Hillarys homes sit on coastal sand, with drainage systems that handle everything from the dune line down to the Indian Ocean. When something goes wrong with a drain in Hillarys, the soil, the salt and the proximity to the water table all play a part. Drains Plus has cleared more than 20,000 drains across the Perth metro, and the work we do in Hillarys looks different to the work we do in older inland suburbs. This page covers what we see in your area, how we handle it, and how to reach us when a drain is backing up.
Hillarys was developed mostly through the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with infill and dual occupancy work adding newer two storey homes over the last fifteen years. The suburb falls within the City of Joondalup, which manages public stormwater drainage and the kerbside gully connections out to the main. Most homes are built on Quindalup sands, the white coastal dune system that runs along this part of the coast. Sandy soils drain fast in dry weather and behave very differently in wet weather, particularly close to the harbour where the summer water table sits high. Drainage infrastructure in Hillarys is predominantly PVC, which is more forgiving than the clay and earthenware lines found in older suburbs further inland. It is not immune to problems though. Connections under landscaping, in paved courtyards, and around extensions are the most common failure points we see.
Stormwater issues outpace sewer issues for us locally, particularly through autumn and winter when sand and leaf matter built up over summer starts to move through the system after the first heavy rains. Stormwater pits and grate inlets near landscaped frontages clog with sand, leaves and bark mulch, and the standing water that follows can find its way back through the system. We also see crushed or misaligned PVC where landscaping, paving extensions, or driveway widening has been done over an existing line without proper protection. Tree roots are less aggressive here than in older inland suburbs but jacaranda, lemon scented gum and tuart roots still find their way into joints where a line has any movement or settlement. CCTV is almost always the first step in Hillarys. There is no point digging in sand at the wrong location, and a quick camera inspection saves time and cost on every job.
Drains Plus operates from Greenwood, a short drive from Hillarys. For most call outs we can have a plumber on site the same day, and emergency call outs are covered around the clock. We are a single location business with a single Google profile, so when you book through us you are dealing directly with the team that will arrive at your address. Most blocked drain work is covered by our fixed price guarantee, and a free plumbing health check is included on every job. If we cannot clear the drain, our service is free.
We service Hillarys as part of our wider coverage of the Perth northern suburbs. Nearby suburbs we cover include:
If you are based outside these areas, our full service area covers the Perth northern suburbs across four local government areas.
The combination of fine coastal sand, a higher summer water table and the predominantly newer PVC infrastructure means we see more stormwater related blockages than sewer issues here. The work is also less about cutting roots out of clay lines and more about clearing sand build up and identifying compromised joints.
For standard jobs we can almost always offer same day service. Emergency call outs are covered around the clock. The Greenwood to Hillarys run is short enough that we are not adding meaningful travel time onto the job.
The kerbside gully and the connection out to the public stormwater main are managed by the City of Joondalup. Anything within your property boundary, including the buried pipework that connects to that boundary, is the property owner’s responsibility. We handle everything inside the boundary and can advise on what to report to council.
Both. Relining is the most common longer term fix when CCTV shows that a section of pipe has cracked, separated at a joint, or has root intrusion that will return after clearing. It is a no dig solution that avoids tearing up paving, courtyards or landscaping, which matters in Hillarys where many homes have extensive paved or planted areas around the drain runs.
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