Hydro Jetting
Scour a drain with high-pressure water to remove grease, scale and roots that a cable left behind.
Drains and sewer
Emergency Drain Cleaning and Unclogging in Avondale, AZ
A slow sink, a tub that will not drain or a toilet that gurgles. Drain cleaning clears the blockage and tells you why it formed so it does not return next month. If water is rising or backing up into the house, call the 24/7 line.
Be ready to name the slow fixtures and say if several are affected at once.
Clog patterns and what they mean
- One fixture slowUsually a local clog in that trap or branch line.
- Two or more slowOften points to the main line or a branch shared by several fixtures.
- Gurgling or odorAir is struggling past a blockage in the line.
Match the clog to the method
A cable, sometimes called a snake, works for hair, soap and paper blockages in kitchen, bath and laundry lines. A cable with a cutting head can chew through roots in a sewer lateral.
When grease, scale or sand lines the pipe wall, a cable only punches a hole. High-pressure jetting scours the pipe clean. See hydro jetting.
Kitchen sink, shower and tub clogs
Kitchen drains carry grease and food scraps that harden and narrow the pipe. A clog that returns every few months often means grease has built up beyond the trap.
In showers and tubs hair and soap scum are the usual causes. Dishwasher air gaps and disposal outlets can also back up and make the sink drain slow.
Main line clogs and cleanouts
The main line carries everything in the house to the sewer. When it clogs, several drains back up together, and a floor drain or the lowest tub often shows it first.
A cleanout outside the house gives access for cable or jetting. Yard drains and area drains collect storm and irrigation runoff and can clog with leaves, silt and roots; ask whether the contractor services them too.
When cleaning is not enough
If the same line clogs again and again, the pipe may be cracked, sagging or invaded by roots. A sewer camera inspection shows the cause.
If sewage is already coming up, read sewer backup repair.
Cost
What shapes the price of drain cleaning
Cleaning is usually quoted by the type of line, the method and the access.
Ask whether a camera check is included if the clog returns, and what any warranty on the cleaning covers.
Signs you may need this
How a failing drain announces itself
Catching it early is cheaper than a full backup.
Clear the way for the drain visit
Stop using water in the affected fixtures. Remove standing water from a sink or tub if you can, and clear away items near the floor drain.
Do not use chemicals
Avoid pouring drain chemicals into a clogged line. The plumber may need to open the trap, and strong chemicals can burn skin.
How the stoppage is located
The plumber starts at the affected fixture and checks the trap, the branch line and the nearest cleanout. A cable test shows where resistance begins.
If more than one fixture is affected, the contractor moves to the main line and the cleanout. A camera check afterward confirms the pipe is clear and shows any damage.
Snaking, jetting or pipe repair
Snaking handles most common clogs quickly. Jetting handles grease and scale. If the pipe is cracked or offset, no amount of cleaning solves it and a repair is the answer.
See sewer line repair for what that involves.
In Avondale
Roots, grease and shared lines
Mature trees along older streets can send roots into joints of aging clay or cast iron drains. Newer PVC lines resist roots but can still collect grease and wipes.
In townhomes and apartments a single branch line may serve several units, so a clog in one place can show up in another.
If the clog keeps coming back
Sewer Camera Inspection
See inside the line on video before you pick a repair or buy a property.
Sewer Backup Repair
Handle wastewater rising in a tub or floor drain by clearing the main line and checking its condition.
Common questions
Answers about drain cleaning
Grease and food residue coat the pipe wall and narrow it. A cable clears the plug, and jetting removes the coating that keeps rebuilding.
Often, yes, especially if a tub or floor drain also acts up. Stop running water and call.
Chemical cleaners can damage pipes and are dangerous when a plumber has to open the line afterward. A cable or jetting is safer.
Ask when you call. Many contractors service yard drains and cleanouts, but it depends on the crew and the layout.
The price depends on the line, the method and access. A contractor should quote it before work begins.
Ask the dispatcher about same-day openings. A backed-up main line gets priority.
Hair and soap scum are the usual cause. A plumber can pull the stopper, cable the drain and check the trap.
Contractors commonly clear those lines. Mention the dishwasher air gap or the standpipe so the plumber checks the right parts.
Drain stopped or backing up?
Stop running water and phone. Say which fixtures are affected and what you have tried so far.