Blocked Drain? Drain Unblocking Across Rodney
Cleared fast, and the cause found.
Blocked drain? We’ll clear it and find out why
A blocked drain can go from a slow sink to sewage in the yard very quickly. Aqua Works clears blocked drains across Rodney and North Auckland, from Mangawhai to Albany: sinks, showers, toilets, gully traps, sewer lines and stormwater drains.
Our drainage trailer carries a hydro jetter, a small-line jetter for the pipes inside your house, a root cutter and a drain camera, so most blockages are cleared on the first visit. If a drain keeps blocking, we find out why and fix it properly.
Licensed plumbers and drainlayers, with 24/7 emergency call-outs.
More drainage help
Tap a card to find out more.
CCTV drain inspections
A camera look inside your drain, to find roots, cracks and broken pipes.
Drain repairs
Broken or root-damaged pipes dug up and replaced by our drainlayers.
Septic tank services
Inspections, council reports and servicing for septic systems.
24/7 emergency plumbing
Sewage overflowing or a drain backing up after hours? Call us any time.
Downpipes and rainwater
Blocked downpipes, gutters and first flush diverters on tank water homes.
Plumbing services
Everything else, from leaking taps to hot water and new bathrooms.
How we clear a blocked drain
We start by finding where the blockage is and what’s causing it, then use the right tool for that drain.
Inside the house
Sinks, basins, showers, baths, laundry tubs and dishwasher drains. We use rods, or a small-line jetter that fits the narrow pipes inside your home.
Outside drains
Gully traps, sewer lines and stormwater drains. Our hydro jetter sends water through the pipe at 2,900 psi. The nozzle scours the inside of the pipe and flushes the blockage, fat and silt away, instead of just punching a hole through it.
Tree roots
Roots get into old clay pipes through the joints, and straight into perforated Novacoil. Our root cutter cuts them out and the jetter flushes them away. Roots grow back, so we show you where they’re getting in and what the lasting fix is.
Find the cause
If a drain keeps blocking, we put a camera down it. You see what we see: roots, cracks, a dip holding water, or a broken pipe. See CCTV drain inspections.
Fix it properly
Broken or collapsed pipes need digging up and replacing. Our licensed drainlayers do the repair, with our own diggers for tight spaces and bigger jobs. See drain repairs and drainlaying.
Water for the jetter
The jetter carries its own 400 litre water tank. When we arrive, we connect it to your outside tap so it tops up as we work. Jetting uses about 40 litres a minute, so if you’re on tank water and it’s running low, tell us when you book.
Every drain job includes
We find where it’s blocked.
We clear it properly.
Hydro jetting if it’s needed.
Root cutting if roots are in.
A camera check if it keeps blocking.
Straight answers on the cause.
A clear price for any repair.
A tidy site when we leave.
Licensed plumbers and drainlayers.
Signs your drain is blocked
- Sinks, showers or baths draining slowly.
- Gurgling from the toilet or the plughole.
- Bad smells from a drain or the gully trap.
- Water rising out of the gully trap.
- The toilet filling up when you flush.
- Wet, smelly patches in the lawn over a drain.
Before we arrive
- Stop running water down the blocked drain.
- Don’t pour in chemical drain cleaners.
- Find your gully trap and inspection points, if you can.
- Keep children and pets away from any overflow.
- Tell us if you’re on a septic tank or tank water.
Blocked drain? Talk to a local team.
Local Jobs – Local Trust – Local Experts
A blocked toilet in Wainui
An urgent call-out that turned out to be a broken pipe.
The call: an urgent call-out for a blocked toilet at a rural home on a septic tank.
The cause: the sewer line was blocked. We dug down and found a blocked pipe and a broken bend.
Fixed: a new bend and pipe went in, the line was cleared, and the toilet was working again.
Drain overflowing after hours?
If sewage is overflowing, or a drain is backing up into the house, call us any time, day or night.
Emergency? Please call 021 278 7427. Don’t text or email. Calling is the only way to get an emergency call-out. Texts to this number aren’t seen, and we don’t check emails or website messages after hours or at weekends, so they won’t reach us in time.
Keep your drains flowing
- Only flush toilet paper. Wipes, even the “flushable” ones, don’t break down and are a common cause of blockages.
- Keep fat and oil out of the sink. Let it cool, then put it in the bin.
- Catch food and hair. Use a sink strainer, and clear hair out of the shower drain.
- Look after your gully trap. Keep the grate clear and above the ground, so rainwater can’t flood in.
- Keep rainwater out of the sewer. Downpipes shouldn’t run into the sewer drains.
- On a septic tank? See septic tank services.
Who is responsible for a blocked drain?
You’re responsible for the private drains on your property, up to where they join the public sewer. If the blockage is in the public sewer, Watercare (in Auckland) or Kaipara District Council clears it. We’ll tell you which side it’s on.
Why drains keep blocking
A drain that blocks once might just be a wipe or a build-up of fat. A drain that keeps blocking usually has something wrong with the pipe:
- Roots through the joints of old clay pipes.
- Perforated Novacoil used as a drain, which lets roots straight in.
- A dip in the pipe that holds water and waste.
- A cracked, broken or collapsed pipe.
- Grease building up in a kitchen drain.
Clearing it again only buys time. A camera inspection shows what’s wrong, so you can decide whether to repair it.
Roots in the drains at Dairy Flat
At a property in Dairy Flat, the outside drains kept backing up instead of draining away. We dug down and found the main drain from the front of the house to the back was blocked with tree roots. It had been laid in perforated Novacoil, which lets roots straight in. Two smaller drains under a path were blocked with roots too.
Roots will always find a way into perforated pipe. The lasting fix is solid drain pipe. See drain repairs.
How it works
From your call to a clear drain.
1
Call us
Tell us what’s happening. For an emergency after hours, call 021 278 7427.
2
We find it
We find where the drain is blocked and what’s causing it.
3
We clear it
Rods, jetter or root cutter: whatever the drain needs.
4
We tell you why
If it’s likely to block again, we show you why and give you a price to fix it.
Local drain specialists
Aqua Works has looked after homes and businesses across Rodney and North Auckland since 2000, from our base in Warkworth. Aqua Works Drainage is our drainage team.
- Licensed plumbers and drainlayers.
- Hydro jetter, small-line jetter, root cutter and drain camera.
- Our own diggers for drain repairs.
- Members of Master Plumbers, and SiteWise Gold.
- 24/7 emergency call-outs.
Areas we cover
Mangawhai to Albany, including Warkworth, Matakana, Snells Beach, Wellsford, Orewa, Silverdale, Whangaparāoa, Millwater, Dairy Flat and Coatesville.
Blocked drain FAQs
How do I know if my drain is blocked?
Water draining slowly, gurgling, bad smells, water rising out of the gully trap, or the toilet filling up when you flush. If more than one sink or toilet is slow, the blockage is probably in the main drain outside.
What is hydro jetting?
Water at high pressure through a special nozzle that pulls itself along the pipe. It scours the pipe walls and flushes the blockage, fat and silt out, so it cleans the pipe instead of just punching a hole through the blockage.
Will jetting damage my pipes?
Not when it’s done properly. We choose the nozzle and pressure to suit the pipe. If a pipe is old or already broken, we check it with the camera first.
Do you use my water?
Yes. The jetter carries a 400 litre tank, and we connect it to your outside tap so it tops up as we work. Jetting uses about 40 litres a minute, so if you’re on tank water and it’s running low, tell us when you book.
Can you clear tree roots?
Yes. Our root cutter cuts the roots out of the pipe and the jetter flushes them away. Roots grow back, so we show you where they’re getting in and give you a price for a lasting repair.
Who is responsible for a blocked drain?
You’re responsible for the private drains on your property, up to where they join the public sewer. If the blockage is in the public sewer, Watercare (in Auckland) or Kaipara District Council clears it. We’ll tell you which side it’s on.
My gully trap is overflowing. What should I do?
Stop using water in the house, keep people and pets away from the overflow, and call us. If sewage is overflowing after hours, call 021 278 7427.
Should I use chemical drain cleaners?
We don’t recommend them. Strong drain cleaners can damage older pipes, harm the bacteria in a septic tank, and make the drain dangerous for whoever clears it next.
How much does it cost to unblock a drain?
It depends on the drain and how it’s blocked. We charge by the hour plus travel, and for the jetter only if it’s needed. If we can clear it without the jetter, you only pay the plumber’s rate. Call us on 0800 278 296 for today’s rates.
Do you unblock drains after hours?
Yes, 24/7. For an emergency after hours, please call 021 278 7427. Don’t text or email: calling is the only way to get an emergency call-out. Texts to this number aren’t seen, and we don’t check emails or website messages after hours or at weekends, so they won’t reach us in time.
What areas do you cover?
Rodney and North Auckland, from Mangawhai to Albany, including Warkworth, Matakana, Wellsford, Orewa and the Hibiscus Coast. For bigger jobs further away, give us a call.
Don’t just take our word for it…
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“We received great service from the Aqua Works team on a large property drainage project. Throughout the entire process, Steve and his team were quick to respond and always very helpful, friendly, and reassuring. … We really appreciate all of this and would highly recommend Aqua Works to anyone needing drainage or plumbing services.”
Sarah Holmes, 2026
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“We had an urgent issue and both the receptionist and plumber were considerate, efficient and our issue was resolved in the same day. Thanks so much and I would recommend using this firm in the future.”
Donna Frost, 2025
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“Aqua Works were available the next day to service a toilet issue. No fuss and no muss. Assessed the issue, went to get the part required and fixed and cleaned up afterwards. …”
Jo, 2025
Blocked drain?
Call Aqua Works Drainage. We’ll clear it and tell you why it happened.