Updated October 2026
Allambie Heights sits on the plateau between Manly Dam and Frenchs Forest, with bushland on several sides and streets of family homes mostly built from the 1960s onwards. The bush is the draw, and it is also the reason so many drains here end up full of roots. Beaches Blocked Drains is a referral service. We connect you with licensed local drain plumbers who service Allambie Heights.
Why Allambie Heights drains block
Three things come up again and again. First, roots: gums and angophoras in reserves and gardens grow big root systems, and clay sewer joints from that building era are an easy way in. Second, soil: much of the plateau has clay-rich ground that swells and shrinks with the weather, slowly opening the joints. Third, leaves: properties backing onto bushland collect bark and leaf litter in gutters, downpipes and stormwater pits.
Many homes have also been extended or had a granny flat added, which puts more flow through an old line.
How it gets fixed
The plumbers we refer usually put a CCTV drain camera through the line first. It shows whether roots are a nuisance in a sound pipe or a sign of cracked joints. Jet blasting with a root-cutting nozzle clears the pipe back to its wall. If the joints are failing, pipe relining seals the section and stops roots returning.
For stormwater, clearing pits and jetting lines before the wet season keeps bush-edge systems flowing. See blocked stormwater.
What it costs
A standard clear typically runs $150 to $400. Tree roots in drains clearing typically runs $250 to $600. Relining typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 or more. You get a quote before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
We back onto the bush. Will roots always be a problem?
Roots go where the water is. If the pipe is sealed, they have nowhere to get in. Relining the damaged sections is the usual long-term answer.
Our granny flat drains into the main house line. Could that cause blockages?
It can. More fixtures on an old line means more load. A camera inspection shows whether the line is coping.
How often should bush-edge stormwater be cleaned?
Many owners have pits cleared and lines jetted every year or two. Gutter guards help a lot.