Drain Cleaning

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Have a Clogged Drain?

Residential and commercial drains often get clogged from grease, detergents, grime, hair and other debris. A one-time clog can be easily fixed with our drain unclogging service, but if you notice your drains are backed up on a regular basis or draining slowly, you'll need a drain cleaning. Failure to address clogged drains can allow a greater problem to build up over time, whether it’s a more significant clog or damage to plumbing pipes. Clearing drains remove foreign material that causes clogs down in your drain lines

Unlike the popular franchise companies or anyone with “ROOTER” in their name, Amanda Plumbing doesn’t employ a “drain division” made up of less experienced, lower paid workers. Amanda Plumbing’s training program takes years to complete as opposed to months and any technician we would schedule to clear your drain is also capable of replumbing your entire house. This level of experience not only helps us get your drains flowing in the moment but also source the cause of your backup and create a plan moving forward.

Signs There Are Clogged Drains in the Home

A clogged drain is a common plumbing problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons. For starters, not watching what goes down the drain can cause a lot of grief. Drains are meant to remove wastewater, not trash, hair, leftovers, and the like. Over time a grimy buildup made of soap scum and bacteria collects in your plumbing. Once it starts collecting other debris like trash and hair a total obstruction can occur. Another common culprit of a clogged drain is tree roots. Tree roots naturally grow towards the water, which makes your plumbing pipes a logical refuge. This is why you should be selective about the trees and shrubs that you plan, and make sure to plant as far away from your main sewer line as possible. Here are 5 common warning signs of a clogged drain.

1.  Toilet Doesn’t Flush

Perhaps one of the most common warning signs of a clogged drain is a toilet that won’t flush or backs up. This is most often caused by too much toilet paper or a foreign object like a kids toy being flushed down the toilet. A backed up toilet can cause a lot of damage to the surrounding area so it’s important to know what to do. To stop the flow of water, open the tank and close the flapper. Hold it closed for a few minutes, or until the tank starts to fill up with water. Once you have the flow of water under control you can try to plunge. Completely submerge the plunger for proper suction. If you are unable to successfully clear the clog, then call your plumber to prevent any further damage to your drain, pipes, and surrounding area.

2.  Slow Drainage

Slow drainage in the sink, tub, or shower is another common warning sign of a clogged drain. The buildup of soap scum and hair are often the reason for the clog. Regular drain cleaning helps stay on top of the buildup and prevents clogs from happening. Avoid using liquid drain cleaners as they aren’t that effective, are harmful to use, bad for the environment, and can actually damage your plumbing.

3.  Smelly Drains

Drains that smell bad are another sign of a clog. While it could also be caused by a dried trap, you could have a more serious problem at hand. A smelly drain could be caused by clogged food particles. Either way, you can have a professional take a look.

4.  Gurgling Drains

Gurgling drains are another warning sign of a clogged drain. It means there is air trapped in your pipes somewhere and could be caused by a clog further down the line, a clogged vent stack, or an issue with your main sewer line. These are all reasons to call a professional plumber.

5.  Unexplained Puddles

Unexplained puddles of water on your grass or around your yard are a sign of a clog, most often caused by tree roots. Tree roots can cause a lot of damage to your plumbing, so if you suspect this contact your plumber right away.

Drain Cleaning Services

• Mainline: The main trunk of your sewer that all the smaller branches drain into is called the main line. This drain takes the wastewater from your home to the city sewer or septic tank. Often plagued by root infiltrations at pipe joints and improper grading due to the earth around the pipe settling and shifting, clearing main sewer backups has become Amanda Plumbing’s bread and butter. When you hear your toilet gurgling when the bathtub drains or you see signs of water pooling around your basement floor drain near the furnace, it's time to call Amanda Plumbing!
  
• Downspout Cleaning: To put it simply, nearly every house in central Ohio suffers from downspout drain backups. View our downspout page to find out why. We recommend hydro-jetting these lines to prevent the fragile builder-grade pipe from being destroyed by the violent nature of the high-torque electric sewer snake. Look for mulch washing away where your gutters meet the drains at the ground. This will indicate an overflow of rainwater spilling out of the drain due to a backup down the line.
  
• Hydro-Jetter: This is the end-all-be-all in sewer cleaning equipment. Working in much the same way as a power washer used to strip decades of debris from a driveway, the Hydro-Jetter forces water through pin holes on a metal head at 4000psi-like lasers to cut away roots, blast away build up and clear light scale build-up from your main sewer line.
  
• Secondary Line: The smaller drain lines in your home are referred to as secondary drains. These include sink drains, shower drains, tub drains, laundry drains and the like. If you end up ankle-deep in water every time you shower or notice a foul smell from the bathroom sink when you brush your teeth, you are in need of a secondary drain cleaning! These drains can typically be cleared by our expert crew with the use of an electric drain machine within an hour. 
  
• Camera Inspection: A camera inspection is the only honest way to determine the severity of your situation. With a sewer camera, we can view breaks, offsets, root infiltration, and areas with improper grades known as “bellies”. Using the radio location device in the head of the camera we can also track your sewer line above ground to pinpoint an issue should your sewer line require repair or replacement via EXCAVATION.
  
• Toilet Auger: No job is too small for Amanda Plumbing. We’ve all experienced that helpless feeling after plunging into a toilet for hours with no results. We use 6-foot extendable manual-powered toilet augers capable of clearing soft clogs or catching and removing the occasional rubber duckie flushed away by a curious child.
  
• Urinal: We can't forget our commercial friends! Every plumber at Amanda Plumbing is equipped with supplies to remove a urinal from the wall, snake the drain, and reset the urinal on the spot.

DIY Drain Cleaning Advice from a Plumber

Simple clogs affecting a single plumbing fixture can often be corrected through DIY methods. If you are comfortable trying to unclog a drain on your own, be sure to use a method that is safe and won’t cause damage to your plumbing.

Avoid the use of store-bought drain cleaning products. The chemicals in these products can degrade plumbing pipe material and cause it to fail, requiring the installation of new pipes.

A kitchen sink drain, bathroom sink drain, or drains in showers and tubs can be unclogged with some common household products. Measure out 1 cup of baking soda, pour it down the drain, then pour 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain as well. Seal the drain opening and wait 30 minutes before turning on hot water to flush the clog out of the pipe.

For toilet clogs, hot water often does the trick. Boil a pot of hot water then pour it into the toilet bowl, holding the pot at waist height. Let the hot water cool, then flush. The heat from hot water can break up material clogging a toilet drain.