Blocked Drain Clearing Camp Hill, Brisbane: Tree Root Fix

Battle of the Roots: Blocked Drain Clearing in Camp Hill

Is there any sound more ominous in a home than a toilet gurgling when you run the kitchen tap? It’s the universal plumbing signal that something is wrong deep underground. When water starts backing up in multiple places at once, you know you aren’t dealing with a simple clog—you are facing a blockage that threatens to bring your entire household to a standstill.

Camp Hill is known for its beautiful, established trees, but what looks great in the canopy can be a disaster for the pipes below. Recently, Fallon Solutions was called to a local property where the residents were battling a stubborn drainage issue. The toilet wouldn’t flush properly, the kitchen sink was holding water, and the problem seemed to be originating from outside the house.

If your drains are acting up, it’s likely that nature has found a way into your plumbing. Here is how we diagnosed the issue and cleared the way.

The Problem: A System Under Siege

The homeowner in Camp Hill contacted us with a classic “whole house” backup scenario: “blocked drain- outside of the property… toilet and kitchen sink has been affected.”

When multiple fixtures back up simultaneously, it usually indicates a blockage in the main sewer line rather than a single pipe.

The Silent Invader: Tree Roots In older suburbs like Camp Hill, tree roots in pipes are the leading cause of sewer failures.

• The Hunt for Water: Roots can sense the moisture and nutrients inside a sewer pipe from metres away.
• The Entry: They seek out tiny cracks in earthenware pipes or loose joints in PVC. Once a hair-line root gets in, it feeds on the waste and grows rapidly.
• The Web: As the roots expand, they form a dense, net-like mass. This catches toilet paper, grease, and solids, eventually creating a total dam.
• The Symptom: Water from the toilet and kitchen sink hits this wall of roots and has nowhere to go but back up the pipe, leading to gurgling sounds, slow drainage, and eventual overflow.

For this resident, the blockage was located “outside of the property,” meaning the main line connecting the house to the council sewer was compromised.

The Solution: High-Tech Inspection and Clearing

Upon arrival, our licensed plumber assessed the property layout. We suspected tree roots immediately, but guessing isn’t enough when the problem is underground. We utilized advanced technology to unblock drains effectively.

Here is the step-by-step process we used:

1. CCTV Drain Inspection: Before doing anything destructive, we needed eyes on the problem. We inserted a specialised CCTV drain inspection camera into the plumbing system via an overflow relief gully (ORG).
   • The Diagnosis: The high-definition video feed confirmed our suspicions: a significant mass of tree roots had infiltrated the main line, choking the flow.
2. Hydro-Jetting: To unclog drains filled with roots, a manual plunger or chemical cleaner is useless. We deployed a high-pressure water jetter.
   • How it works: The “jetter” sends a hose down the pipe with a specialized cutting head. It blasts water at pressures up to 5000 PSI. This water pressure is strong enough to slice through thick tree roots and scour the pipe walls clean, essentially acting as a liquid saw.
3. Flushing and Re-Inspection: Once the jetter had pulverized the roots, we flushed the debris into the council main. We then used the CCTV camera again to inspect the pipe.
   • Why re-inspect? We needed to ensure the line was 100% clear and check if the roots had caused any structural damage (cracks or breaks) that might require relining in the future.

By combining visual diagnostics with high-pressure cleaning, we solved the problem without digging up the garden.

The Benefits for the Homeowner

Engaging a professional for blocked drain clearing using jetting technology offers significant advantages:

• No Excavation: We cleared the roots remotely from the access point, saving the homeowner’s driveway and garden from being dug up.
• Total Clean: Unlike an electric eel which might just punch a hole through the roots, the jetter cleans the entire diameter of the pipe, meaning it takes much longer for roots to grow back.
• Hygiene Restored: The toilet and kitchen sink drain instantly again, removing the risk of sewage backing up into the home.

Informed Decisions: The camera footage gave the homeowner a clear picture of their pipe health, allowing them to plan for future maintenance.

Why Choose Fallon Solutions?

Dealing with tree roots is a specialist job. You need more than just a plumber; you need a technician with the right heavy machinery.

When you search for “unblock drains” in Camp Hill, you need a team that arrives fully equipped. At Fallon Solutions, our vehicles are fitted with the latest CCTV cameras and high-pressure jetters. We don’t just guess; we show you the problem on a screen and then blast it away. We provide honest, upfront advice on whether a clean is enough or if a permanent pipe relining solution is needed. Learn more about our drain services here.

Experts in Drain Clearing

Don’t let tree roots claim your plumbing. If your toilet is gurgling or your sink won’t empty, you likely have a root intrusion that needs powerful intervention.

If you are experiencing issues with tree roots in pipes or need blocked drain clearing in Camp Hill, don’t wait for the sewage to overflow. Contact the experts at Fallon Solutions today for fast, reliable service! Call us on 1300 054 488 or send us an enquiry here.