Blocked Drain Mount Cotton
Blocked drains on sewered and septic properties in Mount Cotton. Septic tank pump-outs and renewals, blocked grease traps cleared, and camera inspections on long drain runs.
When the drain goes to a septic tank
Parts of Mount Cotton aren’t connected to the sewer, so the toilet, kitchen and laundry drain to a septic or on-site treatment system on the block. When a drain slows on one of these properties, the blockage may be in the pipe, or it may be the system itself filling up.
Redland City Council explains how a septic tank works: solids settle to the bottom as sludge or float as scum, bacteria break the waste down, and the liquid flows out to a transpiration trench where it soaks into the soil. When sludge and scum take up too much of the tank, the wastewater can’t settle, solids are carried into the trenches, and the trenches clog.
Older homes may also have a separate sullage system for kitchen, bathroom and laundry water, with a grease trap near the kitchen. Council says to clean those traps every three months and call a plumber if a trap is blocked.
Keeping a septic system flowing
Council’s care list is short. Put nothing but toilet paper in the toilet. Cat litter, sanitary products, paper towels and tissues are slow to break down and fill the tank quickly. Keep fats and grease out of the kitchen sink. Use cleaners suitable for septic systems, and skip toilet disinfectants, which kill the bacteria the tank depends on.
Divert stormwater away from the trench area, and fix leaking toilets straight away. Council recommends an annual tank check. How often a tank needs pumping depends on its size, the flow of wastewater and the solids going in. If more people live in the house than the system was designed for, it will need pumping more often.
A smell is often the first sign of trouble. Council says the most common problem is the tank turning acidic, usually because the wrong things have gone in. Its fix is hydrated lime flushed through over a few days, but not just before a pump-out.
We pump out and renew septic tanks, clear blocked drains and grease traps, and use a CCTV camera on long runs between the house and the tank. We work under QBCC licence 15504687.
Frequently asked questions
Can’t see your question? Call us and we’ll talk it through.
Call 0418 871 269How often should my septic tank be pumped out in Mount Cotton?
Redland City Council recommends an annual check. Pumping frequency depends on the tank size, how much wastewater goes in and the solids load. Some older systems need sludge removal every two to three years.
My drains are slow and the yard near the trench is wet. What’s wrong?
The tank may be too full of sludge, sending solids into the trenches and clogging them. Get the tank checked and pumped before the trenches fail completely.
Can I use normal cleaning products with a septic tank?
Use cleaners labelled suitable for septic systems. Council warns that toilet disinfectants destroy the bacteria the system needs.
Why does my septic system smell?
Council says the most common cause is the tank becoming acidic, usually from the wrong things going in. It can be corrected, but get the tank checked to rule out a blockage or a full tank.
How often should I clean my grease trap?
Every three months, according to Redland City Council. Call a plumber if the trap is blocked.
Blocked drains in nearby areas
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Slow drains or septic trouble in Mount Cotton? Call 0418 871 269.
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