Drain Cleaning
Drain cleaning is the general service for a slow or blocked drain in a branch line, the pipe between a fixture and the main sewer. It is the starting point when one drain is the problem.
Plumbing Nation is a referral service. Your call is connected to an independent plumbing provider, subject to availability in your area. Plumbing Nation may receive compensation when your call is connected with a participating provider. Providers are independent businesses.
Common signs
- Water draining slowly from one fixture
- Gurgling from a drain when another fixture runs
- Recurring clogs in the same drain
- Odor from a drain that does not go away with flushing
What the provider typically checks
A plumber removes the trap or uses a cleanout and runs a drain cable (snake) sized to the pipe. When clogs return, a camera can show whether the pipe is damaged or sagging.
Before you call
Stop using the fixture. Avoid pouring chemical drain openers in a fully stopped drain; they sit in the pipe and can harm both the pipe and whoever opens it next.
Related services
- Main Line Clog: Clearing a blockage in the main sewer line.
- Hydro Jetting: High-pressure water cleaning of drain and sewer pipe walls.
Questions
When is a clog a sewer problem instead of a drain problem?
If several fixtures back up at once, especially the lowest toilet or tub, the main line is the likely cause. See the main line clog page.
Are chemical drain openers safe?
They can damage older pipe and are hazardous if the drain stays blocked. Mechanical clearing is usually the safer option.
Who decides what the work will cost?
The independent provider sets the scope and the charges after looking at the problem. Confirm all details directly with the provider on the call.
Call for Drain Cleaning Help
Calls about drain cleaning are connected to an independent plumbing provider, subject to availability. Plumbing Nation may receive compensation when your call is connected with a participating provider. Providers are independent businesses.