Blocked Drains in Melbourne

Toilet backing up? Sink won’t drain? Gully overflowing in the backyard? Call us. We clear blockages and carry out drainage repairs across Melbourne and regional towns within about 2 hours, 24 hours a day.

Call 24/7: 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244

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Clear it, find out why, fix it properly

I’m Victor from Holy Mess Repairs. Clearing a drain is half the job. If a blockage keeps coming back, something is causing it: tree roots, a cracked or sunken pipe, a bad joint, or a drain that was never laid at the right fall.

So when we clear your drain, we also tell you what we think caused it and whether it’s likely to come back. If it needs a drainage repair, you get the price before we start, not after.

Our licences cover all plumbing work in Victoria, including drainage.

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Signs of a blocked drain

• Water draining slowly from sinks, showers or baths
• Gurgling from plugholes or the toilet
• The toilet rising when flushed, or not flushing
• An overflowing gully trap (the grated drain outside, usually near the laundry or kitchen)
• Sewage smells inside or in the yard
• Wet, soggy patches in the lawn along the drain line

If more than one fixture is affected, the blockage is likely in the main sewer line. Stop using water and call.

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What causes blocked drains in Melbourne

• Tree roots getting into older clay pipes through joints and cracks, very common in established suburbs
• Wipes, sanitary products and paper towel. “Flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper.
• Fat, oil and food scraps down the kitchen sink
• Hair and soap in shower and bath wastes
• Broken, cracked or sunken pipes from ground movement
• Leaves and silt in stormwater drains and pits

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How it works

1. You call, we answer. Tell us which fixtures are affected.
2. We assess the drain and agree the price for clearing it before we start.
3. We clear the blockage.
4. We tell you the likely cause and whether it’s likely to come back.
5. Drainage repairs if needed, priced before any work starts.

Pricing: a free estimate before we come, and the price agreed before we start. Sewage coming into the house after hours? See emergency plumbing.

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Drainage repairs

When a drain keeps blocking because the pipe itself has failed, clearing it again just buys time. We repair and replace damaged sections of sewer and stormwater drains, including broken pipes, root-damaged joints and failed connections, and we explain the options and price before we dig.

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Before we arrive

• Stop using water in the house if the toilet or gully is overflowing.
• Don’t use caustic drain cleaners on a full blockage. They can damage pipes and burn skin when the drain is opened.
• Keep kids and pets away from any sewage.
• Find the gully trap and overflow relief point outside if you can, so we can get to it quickly.

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Melbourne and regional Victoria, within about 2 hours

We cover all of Melbourne, plus the towns within about a 2-hour drive of the city:

• Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast: Geelong, Lara, Ocean Grove, Queenscliff, Torquay, Anglesea and Colac
• Mornington Peninsula: Frankston, Mornington, Rosebud and Sorrento
• West and Ballarat: Melton, Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Ballarat
• Macedon Ranges and Goldfields: Sunbury, Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton, Daylesford, Castlemaine and Bendigo
• North: Wallan, Kilmore, Seymour and Euroa
• Yarra Valley and Yarra Ranges: Lilydale, Yarra Glen, Healesville, Warburton, Kinglake and Marysville
• West Gippsland and Latrobe Valley: Pakenham, Drouin, Warragul, Moe, Morwell and Traralgon
• Bass Coast and South Gippsland: Phillip Island, San Remo, Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Leongatha

Not sure if your town is in range? Call 03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244 and ask.

Related: emergency plumbing, hot water repairs, causes of blocked drains, 5 ways to unblock a drain at home.

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Why Holy Mess Repairs

• 24/7, with a real person on the phone.
• Price agreed before we start.
• We tell you why it blocked, not just that it’s clear.
• Licensed for all plumbing work in Victoria, including drainage and gasfitting. Roof plumbing licence 32176.
• Insured through BizCover.
• Around 4.4 stars from 120+ Google reviews.

HOLYMESS PTY LTD · ABN 31 666 327 813

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How we quote

Call or email us and I’ll give you a free estimate over the phone. There’s no fee for the estimate. Once you’re happy with it, we send you a written document that explains what to expect, the likely scenarios and what each one costs, plus the quality of work and the warranty. That way you know exactly what you’re getting before we arrive.

Send us photos and videos on WhatsApp: 0426 204 244. Send as many as you can. The more we see, the more accurate the estimate.

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Real quotes and reports from our jobs

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Blocked drain FAQs

Can you clear a blocked drain after hours?

Yes. We answer 24/7 and clear blockages at night and on weekends. Urgent after-hours jobs are charged at our emergency plumbing rates, which we confirm on the phone first.

How much does it cost to clear a blocked drain?

It depends on where the blockage is and what’s causing it. Send us photos or a video and we’ll give you a free estimate, and we agree the price before we start.

Why does my drain keep blocking?

Repeat blockages usually mean tree roots, a cracked, sunken or misaligned pipe, or a build-up of fat or wipes. We’ll tell you the likely cause and whether a drainage repair would fix it for good.

What is a gully trap and why is it overflowing?

It’s the grated drain outside, usually near the laundry or kitchen. It’s designed to overflow outside rather than inside, so an overflowing gully usually means the sewer line downstream is blocked.

Should I use drain cleaner?

Not on a full blockage. Caustic cleaners rarely shift roots or wipes, can damage older pipes, and are dangerous when the drain is opened. A light hot-water flush is fine for a slow sink.

Are tree roots in my drain my responsibility?

Generally, the drain on your property is the owner’s responsibility, and the connection on the street side is the water corporation’s. If we find the problem is at or past your boundary, we’ll tell you who to call.

Do you repair broken drains?

Yes. We carry out drainage repairs on sewer and stormwater drains, priced before we start.

Do you clear stormwater drains as well as sewer drains?

Yes, both. Stormwater blockages are usually leaves, silt or roots; sewer blockages are usually wipes, fat or roots.

Are you licensed for drainage work?

Yes. Our licences cover all plumbing work in Victoria, including drainage, and we’re insured through BizCover.

Do you charge for a quote?

No. Call or email us and we’ll give you a free estimate over the phone, with no fee for the estimate. Send photos and videos on WhatsApp to 0426 204 244 and we’ll follow up with a written document setting out the likely scenarios, the cost of each and the warranty.

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Drain blocked? Call now

03 8583 2640 or 0426 204 244, 24/7.

Visit our Reservoir showroom and warehouse: Unit 10, 236–244 Edwards Road, Reservoir VIC 3073. It’s our working base. Crews load materials there, our equipment and machinery are stored there, and the office is upstairs. There’s also a separate showroom where you can see examples of our roofing, plumbing and renovation work and meet the team. Open 6am to 6pm, 7 days. No booking needed, but call ahead and we’ll make sure the right person is there to meet you.

Holy Mess Repairs · 19 Chivers Rd, Templestowe VIC 3106 · Showroom and warehouse (call ahead): Unit 10, 236–244 Edwards Road, Reservoir VIC 3073 · Melbourne and towns within about 2 hours