Drain Cleaning
in the Capital Region, NY

It depends on which line is blocked, how far in the clog sits and what is causing it. A single sink, tub or toilet clog and a main-line or root job are different amounts of work, so we diagnose first and quote one flat price you approve before work starts, never an hourly rate. Estimates are free. Our drain cleaning cost guide shows real ranges from our own invoices.

Yes. For sinks, tubs, toilets and floor drains we cable or auger past the clog. For a main line we use a powered rooter, and for grease, scale and roots we can hydro jet. Afterward we run water to confirm the line flows free before we leave.

Yes, Monday through Friday. Clogs and backups are what we prioritize for same-day visits, and we work 7:30am to 6pm. If several fixtures are backing up or sewage is entering the home, call us first so we can prioritize it.

If more than one fixture acts up at the same time, such as a toilet and tub gurgling together, or water backing up into the basement floor drain when you run a sink or the washer, that points to the main sewer line, not a single fixture. A lone slow sink or tub is typically a local clog. When it looks like the main line, or the same drain keeps backing up, we run a camera so you can see what is causing it before deciding next steps.

A drain that clogs again and again usually has buildup or damage past the spot a plunger reaches: grease, scale, tree roots, a cracked or sagging pipe or, in an older home, a clogged house trap. Our guide on why a drain keeps clogging covers the common causes. If it returns more than once or twice a year, a camera inspection shows the reason.

A floor drain that backs up when the washer runs or after a heavy rain usually shares the main line, so a main-line clog, roots or a clogged house trap is the likely cause. In a city on a combined sewer, overloaded street mains can also push water back toward low drains. In many older basements the main drain has a U-shaped house trap that can snag debris and roots. We clear the line, check it on camera if it repeats, and can talk through a backwater valve.

It depends on the clog. A cable or snake punches through a stoppage and works well on most fixture clogs. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the pipe wall, which suits heavy grease and root buildup. We pick the method after we see the line. Read more in snaking vs hydro jetting.

It can be, when the pressure and nozzle are matched to the pipe and the line has been looked at first. It is not right for every pipe: a cracked, collapsed or badly deteriorated line, which can happen with old clay, Orangeburg or scaled cast iron, needs a different plan. That is why we look first and tell you if jetting is not a good idea for your line.

Yes. Root intrusion is a common cause of recurring backups in older Capital Region homes with clay or cast-iron sewer laterals, and we clear it by cabling the line with a root-cutting blade or by hydro jetting. Because roots grow back, we camera the line afterward so you can see the pipe’s condition and how heavy the intrusion is, and whether it is a one-time clearing or needs a longer-term plan. See tree roots in your sewer line.

We would not. Chemical cleaners rarely reach a deep clog, they can sit in a line that is already full of standing water, and they are harsh on old pipes and on whoever opens the trap next. Try a plunger or a small hand auger first. If the water does not clear, other fixtures gurgle or sewage smells show up, stop and call us.

There is no set schedule for every home. Kitchen lines that take grease may need attention more often, and homes with older clay or cast-iron lines and mature trees nearby can build up roots over time. If you have had a clog more than once or twice in a year, have the line looked at instead of waiting for the next backup.

For a single sink or tub, a plunger or a small hand auger is a reasonable first step. If the water does not clear, other fixtures gurgle, or sewage smells show up, stop and call us. We can clear it and check the line.