About Those Sewer and Drain Clogs in San Diego

Professional drain cleaning requires more knowledge than just how to operate a “snake.”  That’s because there are different types of clogs, requiring different methods. Tub and shower clogs in San Diego are usually caused by hair together with soap scum. But a backed up kitchen sink is usually caused by a grease buildup. And laundry room clogs are most commonly due to lint from the washer.  Finally, a toilet backup is usually caused by some foreign object that shouldn’t have been flushed in the first place, tree roots, or some other any obstruction in the sewer line.  For that a video camera inspection is usually the best first step.

A fixture can be backed up or slow flowing because of a clog anywhere from drain itself to connection at the street.  Every sink, shower, tub, or washer in your home joins together at various places, and eventually to a single sewer line leading to the city system.  So the more fixtures there are that are misbehaving the more likely it is that the problem is further down the system.  But if that’s the case, don’t panic because sewer cleaning can usually take care of that without the expense and disruption of digging up your yard.

Professional Drain Cleaning

There are many store-bought liquids to choose from, and most are based on strong bleaching agents.  They can be effective for shower and tub problems, not so much for the kitchen. Whether they or a local plumber leave you with a slow-running sink the odds are that it will only get worse, usually pretty quickly.  It takes quite a bit of expertise to thoroughly take care of such problems. And often specialized equipment such as our high-pressure hydro jetting gear.

Commercial Drain Services

Grease build up is a big problem for restaurants and any commercial facilities that handle food.  For them it’s often a great idea to have have a commercial plumber perform scheduled drain cleaning before things start slowing down.  Those facilities are typically required to have a special grease trap to keep FOG (fats, oils, and grease) from making it to the city sewer where they can cause huge problems.  And that in turn means regular pumps out for the collected grease along with periodic maintenance for the trap.

Professional Sewer Cleaning and Repair

Few homeowners and small business owners are equipped to handle sewer line problems.  And considering smell and sanitation issues very few want to!  Professional sewer cleaning can often take care of the problem without digging up the yard and replacing pipe.  A video camera inspection will determine the exact issue, and that could include tree roots, heavy grease and sludge build up, a foreign object, a damaged pipe, and so on.  Regular cabling and auguring can remove the blockage in most cases.  Hydro jetting, using high-pressure water and special nozzles, is another option that can even clear tree roots nearly all of the time.  So you won’t be facing digging and hammering through concrete unless the sewer pipe is damaged in some way.  Even then there are trenchless options for repair and replacement.

ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing

True to our name we’re ready to take care of your sewer and drain cleaning problems promptly, with 24/7 emergency service available.  Our local plumbers are well-trained and experienced in commercial plumbing as well as in residential plumbing and include specialists in drain cleaning, drain repair, commercial drain maintenance, hydro jetting, sewer cleaning, and sewer line repair.  Call us and see for yourself just how good a full-service local plumbing company can be.

Here are a few of the suggestions we’ve given to our customers.

  • TIP 1:  Never use a drain opener based on lye or acid.  They will damage pipes!
  • TIP 2:  If you want to try do-it-yourself, try a plunger first.  Next remove the U-tube under a sink to double-check that the problem isn’t there.  If grocery-store products don’t do the trick, try an enzyme-based cleaner.
  • TIP 3:  If your sinks are slow running or you’re hearing gurgling from a toilet bowl, have it looked into.  You may very well avoid the disruption of a major sewage backup.
  • TIP 4:  Completely fill your sinks with hot water about once a month.  That helps you stay ahead of grease and sludge buildups.  Enzyme cleaners can also be used as a preventive measure.