FAQ's

HELP, there’s water and an unpleasant mess overflowing everywhere, or every time it rains the water does not go away. Sound Familiar? Well don’t panic, because to us it’s just another day at the office. The Drain Man has all the required equipment to solve your messy problems. Call us on:

1800 THEDRAINMAN

(1800 843 372)

We have vehicles set up with the latest equipment from drain clearing machines to CCTV equipment to clear even the most stubborn of blockages in your sewer or stormwater drainage system.

Once the blockage is clear, we can locate the problem without messy digging. We can provide drain camera (CCTV Colour Camera) inspections and DVD footage of the internal damage to drains. The drain can be clearly viewed without resorting to excavation, and we are able to pinpoint the location.

Blocked toilets are dreadful. At the very least a blocked toilet is inconvenient. At worst, it's smelly, unsightl, messy ... and most unpleasant.

A blocked toilet could be a symptom of a sewer system blockage. But it could also be something much simpler.

When people use a toilet they can sometimes use too much paper, inadvertently flush fresheners down the bowl, or even use the toilet to flush away ... well, who knows! Or they could simply not flush the toilet properly.

And it's not always children who flush the "wrong things" down the bowl!

No paper other than toilet paper should ever be flushed down a toilet.

Detecting blocked drains

Is your drain blocked? Early detection of a blocked drain can drastically reduce the work involved for a plumber to unblock and clear it, saving you money. Signs to look and listen for include a gurgling or gulping sound (often accompanied by a smelly drain grate) coming from the floor waste or toilet when water is in use. Another sign of a blocked drain is the water level in the toilet rising above or falling below normal levels, and/or the drain outside the house overflowing, especially after the washing machine has been in use. The floor waste overflowing during a shower may also indicate a blockage. If you do suspect that you have a partially blocked drain it is best to call in The Drain Man to clear it as soon as possible.

How do I know if it is my drain that is blocked?

If your drain is blocked you will usually know because your waste will stop going away when you flush the toilet, or gully traps outside will overflow. There will also probably be a smell. It is the responsibility of the owner-occupier to clear and maintain private drains and sewer.

Why do drains block?

Drains may block because they are in poor physical condition and normal contents are not being cleared.
They may be in satisfactory condition but have been abused by flushing away disposable nappies or other items such as plastic bags that should never be placed into the sewerage system.
Excessive disposal of cooking fats and oils, along with other domestic products and DIY materials such as plaster, can cause blockage of the pipework.
Tree roots entering a broken drain can also be a problem and stop the flow of sewerage.

Where does sewerage go?

What happens when you pull the plug, wash your clothes, have a shower or flush the toilet - where does all the water and waste go?

There are two separate systems which carry water away from your home:

Sewerage system - carries water and wastes away from your laundry, kitchen, bathroom and toilet;

Stormwater system - carries any rainwater away that falls on your house, garden and street. It also collects water used outside the house (e.g. for watering the garden) which is not absorbed by the soil.

Follow the journey of sewage and storm water, starting with what happens to water after it goes down the plughole, toilet, or from your roof.

Waste water overview

Sewage and water that goes down the drain after showering, brushing your teeth, or washing the dishes is known as Wastewater.

This water goes into the sewer and ends up at Sewerage Treatment Plants, or as they are called nowadays, Water Reclamation Plants, where thousands of dollars are spent treating it to be either discharged into the ocean or treated to a standard where it can be re-used, for example, on sporting fields, nurseries and by farmers to grow crops.

The leaves are turning and the air will become crisp – Winter is coming and there are many things you can do around your home to prepare it for the harsher weather.

Clearing the gutters and downpipes should be done regularly in all seasons, but most importantly before Winter. Check for blockages, rust and other signs of deterioration, as blocked drains can cause overflowing and flooding. Also, prune trees and shrubs away from the roof to help reduce the amount of debris that falls into the gutters.