Concrete & Hard Blockage Removal in Auckland
Some blockages won’t shift with a plunger, an electric eel or even a hydro jet. Set concrete, cement slurry, hard scale and thick roots need to be cut out.
That’s what our Picote Maxi Miller is for. It goes in through your existing drain access and grinds the blockage away from inside the pipe, so in many cases there’s no need to dig up your driveway, lawn or floor.
Call 027 504 5502Same-day service across Auckland, 7 days. 24/7 emergency call-outs available.
What we can remove
- Concrete, cement and grout slurry washed down drains by builders
- Hardened grout and rocks lodged in the pipe
- Rust and scale build-up inside old cast iron pipes
- Lime scale and other hard deposits
- Tree roots growing into the pipe
- Pipe joints and connections sticking into the line
- Old or failed pipe linings and patches
How it works – no digging
We look first
A CCTV camera goes down the drain so we can see exactly what’s in there and where.
We cut it out
The Maxi Miller spins a flexible shaft with a cutting head or carbide chain on the end. We feed it through an existing opening – a gully trap, inspection point or cleaning eye – and grind the blockage away bit by bit. It reaches up to 30 m (40 m with an extension) in pipes from about 70 mm to 250 mm across.
We check again
Another CCTV run confirms the pipe is clear, and you can see the before and after footage.
Old cast iron pipes
Older homes and buildings often still have cast iron waste pipes. Over the years they rust and build up scale inside, which slowly narrows the pipe until water drains slowly or it blocks.
We use carbide chains on the Maxi Miller to grind the rust and scale back off the pipe walls and get the flow back. It’s also the first step before relining an old cast iron pipe, because a liner needs clean walls to sit on.
Signs you need it
- Builders or tradies have washed concrete, cement or tile grout down a drain
- Your drain blocks again and again after a renovation
- A hydro jet or eel hasn’t fixed the problem
- An older home with cast iron pipes that drain slowly or keep blocking
- A CCTV inspection has shown scale, rust, roots or a hard lump in the pipe
- Your pipe needs relining and has to be cleaned out first
CCTV first, then mill, then CCTV again
We never cut blind. Every job starts with a CCTV inspection so we know what we’re dealing with and whether milling is the right fix. Once the pipe’s clear, we run the camera again to confirm the result.
Getting ready for relining
Before a pipe can be relined, it needs to be clean and smooth inside. The Maxi Miller removes scale, rust, roots, concrete and pipe joints that stick out, so the new liner can sit properly. Once a pipe is relined, it can also reopen the side connections inside the new liner.
Call-out & on-site assessment $59 + GST,
credited to your job if the work goes ahead.
CCTV inspection $200 + GST
Call 027 504 5502FAQs
Do you have to dig up my yard?
Usually not. We work through your existing drain access points, so most hard blockages can be removed without digging. Our CCTV inspection will show if a pipe is too damaged and needs a different fix.
Can you really get concrete out of a pipe?
In many cases, yes. The Maxi Miller uses special cutting heads made to grind concrete, grout and slurry out of pipes. How long it takes depends on how much concrete there is and how hard it’s set, which we check with CCTV first.
Can you clean out old cast iron pipes?
Yes. We grind the rust and scale off the inside walls to get the water flowing again. If the pipe is in poor shape, we’ll show you the footage and talk through options like relining.
Will it damage my pipes?
We match the cutting tool to your pipe type and check the pipe with CCTV before and after. If the pipe is cracked or broken, we’ll tell you before we start.
How much does it cost?
Every job is different, so we price it after a CCTV inspection. The call-out and on-site assessment is $59 + GST, credited if the job goes ahead.
Got a drain full of concrete, scale or roots?
Same-day service across Auckland, 7 days, 8am–5pm. 24/7 emergency call-outs available, with after-hours jobs priced over the phone.
Call 027 504 5502