Snake Down Drains

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Licensed plumbers across Brisbane, Perth & Adelaide

G★★★★★
4.6 · 2,000+ Google reviews

Snaking, running a drain machine or electric eel into the pipe, is an effective way to cut through solid blockages and tree roots and get your drains flowing again. Our licensed plumbers use the right tool for the blockage, a snake to cut through solids and roots, a high-pressure jetter to scour grease and build-up, or both for a thorough result, and inspect the line with a CCTV camera if it keeps blocking, so we find and fix the cause rather than just shifting it. We clear your drains and leave them flowing freely across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with same-day service where we can and an upfront fixed price.

Why choose Same Day Trades to snake your drains

We are local, licensed and insured plumbers who do this work every day, so we get it right the first time, with no mess and no surprises on the invoice.

Fully licensed and insured plumbers
Upfront fixed pricing before we start
Same-day service where we can, with 24/7 phones
Workmanship guaranteed and the job left clean
Servicing Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide

Whatever the job, you get honest advice and a tidy, professional result.

What snaking a drain means

Snaking a drain means using a drain machine, also called an electric eel, a long motorised cable with a cutting or clearing head on the end, which is fed into the drain to break up and pull out a blockage. As the cable rotates, the head cuts through the obstruction, whether it is a solid blockage or tree roots, and clears the pipe so it flows again. Snaking is one of the main professional methods for clearing blocked drains, particularly effective on solid blockages and roots that need mechanical cutting. We snake and clear drains across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, using the right tool for the blockage and finding the cause so it does not keep happening.

When snaking is the right method

Snaking is especially suited to certain blockages: solid obstructions lodged in the pipe, tree roots that need cutting through, and blockages that need mechanical force to break up. The cutting head of a drain machine can grind through roots and break apart solid clogs that water pressure alone might not shift. For other blockages, particularly grease, fat and general build-up coating the pipe, high-pressure jetting is often more effective, as it scours the whole pipe clean. We assess the blockage and use the method that suits, snaking, jetting, or both, so the drain is properly cleared, not just partially opened, and we choose the right approach rather than forcing one tool on every job.

Snake vs high-pressure jetter

The two main drain-clearing methods are the drain snake (electric eel) and the high-pressure water jetter, and each has its strengths. A snake cuts through and pulls out solid blockages and tree roots mechanically. A jetter blasts the pipe with high-pressure water, scouring the walls clean of grease, scale and build-up, and flushing it all away, cleaning the whole pipe rather than just boring a hole through the blockage. Often the best result comes from using both, a snake to cut through a tough blockage or roots, then a jetter to scour the pipe clean. We carry both and choose the right combination for your blockage, so it is thoroughly cleared.

Clearing tree roots by snaking

Tree roots growing into a drain are one of the most common jobs for a drain snake, as the cutting head can grind through the root mass and clear the pipe so it flows again. However, snaking out roots clears what is in the pipe but does not stop the roots growing back in through the crack or joint they entered by, so a root-blocked drain that is only snaked will usually re-block within weeks or months. For a lasting solution, we clear the roots, then seal the entry point with no-dig pipe relining, so roots cannot re-enter. Snaking gets the drain flowing now; relining stops the roots returning.

Can you snake a drain yourself?

Small hand augers and DIY snakes can clear minor, shallow blockages close to a fixture, such as a blocked basin or a simple toilet blockage, and are worth a try for those. But deeper, more stubborn blockages, and tree roots, need a professional-grade drain machine with the power and the right head, and the experience to use it without damaging the pipe or getting the cable stuck. DIY snaking can also just punch a small hole through a blockage that re-forms quickly. For anything beyond a minor, accessible blockage, a professional drain machine, and the camera to check the cause, gives a proper, lasting result, which is what we provide.

Will snaking damage my pipes?

Done correctly by a professional, snaking does not damage sound pipes, we use the right size cable and head for the pipe, and the appropriate technique. However, in an old, cracked or already-damaged pipe, aggressive snaking can worsen the damage, which is one reason we assess the situation and, where a drain keeps blocking, inspect it with a camera first or afterwards to check the pipe’s condition. If the pipe is damaged, snaking alone will not fix the underlying problem anyway. Our experienced plumbers snake drains safely and effectively, and if we find the pipe is damaged, we advise on repairing it rather than repeatedly snaking a failing pipe.

Finding the cause with a camera

Snaking clears the blockage, but if a drain keeps blocking, there is an underlying cause that snaking alone will not resolve. This is why, for recurring blockages, we inspect the drain with a CCTV camera to see what is causing them, tree roots, a build-up, or a cracked, collapsed or sagging pipe. The camera shows the cause and its exact location, so we can recommend the right lasting fix rather than just snaking the same drain again and again. You can see the footage yourself. Combining snaking to clear the blockage now with a camera to find the cause means we both get the drain flowing and stop it blocking in future.

Recurring blockages

If a drain keeps blocking despite being snaked, something underlying is causing it, most commonly tree roots regrowing, or a damaged or sagging pipe trapping waste. Repeatedly snaking such a drain is a false economy, each clear buys only a few weeks or months before it blocks again. The real solution is to find the cause with a camera and fix it, clearing and sealing roots with relining, or repairing a damaged pipe, so the blockages stop for good. We will tell you honestly if your drain keeps blocking because of an underlying cause, and recommend the lasting fix, rather than just taking payment to snake the same drain over and over.

Which drains we snake

We snake and clear blockages in all types of drains: kitchen and bathroom waste pipes, toilet and sewer lines, stormwater drains, and the main drain line. Different drains and blockages call for different approaches and equipment, and we have the range to handle them all, from smaller cables for fixture wastes to larger machines and jetters for main lines, plus cameras to inspect. Whether it is a blocked kitchen sink, a toilet that will not drain, a slow shower, or a backing-up main line, we can clear it with the right method. We tailor the approach to the drain and the blockage, so it is cleared properly.

Snaking and preventive clearing

Snaking is not only for clearing a blockage that has already happened, it can also be used for preventive maintenance on drains prone to blocking, keeping them clear before they block up. For homes with large trees near the drains, or older pipes with a history of blockages, periodic clearing, often jetting, sometimes snaking, keeps the pipes clear and catches developing problems like root intrusion early. Preventive clearing is far cheaper and less disruptive than an emergency blockage, especially for a drain you know is prone to trouble. We can set up periodic clearing for at-risk drains, so they keep flowing and you avoid the inconvenience of a blockage.

How much does it cost?

The cost of snaking a drain depends on the location and severity of the blockage, how accessible the drain is, and whether snaking alone clears it or jetting and a camera inspection are also needed. A straightforward, accessible blockage is affordable; a deep or stubborn one, or one with an underlying cause to diagnose, costs more. Emergency and after-hours call-outs cost more than a standard appointment. We give you an upfront fixed price before we start, and if a camera reveals an underlying cause needing a lasting fix, we will explain the options, so you can choose between clearing now and a permanent solution.

Same-day drain service

A blocked drain is disruptive, and a backing-up one is urgent, so we offer fast service and same-day appointments where we can across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with phones answered around the clock. We arrive with drain machines, jetters and cameras to snake and clear the blockage and find the cause in one visit, with an upfront price. Whether it is a blocked sink, a slow drain, tree roots, or a backing-up main line, we will get your drains flowing freely again fast, using the right method, and tell you honestly if there is an underlying cause worth fixing so it does not keep happening.

The right method for your blockage

A key part of clearing a drain well is using the right method, and not every blockage is best cleared by snaking. We assess each blockage and use the most effective approach: snaking for solids and roots, jetting for grease and build-up, often both together, and a camera to diagnose recurring problems. This is better than forcing one tool on every job. The aim is to clear the whole pipe, not just punch a hole through the blockage, and to find and address any underlying cause. Our experienced plumbers choose the right method for your specific drain and blockage, so it is thoroughly cleared and less likely to come straight back.

Licensed, guaranteed drain plumbers

Snaking and clearing drains properly takes the right equipment, drain machines, jetters and cameras, and a licensed plumber who uses the right method and finds the cause, not just shifts the symptom. Our team is fully licensed and insured, we snake, jet and clear all types of drains, inspect with a camera, and fix underlying causes like roots or damaged pipes, and we back our work. You get the right method for your blockage, honest advice, upfront fixed pricing, and freely flowing drains. For a plumber near you to snake and clear drains, we cover Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Drain snaking FAQs

What is snaking a drain?

Snaking uses a drain machine, or electric eel, a motorised cable with a cutting head fed into the drain to break up and pull out blockages and tree roots.

When should a drain be snaked?

Snaking suits solid blockages and tree roots that need cutting through. For grease and build-up, high-pressure jetting is often more effective, and we use whichever suits.

Is snaking or jetting better?

It depends on the blockage. A snake cuts through solids and roots; a jetter scours the pipe clean of grease and build-up. Often we use a snake then a jetter for a thorough result.

Can I snake a drain myself?

Small hand augers can clear minor blockages, but deeper or stubborn blockages need a professional drain machine and the know-how to avoid damaging the pipe.

Will snaking damage my pipes?

Done correctly by a professional, no. We use the right head and technique for the pipe, and if the drain keeps blocking we inspect it with a camera for underlying damage.

Why does my drain keep blocking after snaking?

Recurring blockages after snaking usually mean tree roots regrowing or a damaged pipe. We find the cause with a camera and fix it for good.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the blockage and access. We give you an upfront fixed price before we start.

Do you service my area?

Yes, we snake and clear drains across Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, with same-day service where we can.

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