Melbourne’s Home Plumbing Experts – Master Plumbers Member. Professional service focused on prevention to ensure your plumbing lasts for the long term.

Sam & Natasha
Founders, Your Choice Plumbers
We don’t just find gas leaks — we properly diagnose the cause and fix it safely so the problem doesn’t come back. If you can smell gas or your supply has been turned off, we’ll test the system and guide you to the right solution.
Melbourne’s Trusted
Home Plumbing Experts

Sam & Natasha
Founders, Your Choice Plumbers
Melbourne’s Trusted
Home Plumbing Experts
Blocked drains often need more than a plunger or quick cable. Our hydro jet drain cleaning Melbourne service clears grease, roots, wipes and sludge properly.


Sam & Natasha
Founders, Your Choice Plumbers
Hydro jet drain cleaning is one of the most effective ways to clear a blocked drain properly when the blockage is caused by grease, sludge, tree roots, wipes, silt, soil, leaves or compacted debris inside the pipe.
At Your Choice Plumbers, we do not treat hydro jetting as a “blast and hope” service. We use high-pressure drain cleaning together with CCTV drain inspection and pipe locating where appropriate so we can confirm the blockage has actually been cleared properly, check whether roots have been cut out, inspect the pipe for the real cause of the blockage, and give the homeowner clearer information about the condition of their drain.
This matters because many Melbourne blocked drain problems are not sitting where the homeowner first sees the overflow. A blocked kitchen sink may involve the 50mm waste and the 100mm underground branch drain. A gully that will not empty may be blocked beyond the trap bend. A downpipe overflowing during rain may be caused by a damaged underground stormwater line, not the gutter.
Without the camera, a blockage may be opened enough for the water to move again, but there is less certainty about whether the drain has been cleaned thoroughly, whether roots or debris remain inside the pipe, or whether a hidden defect is still contributing to the problem. That can lead to unnecessary repeat blockages and avoidable second visits.
This page explains when hydro jet drain cleaning is the right option, why CCTV inspection adds so much value during blocked drain clearing, and how both services work together as part of a proper blocked drains Melbourne solution.
Hydro jet drain cleaning Melbourne is a professional blocked drain clearing method that uses high-pressure water to break down and flush away grease, sludge, wipes, tree roots, silt and debris inside the pipe. For the best result, hydro jetting is often paired with CCTV inspection so the blockage can be cleared, the drain can be inspected properly, and the homeowner can be told whether the pipe is now clean or whether defects still remain.
Stop using chemical drain cleaners and avoid repeated plunging if the drain is overflowing or not draining at all. A recurring blocked drain usually needs proper clearing and, in many cases, CCTV drain inspection so the real cause can be confirmed rather than guessed.
Yes. An overflowing gully, toilet, sewer drain or stormwater drain should be treated quickly because it can create unsanitary conditions, water damage risks, sewer smell and further blockage problems if the line continues to surcharge.
Because the jetter clears the blockage, while the camera helps confirm the result. CCTV inspection lets us check whether the pipe has actually been cleaned properly, whether roots or debris remain inside, and whether the blockage was caused by damage, soil entry, poor fall, grease build-up or another defect.
For many serious or recurring blockages, yes. A drain snake may poke a hole through the obstruction, but hydro jetting can clean the internal pipe wall more thoroughly, especially where grease, sludge, wipes, roots or silt are involved.
Not always, but it is often the smarter option. If the drain keeps blocking, has roots, affects multiple fixtures, smells, gurgles, overflows outside or has already been “cleared” before, CCTV adds much more certainty and helps reduce the risk of an unnecessary second visit.
Where access, scheduling and job conditions allow, yes. We can often diagnose, clear and inspect the drain during the same visit so the homeowner gets a more complete result and clearer information.
Hydro jet drain cleaning uses a professional jetting machine to send high-pressure water through a specialised hose and nozzle inside the drain. The water pressure breaks down the blockage, scours the internal pipe wall and flushes loosened material through the drainage system.
For Melbourne homeowners, this is especially useful for blocked drains caused by:
Unlike a quick attempt to poke through the blockage, hydro jetting is designed to restore proper internal flow where the pipe condition allows it.
A plunger may help if the blockage is sitting very close to the fixture trap. But many real blocked drain problems sit further down the line — beyond the kitchen waste, past the gully trap, inside the sewer branch, below a boundary trap connection, or deep within a stormwater drain.
That is why DIY attempts often fail on serious blockages. The visible overflow point is not always where the blockage is actually sitting.
On our Ashburton gully drain job, the homeowner had already tried plunging the laundry gully, but the blockage was deeper beyond the U-bend and into the straight sewer connection. Hydro jetting allowed us to bypass the trap limitation, reach the real obstruction and restore proper self-draining flow.
Chemical drain cleaners can also create a false sense of progress. They may soften a small section of build-up near the fixture, but they will not remove a heavy grease mass from an underground branch drain, clear wipes from a sewer line, remove soil from a stormwater pipe, or cut roots growing through an older pipe joint.
A drain can appear to run again before it has actually been cleaned properly.
That is why combining hydro jetting with CCTV drain inspection is often the best approach. The jetter clears the blockage and washes the line. The camera then confirms whether the pipe wall is actually cleaner, whether roots have been removed properly, whether debris remains, and whether there are defects such as cracks, displaced joints, missing sections, or soil entry points still causing trouble.
Without the camera, a plumber may clear enough of the blockage to restore temporary flow, but there is less certainty about what remains in the drain and why it blocked in the first place. For homeowners, that can mean paying for clearing without really knowing whether the problem was solved properly.
Many homeowners understandably focus on getting the blockage cleared first. But when the drain is recurring, root-affected, overflowing outside, or showing signs of a deeper issue, the camera is often the step that prevents repeat call-outs.
Paying extra for CCTV while the drain is already being cleared can help:
That makes CCTV not just an add-on, but often the difference between a temporary improvement and a properly diagnosed drain cleaning result.
Typical Melbourne home sewer drainage system showing fixture waste paths, main sewer flow, and common blockage points.
Typical Melbourne home stormwater drainage system showing downpipes, underground lines, and discharge path.
Boundary trap sewer connection showing relief, venting, and why blockages often cause gurgling or overflow.
Direct sewer connection layout showing how sewer flow behaves where no boundary trap system is present.
Hydro jetting is most effective when it is matched to the right blockage type, pipe size and access point. A kitchen drain, sewer branch, boundary trap, stormwater outlet and downpipe line all need to be approached differently.
Kitchen drains are one of the most common places we see heavy grease build-up.
Cooking oils, fats, food residue and detergent scum can stick to the pipe wall. Over time, the pipe diameter becomes smaller and smaller until water cannot move properly.
At the Carnegie job, two previous attempts had failed because the grease had not been removed thoroughly. The blockage affected both the 50mm kitchen waste line and the 100mm underground UPVC branch drain. We accessed the line through the kitchen waste, used a grease-breaking nozzle with sustained hydro jetting, then confirmed the result with CCTV.
That is the difference between a quick opening and proper hydro jet drain cleaning.
Older Melbourne sewer drains, especially terracotta and earthenware lines, can be vulnerable to tree root intrusion. Roots often enter through joints, cracks or displaced pipe sections and then catch paper, wipes and waste.
Hydro jetting can cut and clear root masses from the drain, but if the roots entered because of a damaged pipe, CCTV inspection is important. The camera helps confirm whether the roots have actually been cut out, whether the line is flowing properly again, and where the entry point is located. If the pipe defect is significant, a targeted sewer drain repair may be needed to stop the blockage returning.
Baby wipes are a major cause of blocked sewer drains because they do not break down like toilet paper.
At the Caulfield East job, the owners had gurgling drains, slow toilet flushing, boundary trap overflow and overflow relief gullies surcharging around the home. Hydro jetting through the boundary trap cleared the full sewer blockage, and further jetting helped wash down remaining wipe residue after CCTV inspection.
This type of job shows why multiple drains blocking at once should be treated as a main sewer issue, not a simple fixture blockage.
Gurgling drains and sewer smells can be early warning signs that the sewer line is starting to block.
At the Cheltenham job, the fixtures were still draining, but the bathroom drains gurgled when the toilet was flushed and a sewer smell was present. Inspection of the boundary trap confirmed the sewer level was rising. High-pressure jet drain cleaning cleared the early-stage blockage before it became a full overflow.
This is why homeowners should not ignore gurgling drains, even if everything still appears to be working.
Stormwater drains often block differently from sewer drains. Instead of grease or wipes, they may collect soil, silt, roots, leaves, grass growth and debris at the legal point of discharge.
At the Chelsea job, water was pooling around the house because the curb-and-channel stormwater outlet was around 80% blocked with grass and soil. We cleared the outlet, hydro jetted upstream through the 100mm UPVC stormwater line, then used CCTV to confirm the pipe was structurally sound.
If ignored, blocked stormwater drains can create soggy ground around the home, water pooling near footings and long-term moisture issues. For structural stormwater issues, we may recommend stormwater drain repair or replacement.
If one or two downpipes overflow but others are working, the problem may be inside one branch of the underground stormwater system.
At the Mount Waverley job, only the rear downpipes were overflowing. CCTV showed soil build-up inside the stormwater pipe, and locating equipment helped pinpoint the obstruction. Hydro jetting reopened the line, but a second CCTV inspection revealed a missing pipe section allowing soil and roots to enter. That meant jetting was useful for clearing, but the camera was what confirmed the true defect and prevented the owners from relying on a temporary fix.
If your drain keeps blocking, smells, gurgles, overflows, or has already been cleared before, it is worth getting it diagnosed properly before the problem becomes worse.
Using hydro jetting together with CCTV inspection can help confirm whether the blockage has been cleared properly, whether roots or debris remain in the line, and whether the drain is damaged or still sound.
Different drains need different jetting setups.
A larger sewer or stormwater pipe may require a stronger hose and nozzle combination to carry the jetter deep into the line. A small kitchen, basin or branch waste may need a smaller whip hose that can travel through tighter bends without damaging the pipework or losing effectiveness.
The right setup gives the plumber more control and gives the homeowner a better result.
Hydro jetting nozzles are not all the same.
Depending on the blockage, we may use:
This is why professional drain jetting is more than simply blasting water into a pipe. The blockage type determines the method.
The best access point is not always the closest visible drain opening.
Sometimes the smartest access is through a boundary trap, inspection opening, disconnected kitchen waste, stormwater outlet, downpipe adaptor or gully connection. The aim is to attack the blockage from the direction and position that gives the best cleaning result with the lowest risk.
On the Ashburton laundry gully job, working through the trap itself would have limited the cleaning force. By accessing the straight sewer connection beyond the bend, the blockage could be cleared properly.
The camera helps answer the questions the jetter alone cannot always answer.
After clearing, CCTV can help confirm:
That is why the camera is so important when the goal is not just temporary flow, but real diagnosis and a more complete result.
We start by asking what you have noticed. Common clues include gurgling drains, slow toilets, water pooling outside, overflowing gullies, recurring kitchen sink blockages, bad sewer smells or downpipes backing up during rain.
These symptoms help us work out whether the issue is likely inside a fixture waste, sewer branch, main sewer line, stormwater drain or legal point of discharge.
Before jetting, we look for the safest and most effective place to access the drain. That may be a gully, boundary trap, inspection opening, stormwater outlet, kitchen waste connection or downpipe adaptor.
Choosing the right access point can make the difference between a temporary improvement and a proper clean.
Once the access and blockage type are understood, we use high pressure drain cleaning equipment to break down and flush the obstruction.
The aim is not to force the drain open without understanding what is happening. The aim is to clean the line in a controlled way, move the blockage material in the correct direction and reduce the chance of leaving build-up behind.
After clearing, we do not assume the job is finished. We run fixtures, flush toilets, dump water through the line or test stormwater flow where practical to make sure the drain is performing properly again.
This matters because a drain can appear improved but still have remaining build-up inside.
If the blockage was severe, recurring, root-affected, stormwater-related, or already unsuccessfully cleared before, we may recommend CCTV drain inspection to confirm the pipe condition and the cleaning result.
CCTV helps identify:
This is often the step that gives the homeowner confidence that the blockage was not just opened temporarily, but properly investigated.
If cleaning has solved the issue, we explain how to reduce the risk of recurrence. If the pipe is damaged, we discuss the repair pathway clearly, whether that is a localised sewer repair, stormwater repair or further investigation.
We will also explain when no repair is needed, which is just as important for homeowner confidence.
Both methods can have a place, but they do not achieve the same result.
The important difference is whether the drain needs a basic opening or a more thorough internal clean.
A drain snake or electric eel can sometimes help open a simple blockage, especially when the obstruction is close, soft and localised.
The limitation is that it may only create a small path through the blockage. If grease, sludge or roots remain stuck to the pipe wall, the drain can block again.
Hydro jetting is usually the better choice when the drain needs cleaning, not just poking.
It is especially useful for:
For most serious blocked drain issues, hydro jetting gives a stronger and more complete result than basic manual clearing.
Hydro jetting clears the blockage. CCTV helps confirm what caused it and whether the clearing result is actually complete.
For stubborn blocked drains, this combination is often the most reliable way to avoid guesswork, repeated blockages, and unnecessary second visits. The jetter restores flow, then the camera checks whether the pipe is really clean and whether a defect remains that still needs attention.
Typical Melbourne home sewer drainage system showing fixture waste paths, main sewer flow, and common blockage points.
Typical Melbourne home stormwater drainage system showing downpipes, underground lines, and discharge path.
Boundary trap sewer connection showing relief, venting, and why blockages often cause gurgling or overflow.
Direct sewer connection layout showing how sewer flow behaves where no boundary trap system is present.
At a home on Donald Street in Ashburton, the homeowner had an overflowing laundry gully that would not clear with plunging. The real blockage was not inside the visible trap. It was sitting deeper beyond the U-bend in the straight sewer connection.
We bypassed the trap limitation, used hydro jetting to clear the deeper sewer connection, then carried out a heavy water dump test from the laundry to confirm the gully was self-draining properly again.
Outcome:overflowing gully restored, deeper blockage cleared and no excavation required.
Learn More: See how we cleared the blocked gully drain in Ashburton
At a home on Park View Drive in Carnegie, two other plumbing companies had already attended, but the kitchen drain still was not clearing properly. The issue was heavy grease build-up affecting both the 50mm kitchen waste and 100mm underground UPVC branch drain.
We disconnected the under-sink waste for proper access, used a grease-breaking nozzle with sustained hydro jetting, then confirmed the line was properly clear with CCTV.
Outcome:kitchen drain restored properly, grease deposits removed and the homeowner could see the result on camera.
Learn More: Read the Carnegie kitchen grease blockage hydro jetting case study
At a home on Moodie Street in Caulfield East, the owners had sewer overflow near the driveway, overflow relief gullies surcharging at the side of the home and slow toilet flushing. The signs pointed to a full main sewer blockage.
We cleared the blockage through the boundary trap using high-pressure jetting, identified baby wipes as a major source of the problem, flushed and tested the system, then used CCTV and further jetting to wash down remaining residue.
Outcome:full sewer flow restored, overflow areas cleaned and the owners understood what caused the blockage.
Learn More: See how we cleared the full sewer blockage in Caulfield East
At a property on Willow Avenue in Cheltenham, the owner noticed bathroom drains gurgling and a sewer smell, even though fixtures were still draining. Testing and boundary trap inspection confirmed the sewer line was beginning to back up.
We cleared the boundary trap blockage with high-pressure jet drain cleaning and tested the fixtures until the gurgling stopped and the sewer smell disappeared.
Outcome:early-stage sewer blockage cleared before it became a full overflow.
Learn More: Read the Cheltenham gurgling drains and sewer smell case study
At a home on Meredith Street in Mount Waverley, only the rear downpipes were overflowing while the front downpipes drained normally. CCTV showed soil build-up inside the stormwater line, and locating equipment pinpointed the obstruction.
Hydro jetting reopened the stormwater line, but follow-up CCTV revealed a missing pipe section allowing soil and roots to enter. A targeted stormwater repair was completed without replacing the whole system.
Outcome:stormwater flow restored, broken section repaired and unnecessary full replacement avoided.
Learn More: See how we diagnosed the overflowing downpipes in Mount Waverley
At a home on Swan Walk in Chelsea, the owners noticed water pooling around the house during rain and staying soggy afterwards. The above-ground downpipes and gutters were in good condition, so the investigation moved to the legal point of discharge.
The curb-and-channel outlet was around 80% blocked with grass and soil. We cleared the outlet, hydro jetted the 100mm UPVC stormwater line and used CCTV to confirm the pipe was structurally sound.
Outcome:stormwater discharge restored and the owners understood why the ground had been staying wet.
Learn More: Read the Chelsea blocked stormwater drain case study
Hydro jetting is powerful equipment and must be used carefully. The right method depends on pipe type, pipe condition, access, blockage type and whether the drain is sewer, stormwater or fixture waste.
At Your Choice Plumbers, our drainage work is carried out with licensed plumbing knowledge and a focus on safe, controlled clearing. We also use CCTV where needed to avoid guessing and to help identify when a blockage is caused by a damaged pipe rather than simple build-up.
Blocked drains need to be restored so wastewater or stormwater can discharge as intended. Sewer drainage must be able to carry waste safely, vent properly and prevent overflow risks. Stormwater drainage must be able to carry rainwater away from the home and discharge to the correct outlet.
In practical homeowner terms, that means the goal is not just “get it moving.” The goal is to clear, test and confirm the drain is functioning properly.
High-pressure water jetting is effective, but it can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. The equipment must be used with care, correct procedures and awareness of the risks to both the operator and the property.
This is why hydro jet drain cleaning should be handled by trained plumbing professionals, not treated as a basic DIY task.
A blocked drain is not always just a blockage. Sometimes it is the first visible sign of a bigger defect.
If the line is broken, missing, cracked, root-affected or allowing soil entry, the drain may continue to block even after cleaning. If stormwater cannot discharge properly, water can sit around the home and contribute to soggy ground, footing movement, cracked paths, brickwork movement or internal moisture issues over time.
Proper diagnosis helps avoid repeated call-outs and helps the homeowner make the right decision before a small drainage problem becomes a larger repair.
With every plumbing service, we provide a Complimentary Property Protection Audit to help identify other preventable risks around the home. This includes checking for:

This matters because many Melbourne homes have pressure-related plumbing stress that homeowners are not aware of until a hose bursts, a valve fails, or another leak causes avoidable damage. Natural internal links:
Every completed plumbing job with Your Choice Plumbers includes our Complimentary Property Protection Audit to help protect your home from preventable water damage and compliance risks. As part of this process, we check for key issues that many homeowners never realise are putting their property at risk, including:

This is especially important on everyday home plumbing visits, because repeated fixture failures, hot water issues, leaks, and valve problems can sometimes point to broader pressure or plumbing system stress.

Hydro jetting is often part of a wider blocked drain diagnosis. If your drain keeps blocking, our blocked drains Melbourne service explains the broader signs, causes and repair pathways for sewer, stormwater and fixture drain issues.
For blockages that keep coming back, a CCTV drain inspection and pipe locating service can help confirm whether the issue is grease, roots, broken pipework, soil entry, collapsed sections or another hidden defect.
If the camera confirms structural damage in a sewer line, we may recommend sewer drain repair or replacement rather than repeated clearing. If the issue involves downpipes, water pooling or damaged rainwater drainage, our stormwater drain repair and replacement service may be the right pathway.
When the main symptom is a toilet that keeps blocking, overflowing or backing up, our blocked toilet Melbourne service helps identify whether the issue is isolated to the pan or connected to the sewer drain.
If you are dealing with broader water damage symptoms such as damp walls, soggy ground or unexplained water bills, our water leak detection Melbourne service may be more relevant than drain cleaning.
For prevention-focused homeowners, our preventative plumbing page explains how pressure, flexible hoses and hot water safety checks help protect the home beyond the immediate repair. Where excessive pressure is contributing to plumbing wear, our pressure limiting valve installation service may help protect taps, toilets, flexible hoses and water appliances. If ageing braided hoses are visible during a visit, our flexible hose replacement and safety check page explains why proactive replacement can reduce flood risk.
We provide professional hydro jet drain cleaning across Melbourne, including Brighton, Hampton, Black Rock, Beaumaris, Mentone, Parkdale, Mordialloc, Aspendale, Bonbeach and Chelsea.
You can also view our full Areas We Service page for broader Melbourne coverage.

Hydro jet drain cleaning uses high-pressure water to break down and flush away blockages inside a drain. It is commonly used for grease, sludge, wipes, roots, silt and recurring blocked drains.
It can be safe when used correctly, but the pipe condition matters. Older terracotta, earthenware or damaged drains should be assessed carefully, and CCTV may be recommended to confirm the pipe condition before or after clearing.
Yes. Hydro jetting is one of the best methods for clearing heavy kitchen grease build-up because it can scour the inside of the pipe rather than just punching a hole through the blockage.
Yes, hydro jetting can cut and clear tree roots from many sewer drains. But if roots are entering through a crack or damaged joint, CCTV is important because the drain may still need repair to stop the blockage returning.
A drain may keep blocking if the previous work only created a small opening through the blockage, or if there is an underlying issue such as grease build-up, roots, damaged pipework, poor fall, soil entry or a blocked outlet.
Not always. For a straightforward soft blockage, testing may be enough. For recurring, severe, root-affected or stormwater blockages, CCTV is often the smarter option because it confirms whether the drain has really been cleared properly and whether a defect remains.
Yes. Hydro jetting can be very effective for stormwater drains blocked with soil, silt, leaves, grass and debris. If the stormwater line is broken, missing, displaced or collapsed, the camera can help confirm that further repair is needed.
Yes. Chemical drain cleaners rarely solve serious blockages and can create safety risks. Hydro jetting physically clears and flushes the obstruction using water pressure, which is a more professional method for significant blocked drains.
Warning signs include multiple drains backing up, gurgling noises, bad sewer smells, slow toilets, overflowing gullies or wastewater appearing outside. These symptoms often point to a main sewer blockage rather than a single fixture issue.
Yes. If another attempt has failed or the blockage keeps returning, we can reassess the drain, use hydro jetting where suitable, and recommend CCTV if the cause and clearing result need to be confirmed properly.
A licensed plumber with proper drain cleaning and CCTV equipment should assess recurring blocked drains. Repeated blockages often mean the pipe has not been cleaned properly, or there is an underlying issue such as roots, grease, damaged pipework, soil entry or poor discharge.
Hydro jetting is usually needed when the blockage is deeper in the line, keeps returning, involves grease or sludge, affects multiple drains, includes stormwater debris, or needs the internal pipe wall cleaned rather than just opened.
A blocked drain that keeps returning, overflowing, gurgling or smelling should not be ignored. The longer the obstruction remains inside the pipe, the more likely it is to create overflow, water damage, sewer smell, stormwater pooling, hidden moisture, structural risk or repeat plumbing costs.
Your Choice Plumbers can diagnose the blockage, use hydro jet drain cleaning where suitable, confirm the result properly with CCTV where needed, and advise whether repair is also required.