Services

Signs your drain is blocked:

• Pools of water around the exterior of your house when it has not rained
• Spots of the lawn that are greener than other areas of the lawn
• Toilets that take a long time to empty
• Toilets fill up before they empty
• Drains take a long time to lower
• Overflowing downpipes
• Concrete cracks that have water seeping out of them
• Toilets, sinks or showers backing up
• Grates outside overflowing
• Gurgling from pipes, toilets or other plumbing fixtures
• Odours coming from drains or plumbing fixtures

We offer a 24-hour Emergency Service and can provide our prompt, professional service to unblock your drain. 

What causes a drain to block?

Debris and Foreign Objects ranging from a build-up of hair, grease and some food matter through to tree roots invading through cracks in the pipework can cause a blockage. Often blocked toilets are the result of using too much toilet tissue or trying to flush items other than toilet tissue. 

Broken Pipes

Broken pipes can be caused by a number of objects.   The main causes of broken or cracked pipes and fittings are land subsidence or ground movement, poor installation, heavy vehicular traffic or deterioration of old pipework. If a pipe breaks it can cause a collapse or obstruction in the pipe where solids can build up, causing a blockage. These cracks or breaks can then lead to tree root invasion.

Tree Roots

Tree roots are the most common cause of a blocked drain. Interestingly, the roots are rarely the cause of the initial obstruction. A drain can be broken by ground subsidence, heavy vehicular traffic, poor installation or deterioration over a period of time. This causes the drain to leak water into the surrounding soil. The consistent source of water attracts the roots from nearby vegetation which enter the drain and flourish. The only permanent resolution to this problem is to repair/replace the broken section of drain.

DIY Gone Wrong

With DIY on the rise in Australia, it is understandable that more home owners are attempting to install their own plumbing and pipes. What many people do not realise is that installing drains incorrectly can be a serious health risk. Performing unlicensed plumbing work carries substantial fines to protect the health and safety of our community.

Unblocking Drains

Unblocking a drain can be a difficult, dangerous and dirty process, which is best avoided unless you are a trained professional. Blockages can be quite complicated. Using a licensed Plumber who carries the right equipment is imperative in finding the source of the blockage, thus making the process faster and smoother and preventing further damage to the drain which ultimately saves you money.

When the blockage is more complex in the case of tree roots, collapsed sewer lines and broken pipes it will require more specialized equipment. Our plumber may use a high-pressure Jet Rodder that self-propels through the pipework, cleaning any obstacles such as roots that are in the way. The Jet Rodder is quite gentle on the inside of the pipework in comparison to the Electric Eel, and can be used to thoroughly clean the inner structure of your pipework. In some circumstances however, an electric eel is the right equipment for the task.

Our CCTV Drain Camera puts an end to guesswork and unnecessary digging to locate the cause of a blocked drain. This highly effective technology not only displays the cause of the blockage, but can also give an instant insight into the depth and degree of the blockage or damage to the pipes, determining whether or not they need repairing or replacing.

This means we can carry out a full drain inspection, implement a solution more effectively, and replace or repair damaged or broken pipes with the minimum of inconvenience, mess and cost to you.

Can I Unblock my drain?

There are a few things you can try prior to calling us:

Blocked toilets are usually blocked with toilet tissue.  Using a plunger, plunge the toilet bowl to solve this issue.

Blocked sinks, basins, showers and floor grates can be blocked with a build up of hair, food, grease and soap.  They can be plunged or apply a drain cleaning product such as Drain-O or Momar.

Note:

If you have a re-occurring blockage, give us a call to discuss your plumbing needs.  We can arrange to inspect your drain with the CCTV Drain Camera to identify the cause and location of the blockage.  This is the most cost-effective service to prevent future issues.

Positive Plumbing Qld are professional plumbers who will do the job right first time, every time.  Call us today on 0407 172 106 for all of your plumbing maintenance needs.  We are here for you 24/7.