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How to fix blocked plumbing?

Hi folks,

Trying desperately to clear my main waste pipe and looking for some advice.All 3 exit pipes have gunk in them with a lot of sand as well. Really not sure where that came from and has made the task a little more difficult. I purchased the plans looking for the clearing pipe entrance with no luck. I own a small drain snake which connects to my guerney. That is also struggling to move the sand and with those silly pipes coming from the bathroom floor thru to the vertical pipes I can't get down the pipe to help remove it. Any suggestions? Do I mainly concentrate on the overflow relief gully ? Any likely places to find the Clearing pipe entrance?

Thanks so much.

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Comments

JacobZ

Hi @Popeye,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

From the way you’ve described it, the main issue isn’t just a routine blockage. The presence of sand in your waste pipe suggests either a cracked section of pipe underground or sediment that has washed in from outside during heavy rain. Sand is particularly difficult to shift because it settles and compacts, which is why your drain snake attachment is struggling. Even if you manage to push some of it through, chances are it will build up again unless the underlying cause is fixed.

The overflow relief gully is the right place to focus your efforts, as it’s designed to act as an access point into the sewer line. You could try clearing as much loose sand as possible by hand or with a wet/dry vacuum before attempting to flush the line, but a small pressure washer or snake simply won’t have enough force to deal with compacted sand. In most cases like this, a plumber would use a high-pressure jetter or mechanical eel to break up the blockage, followed by a drain camera inspection to confirm whether the pipe itself has been damaged.

Given the type of blockage you’re describing, the most reliable next step is to call a licensed plumber. They’ll be able to clear the sand properly, check the condition of your pipes, and prevent the problem from recurring. While a bit of DIY effort might buy some temporary relief, the combination of gunk and sand in a main waste pipe is usually a sign that professional equipment and expertise are needed to resolve it for good.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

Popeye

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/56555#Comment_56555

Hi Jacob,

Thanks so much mate, sort of knew what I was in for. I did ask for a quote and nearly fell over when he said just to hire the snake was $500. So I envisaged a 1k bill and thought I would have a crack at it (3 days later😄) Will get some other quotes.

Thanks some much for your help, I am super impressed with the speed and quality of your advice.

Legend,

Popeye

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