Blocked Drains

When the Fence is in the Way and the Apprentice Doesn’t Know It’s a Septic Tank

This one’s a little messier than most — in every sense.
Rich was called out to follow up on an emergency job where one of our Plumbpups had been sent to assess a blocked drain sewerage issue at a commercial site.

He meant well… but quoted to bring the van and jetter around the back — completely unaware there was a giant fence in the way, and that access would involve a 5–10 minute walk around the block.

💬 “Blockages usually take a dozen trips to the van and back — this would’ve been a nightmare.”

Needless to say — Rich wasn’t particularly impressed. 😂

🔎 Step 1: Quick Site Assessment

Rich arrives and starts piecing it together:

• Above-ground pipework visible — traces what’s feeding what
• Spots a rock that seems a little out of place… sure enough, it’s covering the septic tank access lid
• Lifts the lid and sees what no one wants to see:

Backed-up sewerage in the inspection square

🪠 Step 2: Improvised Fix

Without the jetter (thanks, fence), Rich grabs a length of spare waste pipe lying nearby and gives the system a few plunges.

• The blockage clears — likely wet wipes (and a few mystery items)
• Classic moment of the day:

“Oh, there’s your lunch — a little bit of sweet corn!” 🌽

🚽 Step 3: Test & Recommendation

To finish off:

• Rich flushes the customer’s toilet to confirm the flow
• Water passes through cleanly — job temporarily sorted
• Recommends a jetter clean-out in the near future to ensure the system stays clear

💬 “Not ideal, but we made it work. And we’ll come back with the right gear to finish the job properly.”

When it comes to sniffing out the source of a plumbing problem, there’s no one better than a Plumbdog pup! This time, our top dog Darius was called out to a blocked drain in Greenwood, WA, and he was quick to get to the bottom of it—literally!

Finding the Hidden I.S.

Every job starts with good detective work. Darius began by locating the inspection shaft (I.S.), which was tucked away under the decking. Once he had access, he sent down our trusty CCTV drain camera to get eyes on the issue.

And sure enough… the usual suspects were back at it—tree roots had invaded the pipe, causing a major blockage! 🌿🪠

Jetter Time!

No match for this Plumbdog. Darius rolled out the high-pressure water jetter and cleared the pipe thoroughly, breaking up the root mass and flushing it all out with ease.

Once the line was cleared, he sent the CCTV camera back in to confirm everything was flowing freely and looking clean.

Clean-Up & Happy Customer

With the job done, Darius didn’t just pack up and go—he made sure to clean up the work area, dust off his boots, and even empty out the sand from his pockets. As always, he left with a big smile on his face and an even bigger one on the customer’s!

Thanks to his efforts, the homeowner can breathe easy for the next 12 to 14 months before roots might try their luck again.

🎥 Watch the full video of Darius in action here:
👉 Blocked Drain Cleared in Greenwood | Watch on YouTube

Got a blocked drain in Perth?

Don’t wait for it to get worse. At Plumbdog Plumbing, we’re the experts in CCTV drain inspections, tree root removal, and all things blocked drains across Perth.

🐾 Call in the Plumbdog pros today – we’ll sniff out the problem and get your drains flowing again in no time!
📞 Contact Us

Introducing our Plumbdog Pup Chris!

CCTV Drain Inspections to inspect blocked drains

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We always say we have all the gear and every idea, because we do, but to become a top dog or even be considered as a Plumbdog Plumber, our Plumbdogs need to be well groomed and schooled to meet the highest of expectations. This is what makes us pedigree among the mongrels out there. Being a plumber isn’t just for anyone but for those who are wanting to get their paws dirty and get on the right path, for the right pup we do take on apprentices. After all, what’s being a top dog when you can’t pass your knowledge along. This benefits our industry as a whole and most importantly our loyal customers.

At the job today, we’ve been called to inspect and fix a blocked drain problem and by using our high pressure water jetters and CCTV we pinpointed the area where tree roots were causing problems and we also further detected that drains on the side of the property were holding water, the inspection shaft was also holding water along with a riser in the garden shed that was also broken.

Using CCTV to Inspect Drains

CCTV inspections take the guess work out of locating blocked drains. As you can see in the video, our Plumbdogs navigate cameras through drains as far as 40m along the pipes at this property twisting and turning while finding the debris causing the blocked drain issue.

Long Term Solutions

At the property today, apart from tree roots, there was an issue at the inspection shaft holding water. A blocked drain issue like this affects the whole house and not just an isolated area. Simply clearing tree roots from one area isn’t enough and with multiple areas having plumbing issues, simply fixing one may not provide an efficient solution in the long term. Having the right nose and being able to inspect and sniff out these plumbing problems means we are able to present long term solutions while allowing our customers to understand and appreciate our recommendations.

Career Opportunities at Plumbdog

We publish a lot of VLOGs about the work that we do but this is the first time that we have posted a video with a Plumbdog Pup in the team. If you have been following our videos, you would already have seen that we have some great superstars and we’re so proud of their work that we just have to share what they do. If you’ve already got plumbers paws or you’re a pup that wants to get your nose wet with the best of breed find out more about Perth plumbing jobs here.

Give Us A Whistle!

When it comes to blocked drain inspections and repairs, we have the nose and skills to sniff out and fix any plumbing issues. That’s why we say we have all the gear and every idea so if you’re in the Greater Perth, give us a whistle!

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Plumbdog James gets his paws dirty under a granny flat

Macerator Pump would not stop running

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Superstar Plumbdog James is back on the job today at a property in Darlington, WA where he’s been called out to sniff out a problem with a blocked drain.

This is the first time we’re sharing a video that has a blocked drain where the cause is a Macerator Pump being at the centre of a blocked toilet plumbing issue.

What is a Macerator Pump?

As the name suggests, the unit is both a macerator and a pump. It macerates solids going in to make it easier to pump out of the property. Pumps like these are not as common but these installations are useful in instances where the toilet isn’t located close to the main sewer line or even in instances where the toilet level is below the height of the sewer line…..one of our best used plumbing phrases being that sh*t doesn’t flow up hill haha.

At the property today, the macerator pump was constantly working and would not turn off. There are a few common reasons for a blocked macerator pump which usually include natural wear and tear as there are rubber membranes, a blocked drain pipe or a blockage in the macerator itself.

Our Plumbdogs are Well Trained

James is pedigree when it comes to fixing blocked drains and fixing blocked toilets. Being a Plumbdog means he has all the old and new tricks and is why he is one of our blocked drain specialists. Without wasting time, he gets his paws dirty and fixes the blocked drain issue but leaves the property without a mess and makes sure that all is in good working condition again.

When it comes to blocked drains, drain inspection and repairs, we have the nose and skills to sniff out and fix any plumbing issues. If you’re in the Greater Perth, give us a whistle!

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