Drain Cleaning in Atlanta
A drain that clears and stays clear was a clog. A drain that clears and comes back is telling you something about the pipe.
Which drain, and how far down
Kitchen sinks clog with grease and food. Bathroom sinks and tubs clog with hair and soap. Those are branch-line problems, close to the fixture, and they are usually a short visit. Main-line clogs sit further down, where everything in the house joins on its way to the street, and the symptoms are different: more than one fixture slow, the lowest drain in the house misbehaving.
The distinction matters for price and for what equipment comes out of the van. Tell the company which fixtures are affected when you call.
Old cast-iron kitchen lines
In houses that still have their original cast-iron drain under the kitchen, the inside of the pipe roughens with rust and scale over the decades. Grease that would slide through smooth PVC catches on it and builds up layer on layer until the opening is a fraction of what it was. Cabling punches a hole through and the sink drains again, for a while. Jetting scours the wall and lasts longer. If the pipe is far gone, neither does much, and a section replacement is the real fix.
Roots in the main
On the east side, and anywhere else with old trees and clay laterals, the main-line clog is usually roots. A cable with a cutting blade shears them off. They grow back from the joint, typically within a year or two. Some owners simply put a root clearing on the calendar every year; others decide after the third backup that the joint needs sealing or the line needs replacing. Either is a reasonable decision once you have seen the camera footage.
If this is the second or third time, ask for a camera inspection along with the clearing. Call or send the details.
What not to do first
Chemical drain openers do little to a root mass, sit in the trap or the main, and make the next person’s job unpleasant. A plunger on a toilet is fine. Renting a drum machine is possible, but a cable that kinks or breaks off in an old clay line turns a clog into a dig.
Common questions
Cable or hydro jetting?
A cable is quicker and cheaper and fine for most clogs. Jetting cleans the whole pipe wall and is better for grease and fine roots, but should follow a camera look on an old clay or cast-iron line, because high pressure can make a cracked pipe worse.
How often should a root-prone line be cleared?
Many owners clear once a year, before the line gets bad enough to back up. The camera footage tells you how fast the roots are coming back.
Other plumbing help in Atlanta
- Plumber in Atlanta, GA
- Sewer Line Repair in Atlanta
- Emergency Plumber in Atlanta
- Water Heater Replacement in Atlanta
- Leak Detection and Repiping in Atlanta
Also serving
Drain Cleaning is available beyond Atlanta, across Kirkwood & East Atlanta , Decatur , Brookhaven and Sandy Springs .
Get help with drain cleaning
Say what is happening and a local plumbing company will call you back within one business day. Phones answered Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm. Night cover is set by the plumber. Or call (470) 243-2699. If water is still coming in or sewage is coming up, call instead.