The three local culprits
- Hard water scale. San Antonio water is hard. Scale roughens the inside of the pipe, and everything else sticks to it.
- Grease. Warm grease pours, then cools and sets on that rough surface, narrowing the line a little more each week.
- Tree roots. Older neighbourhoods have clay sewer laterals with joints. In dry spells roots push into those joints looking for moisture.
One drain or the whole house?
This is the question worth answering before anyone starts work. A single slow fixture is a local clog in that trap or branch. Several fixtures at once — or a tub that fills when the washing machine drains — means the main line. Clearing a sink when the real blockage is in the main just moves the problem.
Why chemical cleaners make it worse
They rarely clear a solid blockage. They sit in the trap, heat up, damage older pipe, and make the line hazardous for whoever opens it next. Mechanical clearing removes the blockage; jetting removes what the blockage was sticking to.
How to stop it coming back
- Keep grease out
Wipe pans before washing and pour cooled fat into the bin, not the sink.
- Strain hair and food
A cheap mesh strainer in the shower and kitchen catches most of what clogs traps.
- Flush with hot water
A kettle of hot water down the kitchen drain weekly moves fresh grease along before it sets.
- Camera the line if it repeats
When the same line blocks twice, a camera shows whether it is roots, a belly in the pipe or a break — so you fix the cause once.
Questions people ask
How often should drains need clearing?
A healthy household drain should not need professional clearing every year. If it does, something structural is catching debris and a camera inspection will show it.
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
It is the right tool for grease and roots, and pressure is matched to the pipe. Where a line is already cracked or collapsed, the camera tells us that first and jetting is not the answer.
Can roots be removed without digging?
Often yes — cutting and jetting clears them and restores flow. If the joint has failed or the pipe has collapsed, that section needs repair.