The whole house was backing up
In April 2026 a Duncraig homeowner got in touch about a blocked sewer pipe in the front yard. This was not one slow sink. The main drain and the inspection shaft were both affected, so the blockage was in the main line rather than at any one fixture.
When every drain in a house is affected, the problem is usually past the point where the branches join.
Jetting first, then the camera
We used high-pressure water jetting to clear the blockage and get the line moving again. Then we ran a CCTV drain camera through the line to see what had caused it and to check the condition of the pipe.
The camera showed tree roots growing into the sewer line. Roots find their way into a pipe through small gaps and joints, then keep growing inside it. They catch waste as it passes until the line blocks.
Cleared, but the roots will be back
We jetted through the root intrusion and cleared it out of the line, which restored normal flow through the house. The camera confirmed the cause and let us look at the pipe once it was clear.
Clearing roots restores the drain, but it does not stop new roots coming through the same gaps. So we told the owner the roots are likely to return and the line will block again at some point.
The recommendation
We recommended relining the drain as the permanent fix. Relining puts a new lining inside the existing pipe and seals the gaps the roots are getting through, so the line does not have to be dug up.
The owner now has a clear picture of what caused the blockage and what the long-term repair looks like, rather than waiting for the next one.
If you have blocked drains in Perth that keep coming back, a camera inspection is what tells you whether it is a one-off or a pipe that needs work. We cover blocked drains in Duncraig too, and our tree root blockage page explains how we deal with roots. Or call 0499 281 430.
More on blocked drains in Duncraig, or see more recent jobs.
