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Urgent job

Emergency blocked drains

Send the job now. It is passed to up to 5 independent local businesses near you, and any that can help will contact you directly.

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Do this first

  1. If anyone is hurt or in danger, or there is a fire, call 000 now.
  2. Stop using water in the house: no showers, washing machine, dishwasher or flushing until the drain is cleared.
  3. If sewage is coming up outside, or a neighbour has the same problem, the blockage may be in the water utility's sewer main. Call your water utility first. Its faults number is on your water bill.
  4. Keep children and pets away from any sewage, and wash your hands well after contact.
  5. Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a drain that is backing up. It can splash back on you or the plumber.

What an urgent call-out costs

As a guide, the standard price for this job is about $150 to $600. An urgent or after-hours visit usually costs more than that. Most businesses add a call-out fee or charge a higher hourly rate at night, on weekends and on public holidays.

Ask for the call-out fee and the hourly rate before you agree. See the full blocked drains price guide.

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Questions about urgent blocked drains

How do I know if it is urgent?

Treat it as urgent if water is running where it should not, sewage is backing up, the household has no water or no hot water, or you smell gas. A dripping tap or a slow drain can usually wait for a standard booking, which often costs less.

Does an urgent call-out cost more?

Usually. As a guide, the standard price for this job is about $150 to $600. Urgent and after-hours visits usually cost more than that: most businesses add a call-out fee or charge a higher hourly rate at night, on weekends and on public holidays, and some charge a minimum amount of time. Ask for the call-out fee, the hourly rate and whether the first visit is to make it safe or to finish the repair, before you agree.

What should I tell the business when they call?

Say what is happening right now, whether the water, gas or power is still on, how to reach the problem, and whether anyone at home is at risk. Photos help. Ask whether they can make it safe first and quote the full repair separately.

Will my insurance cover it?

It depends on your policy. Home insurance often covers sudden damage, such as water from a burst pipe or a storm, but not wear and tear or the faulty part itself. Take photos before and after, keep the invoice, and ask the business for a written note of the cause. Call your insurer early, because some insurers have their own emergency repair line.

How does sending an urgent job work?

Fill in the form on this page. Your job goes to up to 5 independent local businesses near you that do this work, and any that can help contact you directly. You compare them and choose. It is free, with no obligation. We cannot promise how quickly a business will reply, so if anyone is in danger, call 000 first.

Licensing: what to check

Plumbing, drainage and gas fitting work is licensed work in every Australian state and territory. Even for urgent jobs, ask for the licence number and check it with your state regulator (for example NSW Fair Trading in NSW, or the QBCC in Queensland) before work starts.

Blocked Drains in your city

Not urgent? Get standard quotes for blocked drains, which often cost less. All plumbing jobs. Every emergency and urgent job.

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