The gully trap is overflowing and the toilet is not far behind.
A blocked drain is two jobs wearing one coat. The unblock is quick and relatively cheap; finding the cause is where the value sits. Wellington's steep sections and old earthenware pipes mean a surprising number of "one-off" blockages are roots or a collapsed section, and the camera inspection is what stops you paying for the same unblock every winter.
Is this your stream?
A toilet that will not clear, a sink draining slowly, or a gully trap overflowing outside. That is a standard unblock: rods or jetting, usually done in one visit, priced in the $150–$450 guide band.
Multiple fixtures draining slowly or backing up together points to the main drain, and a repeat blockage within months points to roots or a collapse. That is still this stream, but book the provider with the camera, not just the rods.
What it costs in Wellington
The unblock band
NZ cost guides (Unicorns) put unblocking a drain at $150–$450 depending on how far into the system the blockage sits. A toilet or sink blockage near the fixture is at the bottom of the band; the main line is at the top.
How the bill is built
Standard NZ structure: a callout fee around $70–$130 (Hey Jodie, Flow Pro guides) plus $90–$150 per hour. After-hours drain work attracts the same premiums as any emergency callout.
CCTV, jetting, relining
Camera inspections, hydro jetting, root cutting, relining and excavation are all quoted per job in Wellington. Drain Doctor publishes a customer story where work quoted at $3,000–$4,000 elsewhere was resolved for $460 including GST, which is why the diagnosis matters more than the unblock.
Wellington providers, compared
Six providers that clear drains, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Reaching for chemical drain cleaner again and again: repeated chemical use is hard on the galvanised and earthenware pipework common in Wellington villas, and it never touches the actual cause.
Unblocking without finding the cause: a rod or jet clears the symptom. If the same drain blocks twice in a year, pay for the CCTV inspection and find out why.
Paying to unblock a drain that needs relining or replacement: recurring blockages usually mean roots in cracked earthenware or a collapsed section. Drain Doctor does no-dig relining; at some point the unblock money is better spent on the fix.
Assuming the council will sort it: everything on your side of the boundary is your responsibility and your cost. Wellington Water maintains the public network only.
Digging before locating: guessing the pipe path under a driveway or retaining wall is expensive. Drain location services and hydro excavation exist precisely to avoid it.
Flushing the things that caused it: wet wipes, cooking fat and sanitary products are the classic blockers. The cheapest drain work is the stuff you never put down it.
FAQ
How much does drain unblocking cost in Wellington?
NZ cost guides (Unicorns) put unblocking a drain at $150–$450 depending on how far into the system the blockage sits, on top of the usual callout-plus-hourly structure ($75–$130 callout, $90–$150 per hour standard rates). CCTV inspections, hydro jetting and any relining or excavation are quoted per job. No Wellington drain specialist publishes a fixed price list.
Who is responsible, me or Wellington Water?
You are responsible for the pipes on your property up to the boundary; Wellington Water looks after the public network. If neighbours are backing up too, report it to Wellington Water first. Drain Doctor also notes that local councils across the region request pre- and post-work CCTV inspections as proof that construction has not damaged council assets.
Hydro jetting or drain rods: what is the difference?
Rods punch a hole through the blockage; hydro jetting scours the pipe wall clean, which matters when grease or roots are the cause. Plumbquick and Harbour City both run jetting gear. Ask which method is being used and whether a camera pass is included afterwards.
Why does my drain keep blocking?
In Wellington's hill suburbs the usual answer is tree roots finding cracked earthenware pipes, or a collapsed or displaced section on a steep site. The unblock is temporary until the pipe is relined or replaced. A CCTV condition assessment turns the guessing into a report.
When does unblocking become drainlaying?
When the camera shows a collapse, major displacement or pipe past its life. New drain installation and repairs are restricted work for registered drainlayers: Drain Doctor and Hutt Gas both field registered or certifying drainlayers, and Grant Plumbing carries drainlaying in-house.
A simple unblock runs $150–$450 on the guide ranges, billed as callout plus hourly. Plumbquick and Southern are the same-day and 24/7 options; Harbour City brings jetting and root removal; Drain Doctor is the drain-only specialist with CCTV, relining and certifying drainlayers; Hutt Gas has the 1992 track record and the NoCowboys history; Grant carries the job through to drainlaying. If the same drain blocks twice, stop paying for unblocks and pay for the camera.