A slow drain is a pipe that is narrowing. Grease, hair, soap and scale build up layer by layer until water can no longer pass freely. We clear the line with the right cable and head for the pipe size, then tell you what caused it so you can keep it from coming back.
The causeWhy it happens
Each fixture produces its own kind of clog. Kitchen sinks collect grease that cools to a waxy coating. Bathroom sinks and showers gather hair bound with soap. Laundry lines pick up lint and detergent residue. Over time all of these trap scale and debris. When more than one fixture is slow, or a toilet gurgles when the washer drains, the blockage is further downstream in a branch or the main line.
DiagnosisWhat we check first
- 01Which fixtures are affected
- One slow sink is a local clog. Several slow fixtures, or water backing into a tub, means the problem is in a branch or main line.
- 02Best access point
- We use a cleanout when there is one, rather than pulling a toilet or working through a small sink trap.
- 03Pipe material
- Cast iron, galvanized and PVC each need different cable heads and care to avoid damage.
- 04Recurring history
- A drain that clogs every few months has an underlying cause, and we will say when a camera inspection makes sense.
The optionsWhich repair fits, and when
We lay out the choices plainly, explain what each involves and leave the decision with you.
Cable clearing at the fixture
A single slow sink, tub or shower. We remove the trap or stopper and run a small cable through the line.
Branch or main line clearing
Multiple fixtures are slow or backing up. We work from a cleanout with a larger machine.
Clearing plus camera inspection
The line keeps clogging or showed roots or debris on the cable. A camera tells us why.
Local conditionsDrain Cleaning on the west side of San Antonio
Many homes from the 1950s through the 1970s on the west side still have cast iron drains under the slab. Cast iron corrodes from the inside and develops a rough crust that snags grease and paper. Clearing those lines takes the right cutting head and a gentle hand, so the pipe gets cleaned without being damaged.
From the jobDrain stack opened up for clearing with a cable machine
A few things that help
Stop running water into the slow drain. If a toilet or tub is backing up, avoid using other fixtures in the house until we arrive. Let us know if you have poured any chemical drain cleaner in the line.
QuestionsCommon questions about drain cleaning
Why does my tub fill when I flush the toilet?
Both fixtures share a drain line, and the blockage is downstream of where they meet. That usually means a main line clog.
Are chemical drain cleaners a good idea?
We do not recommend them. They rarely clear a full blockage, can harm older pipes and are a hazard for anyone who opens the line afterward.
How do I know if I need hydro jetting instead?
If a line clogs repeatedly with grease, scale or roots, cabling only punches a hole. Jetting scours the full pipe wall.
Related workServices that often go with it
Talk it through with usOpen 7 AM to 11 PM every day. Se habla español.
(210) 761-4788