Signs your drain needs clearing
- Water standing in the sink, tub or shower
- Gurgling sounds from a drain or toilet
- A drain that empties, then slows again within days
- Smells rising from the drain
- More than one fixture slow at once — usually the main line
How we handle it
- Work out which line
One slow fixture is a local clog. Several at once points at the main line, so we test before we start.
- Clear the blockage
We cable or auger the line to break through grease, hair, soap and debris.
- Hydro jet when needed
Heavy grease and root intrusion get high-pressure jetting, which scours the pipe wall instead of just punching a hole through the blockage.
- Camera and test
Where a line keeps blocking we run a camera to find the cause, then flush and test the drain.
Why drains block in San Antonio
Our water is hard, so scale builds on the inside of pipes and gives grease and soap something to cling to. In older parts of the city the sewer lateral is clay pipe with joints, and tree roots find those joints during dry spells. Kitchen grease plus scale plus roots is the usual story behind a main line that backs up.
What it costs
It depends on what the problem turns out to be, so we diagnose first. Your plumber then gives you an upfront price for the work, and you approve it before anything starts.
Questions people ask
Should I use a drain chemical first?
We would not recommend it. Caustic cleaners rarely clear a real blockage, they sit in the trap, and they make the line hazardous to open. Cabling or jetting removes the blockage instead of burning a hole through it.
How do I know if it is roots?
Roots usually show up as repeat blockages in the same line, often with gurgling toilets. A camera inspection shows them clearly, and jetting can restore flow.
Can you clear a main line at night?
Yes. A main line backup is a health hazard, so we treat it as an emergency call at any hour.