Signs you need a drain cleaning
- Slow drains in a sink, tub or shower
- Drains gurgle after you run water
- More than one fixture backs up at the same time
- Water rises in the tub or shower when you flush or run the washer
- A sewage smell near a floor drain or cleanout
- A clog came back after a store-bought drain cleaner
Clearing the clog
A single slow drain tends to mean a clog in the trap or the first few feet of pipe. The plumber pulls the trap or feeds a drain machine, a motorized cable, into the line to break up hair, grease and soap buildup.
Several drains backing up together means the blockage sits farther down, in the main drain or sewer line. The plumber opens a cleanout and cables the main line. Heavy grease or root problems may call for hydro jetting, which scours the pipe walls with high-pressure water, or a camera inspection to see what's inside.
Common questions
Do I need a plumber for one slow drain?
Maybe not. A hair clog in a bathroom sink or tub trap may clear with a plastic drain tool from the hardware store. Call a plumber when the clog returns, when more than one drain is slow, or when water backs up into another fixture.
What is hydro jetting?
The plumber feeds a jetting hose into the drain line and sprays water at high pressure to strip grease, scale and roots from the pipe walls. On older lines, plumbers check the pipe condition first, since damaged pipe may not handle the pressure.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. The plumber looks at the drain and gives you a free estimate before starting.
