Updated October 2026
South Hurstville sits between the Hurstville town centre and the river suburbs, with the shopping strip along King Georges Road at its centre and residential streets spreading out on either side. It is a mix of solid postwar brick homes, newer duplexes and small unit blocks. St George Blocked Drains is a local referral service. We put South Hurstville residents and businesses in touch with the licensed local drain plumbers we work with.
Why South Hurstville drains block
Much of the housing here was built in the decades after the war, when earthenware clay sewer pipe was standard. Those pipes come in short sections with a joint roughly every metre, and decades of ground movement open those joints a little at a time. Mature trees in back gardens and along the streets send fine roots into the gaps, and the roots grow until the line blocks.
Redevelopment brings a different problem. Where an old house has made way for a duplex or townhouses, the new dwellings sometimes share a line or connect into older pipe at the boundary. More households on one line means more grease, wipes and paper, and a joint that coped with one family may not cope with three.
The King Georges Road shops add commercial drainage to the picture. Food outlets produce fat and oil that coats pipes if grease arrestors are not maintained, and older shopfronts often have living space above with shared plumbing.
What clearing a blocked drain involves
The licensed drain plumbers we work with typically clear the immediate blockage, then use a CCTV drain camera to find out why it happened. For a single blocked toilet that may be all that is needed. For repeat blockages, jet blasting scours roots and grease off the pipe walls, and the camera shows whether a damaged clay section needs pipe relining.
What it costs
A standard clear typically runs $150 to $400. Tree roots in drains typically cost $250 to $600 to clear, and a CCTV inspection runs $249 to $600, or $350 to $900 combined with jetting. Relining a broken section typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 or more. Your plumber gives a price before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Our duplex shares a sewer line with next door. Who pays to clear it?
Shared private lines are usually a matter for the owners involved to sort out between them. A camera inspection shows where the blockage sits, which helps settle who is responsible.
Can a plumber clear a drain for a shop on King Georges Road?
Yes. The plumbers we work with handle commercial drains, including grease-affected kitchen lines. Mention it is a business when you request a quote.
How do I know if roots are the cause?
A drain that blocks every few months, especially after rain, is the classic sign. Only a camera confirms it, and it also shows whether the pipe around the roots is still sound.
Slow drain or gurgling toilet in South Hurstville? Get a fast quote and we will connect you with a licensed local drain plumber.