quote that follows. We'd rather charge fairly for the diagnosis and let the footage speak. Details on the CCTV inspection page.
How much does a plumber charge to unblock a toilet?
A straightforward blocked toilet typically costs $150–$400. If the toilet is a symptom of a blocked main sewer line — the giveaway is other fixtures gurgling too — expect standard blocked-drain pricing of $200–$500.
Before you call anyone, try the five-minute checks in our blocked toilet guide — a decent share of single-flush blockages clear with a proper plunge.
What does an emergency callout cost?
After-hours emergency work carries a premium over the same job at 10am on a Tuesday — that's true of every plumber. What should never change: a fixed price quoted and approved before work starts. We give you a range on the phone and a fixed number on site.
If sewage is actively overflowing, see the emergency page for what to do while we drive.
How to compare quotes without getting burned
- Fixed price vs hourly: insist on fixed. Hourly + "we'll see" is how a $300 job becomes $900.
- Diagnosis before quote: a repair quote without camera footage is a guess — usually a padded one.
- Ask what the number includes: jetting? camera verification after? warranty in writing?
- $0 callout ≠ $0 job: the callout fee is just relocated into the repair price.
- Beware the instant excavation quote: if someone wants to dig before showing you footage, get a second opinion. (We're happy to be it.)