Hydro Jetting
Blast grease, scale and roots off the pipe wall when a cable only punches a hole through the clog.
Plumbing service
Emergency Drain Cleaning in Westminster, CO
One slow sink is a nuisance. A tub gurgling when the washer drains, or water rising in a basement floor drain, means the main line is blocked and it will not wait.
Stop running water in the house, then call and say which drains are slow.
How to read the symptoms
- One fixture slowThe clog is probably in that fixture's branch line.
- Several fixtures slow togetherThe blockage is likely downstream in the main line.
- Basement drain bubbling or risingTreat it as a main-line backup and stop using water.
Branch clog or main line?
The pattern tells you where to look. If only the bathroom sink drains slowly, the problem sits between that sink and the point where its pipe joins the larger line. If the toilet, tub and floor drain all misbehave together, the trouble is lower down.
A quick test is to flush the toilet farthest from the main. If a lower fixture, such as a basement shower, gurgles or backs up, the blockage is in the main line.
How a clog is cleared
For most clogs the plumber uses a motorized cable with a cutting head sized to the pipe. The head breaks through the blockage and drags debris back out. A small camera on a cable confirms that the line is open afterward.
When grease or scale has coated the whole pipe wall, a cable only punches a hole through it. Hydro jetting, which scours the pipe with high-pressure water, is the better tool, and it has its own page.
Cost
What drives a drain cleaning bill
The pipe and the machine used set the bill. Here is what counts most.
Ask whether the visit includes a camera look and what happens if the clog returns.
In Westminster
Trees, older lines and the city main
The city maintains the sewer main under the street, and the owner maintains the lateral from the house to that main. A backup in the lateral is your plumber's job. A backup in the city main, which often shows at a manhole, goes to Wastewater Collections.
The city advises against planting trees or shrubs near the lateral, because roots follow moisture into joints. If your yard has a mature tree between the house and the street, ask for a camera look.
Why clogs come back
A line that clogs again within weeks usually has a cause that cable work does not fix. Common culprits are a belly in the pipe where water pools, a root intrusion, grease buildup or a collapsed section.
Westminster's utility asks residents to flush only toilet paper. Wipes marketed as flushable, pads, floss and paper towels have blocked city pumps and pipes, and they do the same in private lines.
What not to pour or flush
Fats, oils and grease harden in cold pipe. Pour them into a sealed container and put it in the trash. Wipe pans with a paper towel before washing.
Chemical drain openers can damage old pipe and are hard on the plumber's skin and eyes. If a product has already gone down the drain, tell the contractor so the right protective gear is worn.
Habits that prevent clogs
Simple habits that protect your drains
These cost nothing and prevent most calls.
When the clog returns
Sewer Camera Inspection
Send a camera down the line before a repair, a purchase or a decision about a tree.
Sewer Line Repair
Mend a cracked, root-choked or bellied lateral, either as a spot fix or a longer section.
Common questions
Answers about drain cleaning
A cable can break through a blockage and leave residue on the pipe wall. A full cleaning removes the buildup, often with a larger cutting head or jetting.
When the main line is blocked, water finds the lowest opening in the house. Stop using water and call. A floor drain in the basement is often the first place to show it.
They can damage older pipe and rubber seals, and they are risky to handle. A cable or jetting removes the clog without that exposure.
If a manhole in the street is overflowing or neighbors are also affected, call Wastewater Collections. If only your house is backing up, the lateral is probably blocked.
Drains backing up now?
Stop using water, then call. Say which fixtures are slow or gurgling, and the dispatcher connects you with a local contractor.