When a plunger isn't enough
Most clogs build slowly. Grease cools and sticks to the pipe wall, hair and soap knot together in shower drains, and in older Yuba City lots, roots find their way into clay sewer joints. By the time water stops draining, the blockage is usually well past the trap.
We clear the line, then tell you what caused it so you're not calling again next month.
Signs you need a drain cleaning
- Water pools in the tub or shower while it runs
- Gurgling from a toilet when the sink drains
- Sewer smell from floor drains or the yard
- More than one fixture backing up at once
How we clear it
Cable augering
The right choice for most sink, tub and toilet clogs. A rotating cable breaks up the blockage and pulls it back out.
Hydro jetting
High-pressure water scours grease and scale off the pipe walls. Best for kitchen lines and repeat clogs.
Camera inspection
When a main line keeps backing up, we run a camera to check for roots, sags or a broken pipe before recommending anything bigger.
Why Yuba City drains back up
Neighborhoods around downtown and along the older streets off Plumas and Bridge were plumbed with clay or cast iron sewer laterals. Those joints are where roots from mulberry, sycamore and walnut trees get in, and once they're inside, a clog comes back every season until the line is cleared and checked.
Newer subdivisions have PVC lines that roots rarely break, so clogs there are usually grease from the kitchen or wipes flushed down a toilet. Knowing which you have tells us which tool to bring.
Drain Cleaning questions
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use first?
We don't recommend them. They rarely clear a full blockage and can damage older pipes. If you've already used one, tell us before we open the line.
How do I know if it's my main sewer line?
If several drains back up together, or water comes up in the shower when you flush, the clog is likely in the main line.
How often should drains be cleaned?
Most homes only need it when there's a problem. Homes with roots in the line often benefit from a yearly cleaning.