Sandton Emergency Plumbing
Blocked Drains
Cleared today — and we show you why it blocked.
Call 010 500 1849Blocked drains are the most common call we take, and the most commonly mishandled. Pouring chemicals down a gully clears a soft blockage for a week and does nothing about roots, a collapsed section, or a badly laid fall that will block again at the first opportunity.
We clear the blockage mechanically or with high-pressure jetting, then put a camera down the line to show you what caused it. Sometimes that is a bucket of cooking fat from a kitchen sink. Sometimes it is a jacaranda root that has found a cracked joint. The difference matters, because one needs a habit change and the other needs sewer repair.
Cleared, not just poked
Jetting scours the full bore of the pipe rather than punching a hole through the obstruction that reseals within days.
CCTV proof
You see the inside of your own drain on screen and get the footage, so no repair is ever sold on trust alone.
No mess left behind
Work areas are sheeted, gullies are flushed, and everything is cleaned and disinfected before we leave.
Same-day availability
Drain blockages are treated as urgent because standing sewage is a health issue, not an inconvenience.
How blocked drains actually works
Drainage systems fail in predictable places. Kitchen lines block with congealed fat and food waste, usually at the first bend outside the building. Bathroom lines block with hair and soap scum in the trap or within the first two metres. Main sewer lines block at joints, where roots enter, at points where the fall is insufficient, and where wet wipes — which do not break down regardless of what the packaging claims — bind into a mass.
We match the tool to the blockage. An electric eel is precise for hair and localised obstructions close to a fixture. High-pressure water jetting is the right answer for fat, scale and root mass in larger lines, because it strips the pipe wall back to full bore instead of boring a channel through the middle. On long or repeatedly problematic runs, we jet and then survey.
If the camera shows structural failure — a cracked collar, a bellied section holding water, roots through a joint — you get the footage, a marked position and depth, and a quote for the repair. If it shows a clean pipe and a behavioural cause, you get advice on preventing it instead of a sales pitch. Restaurants, guesthouses and offices dealing with recurring blockages usually benefit from a scheduled drain cleaning contract.
Common issues we see
- Kitchen sink draining slowly or backing up
- Shower or bath standing with water after use
- Toilet rising and draining slowly when flushed
- Gully overflowing in the yard after heavy use
- Gurgling sounds from drains elsewhere when a toilet flushes
- Persistent sewage odour indoors or around the property
- Multiple fixtures blocking at once, indicating a main line issue
When to call us immediately
- More than one fixture is draining slowly at the same time
- Sewage is surfacing at an outside gully or manhole
- A blockage has returned within weeks of being cleared
- You can smell sewage but cannot find a source
- A commercial kitchen or bathroom is out of service
Our process
What happens after you call
- 1
Locate the blockage
We identify which section of the system is affected by testing fixtures and access points in sequence.
- 2
Clear it
Eel or high-pressure jetting is selected based on the line size and the nature of the obstruction.
- 3
Camera survey
The cleared line is inspected on camera to confirm it is clear and to identify the cause.
- 4
Advise or quote
You get either practical prevention advice or a priced repair for any structural fault we find.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to clear a blocked drain?
Most domestic blockages are cleared within one to two hours. Main sewer lines with root intrusion or heavy fat build-up can take longer, particularly if a survey is included.
Are chemical drain cleaners a bad idea?
For anything beyond a very minor build-up, yes. They rarely clear the full obstruction, they damage older pipework and seals, and they make the line hazardous for the plumber who arrives afterwards.
Who is responsible for a blocked sewer — me or the council?
Generally the property owner is responsible up to the connection point at the boundary. Our camera survey establishes where the blockage sits, which settles the question.
Can tree roots be permanently removed?
Roots can be cut out by jetting, but they return unless the entry point is sealed or the section is relined or replaced. We will show you the entry point on camera.
Do you clear drains for restaurants and offices?
Yes, including after-hours work so trading is not interrupted, and scheduled preventative jetting for grease-heavy kitchens.
Related services
Where we deliver this service
Sandton Emergency Plumbing
Africa's busiest business district, plumbed and protected around the clock.
Midrand Emergency Plumbing
The fastest-growing corridor in Gauteng, served by plumbers who live in it.
Randburg Emergency Plumbing
Established Johannesburg suburbs, ageing pipework, and plumbers who know both.
Centurion Emergency Plumbing
From Irene's smallholdings to Highveld's office parks, covered around the clock.
Need blocked drains today?
We answer every call in person, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including public holidays. Emergency plumber dispatched in as little as 20 minutes.