Most homeowners only think about their drains when water starts backing up into the shower or the kitchen sink refuses to empty. By then, the blockage has usually been building for weeks, sometimes months, out of sight in the pipework below the house.
The old approach to clearing blocked drains in Melbourne involved a fair bit of guesswork: snaking a cable down the line and hoping for the best. These days, plumbers rely on two tools that take the guesswork out of the process,CCTV drain cameras and hydro jetting.
CCTV cameras let a plumber see exactly what’s causing the blockage and where, while hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to blast through it completely, rather than just punching a temporary hole in the debris.
Here’s how the two work together, and why this combination has become the standard for clearing blocked drains properly.
Why “Just Clearing it” Doesn’t Always Work
Clearing a blocked drain offers instant relief, but it doesn’t always tackle the root source of the problem.
For example, if your pipes are blocked with grease or fat sludge, the drain snake only pokes a hole through the middle. The blockage itself may still stick to the walls of the pipe and won’t clear.
Tree roots blocking your pipe will also grow back if you just punch a hole through the blockage. Tree roots naturally seek out water and moisture. Even if there’s only a small crack in your pipes (which can happen over time), they will invade and grow to absorb more water. Unless you clear the roots and repair the pipe, they’ll just regrow and re-block the pipe again.
If your pipes are cracked or broken and sitting awkwardly, trapping debris, again, just clearing the blockage with the drain snake does not fix the actual problem. You need to replace the cracked pipe else, in time it will block again.
CCTV Drain Camera Inspections: Finding the Actual Source of the Problem
Without a doubt, one of the best ways to find the actual problem is through a CCTV drain inspection. This is a camera on a flexible cable that’s inserted into the drain and can provide footage of the problem in real time. It then sends a live video feed back to the plumber, and can show high definition video to a screen.
This device doesn’t clear a blockage like the drain snake. What it does do, however, is find and identify the source of the problem, like cracks and breakages, or evidence of roots invading and blocking up the drain.
Combined with a radio transmitter on the CCTV drain camera, plumbers can accurately pinpoint the location of the problem and mark the exact spot. This saves you money insofar as they don’t have to dig up the whole yard trying to find the problem.
Hydro-Jetting: How High-Pressure Water Clears a Drain
Once the problem has been found and identified, the next step is determined. If it is a cracked pipe that needs to be replaced, digging and fixing can be used. If, however, the problem is a hard blockage (such as fat,grease, or tree roots) then you can blast them away with hydro-jetting.
A hydro-jet is inserted down the pipe, pointing down stream to the street or stormwater drain. High-pressure water, shot out at between 2,000 and 5,000 PSI, scours the drain and blasts the blockages away. This does more than just ‘poke a hole’ in the blockage, like a drain snake. From here, it clears the blockages and scrubs the interior of the pipe clean, stopping any potential build up elsewhere. It gives your pipes a full, complete flushing.
Because this type of cleaning only uses water, not any kind of chemical, it is much better for the environment and wildlife that is downstream from your home.
Plumbers will often go back in with the CCTV camera to check the work has been done and your pipe is completely clear. If there are still some blockages, they can go back in and jet again.
The Typical Jetting and Camera Process
- Initial Video Inspection: A waterproof camera is fed into the drain first. This identifies the type of blockage and checks if the pipe is strong enough to handle high pressure.
- Nozzle Selection: Plumbers choose a specific metal nozzle head designed for the job, such as a root-cutting nozzle or a grease-scouring nozzle.
- High-Pressure Flushing: The jetter hose is inserted into the line. The operator feeds it slowly into the pipe, letting the water pressure obliterate the buildup.
- Final Camera Confirmation: A CCTV camera is run through the drain a second time. This visual check confirms the blockage is completely gone and verifies there are no cracks, collapsed sections, or lingering root entries.
When CCTV and Jetting is Needed
A simple drain clean can clear simple blockages in a single spot. A full drain cleaning service scours the wall of the entire pipe and helps to prevent future blockages. Sometimes, you don’t need the whole jet-powered service.
If it is a known cause, such as hair or food scraps, you’d probably only need a drain cleaner or a plunger. These types of simple blocks occur near the opening, the source of the drain, such as the kitchen sink or the shower drain. Put simply, you won’t need the full hydro-powered jet to clean these kinds of minor disruptions.
If blockages happen quite soon after you’ve unblocked it, then further investigation is needed. If multiple drains begin to block, or gurgle at the same time, this points to a main pipeline or sewer issue, and a full process check and clean would be required.
If you notice a distinct food-type smell from the drains, accompanied by blockages, this can indicate grease and fat buildup. This would require the full-service drain inspection and cleaning package.
Get the Job Done Properly with AT Plumbing
A blocked drain is rarely just about the blockage in front of you. If it’s grease build-up, invading tree roots, or a cracked pipe, the real fix comes from knowing exactly what’s causing the problem and clearing it completely, not just pushing it aside for a few weeks.
That’s the value of pairing CCTV inspections with hydro-jetting. One finds the problem, the other removes it properly, and a final camera pass confirms the pipe is actually clear. For anything beyond a simple sink or shower blockage, this combination saves you from repeat call-outs and bigger repair bills down the track.
If your drains are blocking repeatedly, gurgling, or giving off a bad smell, it’s worth getting a proper inspection rather than reaching for the plunger again. Contact AT Plumbing Melbourne to book a CCTV drain inspection or hydro-jetting service.
Founded in 2007, Around Town Plumbing is a family owned and operated full-service plumbing business with extensive experience in industrial and commercial plumbing and roofing.
With 15 staff and 10 vans on the road, we have a team of highly qualified, registered and insured plumbers who pride themselves in providing quality workmanship and innovation. Brothers Aidan and Liam Baggoley run the business, and their mission is to deliver a responsive, reliable and high-quality customer service experience.
