Andy
Director
Andy brings twenty-five years of credible experience in plumbing, spanning high-rise residential to strata maintenance. He oversees the business but specialises in drainage work.
437 Google Reviews · 4.9 ★
Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Free CCTV Inspection, Every Job
$0 Call-Out · 0% Finance Available
437 Google Reviews · 4.9 ★
Free CCTV Inspection, Every Job
$0 Call-Out · 0% Finance Available
437 Google Reviews · 4.9 ★
Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee
Free CCTV Inspection, Every Job
$0 Call-Out · 0% Finance Available
Most older Sydney homes still have original sewer pipes that have been underground for decades. These pipes rarely fail overnight. Small problems develop over time until a blockage, smell, or slow drain finally makes them noticeable.
Understanding what happens at each stage can help you work out whether you're dealing with a simple blockage or a bigger problem inside the pipe.
Your sewer pipe was installed when your home was built. In many older Inner West properties, that could mean almost 60 to 100 years ago. Older homes often have earthenware or vitrified clay pipes made from short sections joined together with mortar.
When the pipe is in good condition, you don't think about it. Waste flows away, the pipe stays underground, and everything works as it should. The important thing is knowing what is underneath your property. An older pipe may still be working well, but its age can make it more vulnerable to problems later.
Over time, the mortar between sections of an older clay pipe can deteriorate. Small gaps can form around the joints, allowing moisture to escape into the surrounding soil.
Tree roots are naturally drawn to that moisture. Figs, camphor laurels and plane trees can grow towards the damaged joint and find their way inside. Once a root enters the pipe, it can continue to grow and spread. From above ground, your garden may look completely normal. But the problem lies underneath.
This is usually when you first notice something is wrong. The shower may drain more slowly. You might hear gurgling sounds from the toilet when the washing machine runs. You may notice unpleasant, smelly drains near an outside gully.
The drain gets cleared, and everything seems fine again. But if roots or another obstruction are still inside the pipe, clearing the blockage may only solve the immediate problem. The damaged section is still there. If the same blockage keeps returning, it is worth finding out why before it becomes a bigger issue and getting blocked drain repairs from experts.
At this point, guessing is no longer useful. A CCTV drain inspection lets us see what is actually happening inside the pipe and helps us offer the best drain solutions. This is an effective method for blocked drain diagnosis that can show roots, cracks, damaged joints, misalignment or sections of pipe that have started to collapse.
It can also help locate the affected section and show how extensive the problem is. We, at Sewer Surgeon, use CCTV inspection to understand the problem before recommending a solution. The inspection is free, and you keep the footage. For many homeowners, this is the point where the uncertainty finally goes away, and they get to make an informed decision.
When the pipe is suitable for relining, the old pipe does not need to be dug up and removed. A resin liner is installed through an existing access point and cured inside the old pipe. It creates a new, jointless pipe within the existing one.
Pipe relining means no excavation and no disruption to gardens, driveways and other areas around your home. The damaged joints that allowed roots to enter are no longer exposed. A professionally installed relined pipe can last around 50 years, giving the old sewer line a much longer working life.
Not sure which stage you're at?
Run the Drain Problem CheckerWhen a damaged pipe needs a lasting repair, relining can fix the problem without disrupting your property. A new liner is placed inside the existing pipe and cured in place, creating a new pipe within the old one. This approach can help reduce disruption to your garden, driveway and other areas around your property.
Our pipe relining services may be suitable for cracked pipes, damaged joints and tree root intrusion, depending on the condition of the existing pipe. We start with a free CCTV inspection before quoting to see what's happening inside the pipe and work out whether relining is the right option.
If relining is suitable, our experienced team first cleans the pipe using high-pressure water jetting. The liner is then prepared, installed, and cured using UV technology. Once the work is complete, we carry out another CCTV inspection to check the finished result. Most residential jobs can be completed within a day, depending on the pipe and the work required. These pipes are designed to last around 50 years, and we also offer a lifetime workmanship guarantee.
Our team finds the right solution for your pipe, rather than recommending work you don't need. To understand how our specialists restore damaged pipes without extensive excavation.


A blocked drain can be more than just an inconvenience. You might notice water draining slowly, a gurgling toilet, unpleasant smells or an overflowing drain. If the same blockage keeps coming back, simply clearing it may not be enough. There could be an underlying problem inside the pipe that needs to be addressed.
Our blocked drain solutions start with a CCTV inspection to find out what's causing the blockage and understand the source of the problem. Once we know what we're dealing with, we choose the right equipment for the job. For most blockages, this means high-pressure water jetting and robot cutting to clear grease, tree roots, food debris, and other build-up from the pipe effectively. For certain pipe sizes and minor blockage types, we may also use an electric eel.
After clearing the blockage, we carry out a final CCTV inspection to make sure the drain is open and check for any damage or other issues inside the pipe. This prevents future problems from coming back. We provide same-day service and 24/7 emergency support, with a $0 call-out fee and upfront pricing before work begins.To find out how we use industry-best techniques to clear blockages.
Not every blocked drain means the same thing. If you are unable to understand the severity of the issue, answer a few quick questions about what you're seeing, hearing, or smelling, and we'll help you understand what could be happening inside the pipe and clear blocked drains accordingly.
From a recurring blockage to a damaged sewer pipe, Sewer Surgeon provides practical blocked drain services for homes, businesses and properties across Sydney.
Trenchless methods to repair damaged underground pipes without major excavation or unnecessary disruption to your property.
Our professional blocked drain plumbers clear blocked pipes with effective methods like hydrojetting and prevent issues from coming back.
We find the cause of sewer problems and recommend effective solutions for damaged or blocked sewer lines.
We remove intrusive roots that can enter underground pipes, cause blockages, and damage your drainage system.
We see what's happening inside your pipes and identify root intrusion, broken pipes, or other drainage issues.
Our high-pressure water cleaning removes roots, grease, debris, and other stubborn buildup from suitable drains.
Our local blocked drain specialists use robotic cutting to remove stubborn root growth and other obstructions from suitable pipes.
We provide practical solutions for blocked stormwater drains and other stormwater problems affecting your property.
When a drain overflows or a sewer backs up, our team is available 24/7 to help resolve urgent problems.
General plumbing maintenance and complex subsurface drainage engineering are entirely different trades. A general plumber generally carries an eel to clear a blockage. For blocked drain services, our team works with CCTV cameras, hydro-jetting equipment, robotic cutters, and pipe relining equipment to diagnose and repair drainage problems properly. By deploying high-definition diagnostic cameras first, we pinpoint the precise structural mechanics of the failure.
Choosing a specialised drainage team guarantees you are paying for surgical, non-destructive solutions for your property. We are accredited by Sydney Water and our Master Plumbers Association membership helps us bring the best industry practices and offer the best drain solutions. We also have 63 years of combined experience and have more than 10 technicians adept in handling various plumbing challenges.
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At Sewer Surgeon, we don't just clear the blockage and leave it at that. We first inspect the pipe to understand what is causing the problem and check its condition properly. From there, we use the right method for the job, whether that's hydro-jetting to clear the drain or pipe relining to repair damage.
We start with a CCTV drain inspection to see what's happening inside the pipe. The camera helps us locate the blockage and identify issues such as tree roots, grease, debris, cracks, damaged joints, or other pipe problems. This means we can diagnose the issue without unnecessary digging or guesswork.
The CCTV inspection is free, and you can view the footage before deciding how you'd like to proceed.
Once we've identified the cause, we choose the most suitable way to clear the drain. High-pressure hydro-jetting uses powerful water jets to remove tree roots, grease, debris, and other build-up from suitable pipes. It helps clean the inside of the pipe rather than simply pushing the blockage further along. For certain pipe sizes or blockage types, we may use an electric eel or other mechanical equipment. The method depends on what we find during the CCTV inspection.
If the inspection finds a damaged pipe that is suitable for relining, we can repair it without major excavation. A resin-saturated liner is installed inside the existing pipe and cured using UV technology, creating a new lining within the old pipe.
The process includes cleaning the pipe, preparing and installing the liner, UV curing, and a final CCTV inspection. Our pipe relining method provides a long-term repair while helping avoid the disruption of digging up your property.
We believe you should understand the likely cost before work begins. The typical cost of clearing a blockage depends on the severity of the problem, access points, nature of blockage, and whether the service call is within working hours.
We also offer:
Every drainage problem is different. CCTV inspection helps us understand the condition and scope before we provide a fixed price.

── Why Sydney Trusts Us ──
Valued testimonials from satisfied customers highlight our trusted plumbing across Sydney.
── Our Team ──
At Sewer Surgeon, our dedicated plumber Sydney team delivers top-notch plumbing services Sydney for residential, commercial, and strata properties. With 63+ years’ experience, we’re a family-owned business founded on honesty, transparency, and trust, serving Sydney and surrounding suburbs with pride.
Sewer Surgeon is based in Forest Lodge, in the heart of Sydney's Inner West. We've worked on local properties for decades, including older Victorian terraces and homes with ageing earthenware drainage systems that date back to the 1900s–1960s. This 63+ years of local experience has given us a solid understanding of the drainage issues that can affect older homes. We know that each property is different, so we first look at the problem before recommending the right solution.
Be it pipe relining or a blocked drain in inner west, we cover it all. The Inner West has its own drainage challenges. Older clay pipes, established street trees and changing ground conditions can all lead to recurring drainage problems. Tree roots can grow into old pipe joints, while ground movement can cause pipes to crack or shift. Our team uses CCTV inspections and specialist equipment to check what's happening underground and recommend the most suitable way to fix it with minimum disruption to your property.

A basic blocked drain clear usually costs around $450–$650. The final price depends on what is causing the blockage and how difficult it is to fix. We identify the isse through a CCTV inspection and then provide a fixed price before starting any approved work.
Pipe relining usually costs around $400–$1,200 per metre. The price depends on the pipe’s condition, length, access, and the extent of damage. A blocked drains expert can inspect the pipe and explain whether pipe relining is suitable.
Many residential relining jobs can be completed in one day. Larger or more difficult jobs may take longer, depending on the pipe’s length, condition, and access. Our fully licensed plumbers will inspect the pipe first and explain the expected timeframe.
Usually, no. Pipe relining allows many damaged pipes to be repaired through an existing access point without extensive digging up your garden or driveway. However, excavation may still be needed if the pipe has collapsed. Our professional plumbing services team will inspect the pipe and explain the best option.
Yes. We provide a free CCTV inspection as part of our drainage service. CCTV drain cameras let us see inside the pipe without unnecessary digging. They can identify tree roots, cracks, damaged sections, and items such as baby wipes causing blockages in your drains.
A professionally installed relined pipe can last around 50 years. Its lifespan depends on the existing pipe, preparation, and installation quality.
Not sure what's causing your drainage problem?
Let us take a look.
At Sewer Surgeon, we use CCTV to identify what's happening inside the pipe and take a close look at the signs before recommending the right solution. You get clear information about the problem and what your options are.
Get all your plumbing issues resolved without any hassle.
Enjoy access to exclusive discounts and deals.
Inner West (All We Serve)
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For emergency plumbing, please call 1300 734 677 for our 24/7 service or fill out our online form to book our services.
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Very professional, easy to communicate with, and excellent finishes. Would happily use Sewer Surgeon again for any waterproofing, roofing, plumbing, carpentry, and building works.