Wipes go in the garbage
Even the ones labelled flushable. They don't break down, and they catch on every rough joint.
Drain clearing and hydro-jetting
Clearing or jetting? It depends on what's in the pipe.
A slow sink and a backed-up basement drain are different jobs. Here is how we choose, and what happens on the visit.
Two tools, two jobs
Most blockages need a cable. Some need water.
Drain clearing
A cutting head on a spinning cable
The cable reaches the blockage and breaks it up or pulls it back. Fast, and the right first step for most single blockages.
Right for
- A sink, tub or toilet that's blocked or slow
- A main line backup that hasn't happened before
- Wipes, hair, paper or a dropped object
From $159 · main line $249
Hydro-jetting
Water at high pressure, aimed at the walls
A jetting nozzle pulls itself up the pipe and scours the full circle of the wall. It removes what a cable only punches through.
Right for
- Kitchen lines packed with grease
- Roots that come back every year
- Scale in older cast-iron lines
- A line that blocks again within months
From $595 · includes a camera check after
We don't jet every line. Old clay with open cracks, or pipe that is badly broken, can be damaged by jetting. If the camera shows that, we'll tell you and suggest a gentler clean or a repair instead.
On the visit
What happens when we come for a blocked drain
Questions first
Which drains are slow, which backed up, and when. That usually tells us where the blockage is.
Protect the space
Drop sheets, buckets and towels down before anything is opened. Shoe covers in the house.
Clear and test
We clear from the nearest access point, then run water at volume to make sure it drains fully.
Tell you what we found
What came out, whether it's likely to return, and whether a camera look is worth it. No pressure either way.
Signs it's the main line
When it's more than one drain
If one sink is slow, the problem is close to that sink. If several fixtures act up at once, the blockage is usually in the main line to the street.
- Water comes up the basement floor drain when the washer empties
- The toilet gurgles when you run the bathroom sink
- Lowest drains in the house are the slowest
- A sewer smell near the floor drain
If water is coming up right now, stop using water in the house, including the washer and dishwasher, and call us at (555) 555-0163.
Keeping it clear
Three habits that save a call-out
Cool fat, then bin it
Pan grease is liquid when hot and sets in the pipe. Wipe pans with paper towel before washing.
Know where the cleanout is
It's the capped pipe near where the sewer leaves the house. Keep it reachable and the main line costs less to clear.
Drain acting up?
Send a request with what you're seeing, or call and we'll give you a time and a flat price on the phone.