Signs of a Clogged Drain
If you have a clogged drain in your home, these telltale signs will let you know:
Water drains away slowly or doesn’t drain at all.
The drain makes gurgling noises as the water goes down.
There is an odor coming from the drain.
5 Common Culprits of Clogged Drains
Drains can clog for many reasons. Sometimes they are easily controlled, while other times professional help may be required to clear a clog.
Inappropriate Items in the Drain or Toilet
Are you tossing things down the drain that shouldn’t be there? There’s a long list of substances and items that shouldn’t go down the drain or in the toilet. These include:
Food remains, especially anything fatty, slimy, or sticky – These can be a problem for your sink drain even if you have a garbage disposal. Just a little fat or oil can cause small food particles to stick together and form a clog.
Anything that’s non-biodegradable, including small items such as paper clips and rubber bands
Harsh chemicals, including chemical cleaners for bathroom sinks, bathtub drains, and more – These aren’t necessarily responsible for clogs, but they can damage pipes and lead to other issues.
Feminine products
“Flushable wipes” – These can cause a stop-up, especially in homes with older plumbing systems.
Damage and Age
Older pipes are more vulnerable to clogs, in part because accumulated rust in cast iron pipes and sediment or grease buildup narrows pipes over time. Any damage to a pipe can disrupt the flow of water and increase the risk of a clog.
Soap Scum and Limescale
In hard water conditions, soap scum and limescale can contribute to the formation of clogs. Soap scum forms as the result of a chemical reaction between soap and the minerals in hard water. The scum deposits on surfaces and in pipes. Limescale is formed by mineral deposits left behind by hard water.
Grime and Sludge
A drain can become clogged after years of use if you don’t clean and unclog it regularly. Grime, grease, and sludge build up inside the pipes, and as these deposits get larger, the risk of a clog increases.
Tree Roots
In a mature yard with large trees and shrubs, there’s a risk that roots may grow into the sewer line. This can cause major problems if the sewer line clogs after the root growth breaks into the sewer pipe.
Clogged Drains Can Mean Big Problems
It can be frustrating to deal with a clogged drain, but the issue is more than just annoying: It’s a potential health hazard.
If a drain backs up into a sink, shower stall, or bathtub, the water that flows in can potentially carry harmful bacteria.
A backed-up drain may lead to flooding, either inside or outside, depending on the location and size of the blockage.
Chronic drain problems can attract pests such as rats and cockroaches.
How to DIY Fix a Clogged Drain
It can be relatively straightforward to fix a minor clog yourself, with some simple home drain cleaning remedies. If you have a clogged drain at home, try one of these solutions. But don’t hesitate to call professional drain cleaners like CW Service Pros at any sign of trouble!
- If the drain is only partially blocked, run the hot water tap for a few minutes – This can sometimes be enough to get your drain running freely again. Don’t use boiling water; it can cause plastic pipes and fixtures to shrink or warp.
- For a fully blocked drain, use a standard sink plunger to try and dislodge the clog. For a blocked toilet, use a flanged plunger. If the clog doesn’t dislodge easily, don’t force it. The extra force may blow out the wax ring that seals the toilet to the toilet flange at the base of the commode.
- Try a plumber’s drain snake if plunging doesn’t work – These tools clear a drain by dislodging the material that makes up the clog.
- Clear the sink drain trap – To do this, turn off the water, place a bucket under the sink, then use a pipe wrench to open up and remove the trap. If it’s blocked, clean it with warm soapy water.
- If all else fails, try a natural drain cleaner such as baking soda and vinegar. If you use a commercial product, avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the pipes. It is better to implement a regimen of prevention instead of trying to use harsh chemicals after an incident occurs. Often, the chemicals don’t clear the issue. And having chemicals in the drain while using a rooter machine becomes more dangerous for the operator.
When to Call a Plumber for Drain Cleaning Services
A simple single-drain issue is usually an easy DIY drain cleaning fix. But it’s important to know when to call in a licensed plumber for some tougher North Texas drain-cleaning action!
In general, you should call a professional plumber like the ones at CW Service Pros if:
You’ve tried home drain cleaning options, but the drain is still clogged.
Multiple drains are affected.
The same drain or drains are continually backed up, despite repeated attempts at drain cleaning over weeks or months.
Roots have ever been found and cleared from the same area previously.
Why Choose Professional Plumber for Darin Cleaning?
Relying on licensed professionals to care for your drains is smart because:
It can prevent problems – An annual drain cleaning can prevent small problems from becoming bigger ones.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed – When you work with CW Service Pros, you can rest assured the job will get done the right way.
They’re the experts – Our plumbers have the knowledge and expertise for any blocked drain problem.
What to Do When Your Clogged Drain Is a Sewer Line Problem
Sometimes a clogged drain is more than just a clogged drain. It may actually be a sewer line problem. This issue can arise in older homes when tree roots grow into sewer pipes, causing a breakage or blockage. In newer homes, it can happen if items such as sanitary products or paper towels are flushed in the toilet or shifting soil breaks a line in the ground.
Warning signs of a sewer line problem include:
- When the toilet flushes, you hear a gurgling noise in the drains or toilet.
- Water backs up in the toilet and/or bathroom drains.
- You smell sewage odors in the bathroom or anywhere else indoors.
Any sewer line problem is a job for a licensed plumber only. If you notice any of these signs, call CW Service Pros right away for help with drain cleaning in Carrollton or any other DFW location. Sewer line issues can be hazardous because they can result in raw sewage backing up into your home. Not only is this itself a health hazard, but sewage gas is toxic and flammable.
CW Service Pros Uses These Effective Tools and Techniques for Drain Cleaning
Drain clogs don’t always have simple fixes, but you can rely on CW Service Pros to offer an effective solution to your drainage problem. Our local plumbing experts use several tools and techniques to quickly locate the source of a blockage and fix your drain or sewer line.
Choose CW Service Pros for the Best DFW Drain Cleaning Solutions
For everything from minor blockages to stubborn drain clogs, these drain cleaning methods typically provide a speedy solution.
How Long Does It Take to Unclog Drain or Sewer Lines?
The length of time professional drain cleaning takes depends on the nature and location of your clog. A simple blocked drain is usually cleared in less than an hour. Hydrojetting takes 60 to 90 minutes, or a little longer for tough clogs or multiple blockages.
More rarely, if the problem turns out to be related to a broken sewer line, it may take several hours or possibly up to a few days to fully address. However, in most cases, the issue is just a simple blocked drain that’s cleared in under an hour!
Will My Drain Stay Unclogged?
It should, provided there are no other underlying issues to address. If the drain becomes blocked again soon after professional cleaning, there may be something more significant going on, like a broken pipe.
CW Service Pros recommends annual professional drain cleaning to keep your pipes and sewer line flowing freely and to prevent blockages and backups.
Prevent Drain Clogs with Good Drain Care
If your drain is flowing freely, you can help keep it that way with these tips.
- Install a drain screen into the bath or shower drain. This keeps hair out of the drain and the pipes.
- Avoid putting anything sticky, slimy, fatty, or greasy down the kitchen sink drain, even if you have a garbage disposal unit.
- Don’t toss any non-biodegradable items down the drain or in the toilet.
- Clear the drain with baking soda and vinegar no more than once a month. If your drains are clean and free from clogs, this should be enough to keep them that way.
- Use a product like BioOne monthly to eat up organic matter in the drain.
Does Insurance Cover North Texas Drain Cleaning and Repair Costs?
Most standard insurance policies exclude or limit coverage for damage caused by backed-up drains and sewer lines. Insurance companies consider this damage to be preventable, as regular maintenance and as-needed repairs keep drains and sewer lines in good working order.
Some providers offer supplemental coverage for damage due to sewage backups.
CW Service Offers Flexible Financing Options for Drain Cleaning and Repair
For some plumbing repairs and projects, CW Service Pros offers financing with Wells Fargo, with choices including low-interest, long payoff period terms as well as several no-interest options.
CW Service Pros also offers a membership plan that makes it easier to keep up with plumbing maintenance. Our Gold Membership Plans include an annual plumbing inspection to help you keep your whole home’s plumbing system in good shape.
Why Locals Choose CW Service Pros for Professional DFW Drain Cleaning
CW Service Pros has been in business since 1999, providing our five-star plumbing services to residents of Lewisville, TX and the rest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In our 23 years serving the local community, we’ve worked hard to earn your trust.
- Same-day appointments
We’ll do our best to send you a plumber the very same day you call.
- Emergency callouts
If your drain or sewer line problem is an emergency, you can call us any day, any time, and we’ll be there.
- Professional and friendly
Our technicians are well-versed in customer care as well as plumbing!
- Clear pricing
We’ll evaluate your job and give you a firm written estimate.
- Permits and inspections included
If the work needs an inspection or permit, we’ll take care of it.
- Financing options
You have flexibility in how you choose to pay.
- Satisfaction guaranteed
We stand behind our work, so if you’re not happy, we’re not finished.
FOR FAST AND EFFECTIVE NORTH TEXAS DRAIN CLEANING, CALL CW SERVICE PROS
Have a clogged drain or a backed-up toilet or sewer line? Blockages can be annoying, unsanitary, and may even cause water damage. These are the kinds of plumbing problems that need a fast solution. It’s time to call CW Service Pros for professional Lewisville drain cleaning. We’ll send a licensed local Lewisville plumber out to your home ASAP. We’ll check out your problem drain or sewer line, pinpoint the issue, and get to work on unclogging it right away. Drain clogs are annoying and inconvenient; don’t suffer any longer than you have to!
CW Service Pros Testimonials
Highly recommend Devan & CW Service Pros for plumbing issues! Devan is professional, trustworthy, and helped find solutions for a complicated situation.
Jim Parker
CW Service Pros has been my go-to plumbing company for years. Their technician, Johannes, recently repaired my hot water heater efficiently and professionally. I highly recommend CW Service Pros and Johannes to anyone.
Sherri McCarthy
Andrew and Brice were professional, fast, and informative. They helped me understand my slab leak problem and payment options. I highly recommend them
Julie Ballard-Albright