UP TO 3 POINTS
Pipe age
Clay and earthenware sewers laid before about 1990 come in short sections with many joints. Roots and ground movement find those joints. PVC lines from the 1990s on are one long sealed run.
FREE TOOL · 1 MINUTE
Is my drain
about to block?
Five questions about the house, the yard and what the drains have been doing. You get the risk, what is behind it and whether a camera inspection is worth paying for.
HOW IT WORKS
What raises
the risk.
Each answer adds points. 0 to 2 is low, 3 to 5 moderate, 6 or more high. About CCTV drain inspections
UP TO 2 POINTS
Trees near the line
Roots follow moisture into joints and cracks, then grow until they hold paper and wipes. Figs, jacarandas, gums and umbrella trees are the usual culprits in Ipswich yards.
UP TO 4 POINTS
Recent blockages
One blockage can be bad luck. Two in two years means the cause is still there, and that is the strongest sign a camera inspection will pay for itself.
1 POINT EACH
Warning signs
Gurgling, slow drains, sewage smells and a soggy patch over the line all show a drain that is already struggling.
UP TO 1 POINT EACH
Your suburb
Parts of Collingwood Park, Bundamba, Ebbw Vale and Blackstone sit over old coal workings, and the flood-mapped suburbs carry silt in their drains. Unsewered suburbs get septic advice instead.
QUESTIONS
Quick answers.
How do I know if my drain is about to block?
Gurgling as another fixture drains, water draining more slowly than it used to, a sewage smell, or a soggy patch over the drain line in dry weather. Any one of those is worth a mention when you ring a plumber.
Is a CCTV drain inspection worth it?
When a drain has blocked more than once, usually yes. A camera shows whether roots, a cracked joint or a sagging section is the cause, so the fix is aimed at that rather than at clearing it again. In Ipswich an inspection typically costs $250 to $550 per inspection.
Do older Ipswich houses have more drain problems?
Generally, yes. Homes built before about 1990 mostly have clay or earthenware sewer lines in short jointed sections, which roots and ground movement get into. Newer homes have sealed PVC, and their problems are more often building debris or landscaping over the line.
Is the drain health check a diagnosis?
No. It weighs the common causes of drain trouble so you know what to ask about. A licensed plumber who covers your suburb confirms what is actually going on, and agrees the scope and price with you before work starts.
NO GUESSWORK
Drain already
playing up?
Tell us what it is doing and your suburb. A licensed local plumber will tell you the likely cause, and whether a camera is needed to confirm it.