What we find inside Richmond Hill drains
Kitchen lines in split-levels from the seventies tend to choke on congealed fat a few feet past the trap, where the pipe turns down into the wall. Bathroom lavatories clog closer to the surface, usually at the pop-up stopper rod, which acts like a comb for hair. Basement floor drains in older bungalows collect laundry lint and silt washed in from the weeping tile.
The tools on the truck
- Hand drum augers for traps and short branch lines
- Sectional machines with spade, spiral and root-cutting heads for mainlines
- A push camera to confirm the pipe is truly open, not just pierced
- Water jetting for grease-packed kitchen runs
How a visit runs
- We ask which fixtures are slow and which are fine, which tells us roughly where the blockage sits.
- The nearest cleanout or trap is opened, with drop cloths and a pail under it.
- The line is cabled, then flushed hard with hot water to prove the flow.
- If the clog returns quickly or the cable brings back roots or broken clay, we recommend a camera inspection.
When it is more than a clog
Water rising in the basement floor drain while the washer pumps out usually points to the main building drain, not a branch. That job is covered on our main sewer pipe clearing page. For grease-heavy kitchen pipes, see kitchen drain cleaning.
The short version
Tell-tale signs
- Basement grate goes wet whenever the washer empties
- Kitchen double bowl backs up into the other side
- Basin still full a minute after you pull the plug
- Tub glugs when the toilet next to it is flushed
Kit on the van
- Drum auger loaded with quarter-inch cable
- Sectional machine, spade and corkscrew heads
- Push camera and a sonde to find the spot
- Trap pliers, a pail and canvas drop sheets
How we go about it
- Refit the trap on new washers and wipe the cabinet dry
- Run every fixture on the floor and note the slow ones
- Take off the trap or unscrew the cleanout plug
- Feed cable until it bites, then reel back the plug of muck
Your questions, answered plainly
Will you use chemicals?
No. We clear lines mechanically. Caustic cleaners sit in the trap and can harm older metal pipe and our hands.
How long does a typical drain take?
A single fixture line is commonly under an hour; a main drain with heavy buildup takes longer.