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Drain Cleaning in Tuscaloosa

A slow sink, a tub that holds water or a toilet that won’t clear is usually a clog in that fixture’s drain line, caused by grease, hair, wipes or soap buildup. Call (205) 000-0000 and we’ll connect you with a licensed Tuscaloosa plumber who can clear it and tell you if it points to a bigger problem.

Kitchen sinks
Tubs and showers
Toilets
Floor drains
Main sewer line

Sinks, tubs, toilets, main lines
Tuscaloosa and Northport
Licensed Alabama plumbers

Causes

What causes clogged drains?

Each drain clogs for its own reasons:

Kitchen sinks collect grease, food scraps and coffee grounds. Grease poured down warm turns solid as it cools in the pipe.
Bathroom sinks and tubs catch hair, soap scum and toothpaste.
Toilets block on wipes (including ones labeled flushable), paper towels, too much paper at once, or small objects.
Floor and laundry drains fill with lint and sediment.

Hard water adds mineral scale inside older pipes, which narrows them and gives the next clog something to grab onto.

Methods

Snaking or hydro jetting: which does my drain need?

Most single-fixture clogs are cleared with a drain snake (also called an auger), a cable that is fed into the line to break up or pull out the blockage. It’s quick and works well on hair, paper and soft clogs.

Hydro jetting sends high-pressure water through the pipe to scour grease, scale and sludge off the walls. It’s used for kitchen lines that keep clogging and for main lines with heavy buildup. Jetting isn’t right for every pipe: old, cracked or badly corroded lines may need a camera look first so the plumber knows what the pipe can take.

Do this, not that

Should I use a chemical drain cleaner?

It’s better to skip them. Caustic drain cleaners often don’t clear a full blockage, they can damage older pipes and finishes, and they leave a sink full of chemicals for the plumber to work around. A plunger is the safer first try for a sink or toilet. For a sink, block the overflow hole with a wet rag so the plunger can build pressure.

To keep drains running: wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them, use a strainer in the tub and kitchen sink, and keep wipes, paper towels and cotton swabs out of the toilet.

Call a plumber when

Plunging hasn’t worked after a few tries
The same drain clogs every few weeks
More than one drain is slow at once
Water comes up in the tub when you flush
You smell sewage near a drain

Bigger problem?

When does a clog point to the sewer line?

One slow drain is a drain problem. Several slow drains at once, gurgling from a toilet when the washer drains, or water backing up in the lowest drain in the house usually means the blockage is in the main sewer line that carries everything out to the street.

Main-line clogs in Tuscaloosa often come from tree roots getting into older clay or cast-iron pipe, grease built up over years, or a sagging section that holds waste. Clearing the line gets water moving again, and a sewer camera can show whether the pipe is damaged. See sewer line repair for what happens if it is.

Clogged right now?

Call for a drain plumber(205) 000-0000

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Drain slow but not backing up yet? Leave your number and a drain plumber will call you.

Questions

Drain cleaning questions

Still not sure? Call (205) 000-0000 and describe what you’re seeing.

How do I unclog a toilet without making it overflow?

Use a flange plunger (the kind with an extra cup on the bottom) and push gently at first to seal it, then plunge firmly. If the bowl is close to full, close the valve behind the toilet first. Stop if the water rises toward the rim.

Are flushable wipes safe for my pipes?

Wipes don't break down the way toilet paper does, and they're a common cause of toilet and main-line clogs. Put them in the trash.

Why does my kitchen sink keep clogging?

Usually grease and food scraps building up in the line. Snaking clears the opening, but a line with heavy buildup may need hydro jetting to scour the pipe walls.

Why do several drains back up at once?

When more than one drain is slow or backing up, the blockage is usually in the main sewer line, not in any one fixture. Stop using water and call a plumber.

Service area

Where can we find you a drain plumber?

We take drain cleaning calls across Tuscaloosa, including Alberta City, Forest Lake, Hillcrest, Taylorville, Glendale Gardens, downtown and the University of Alabama area. We also cover Northport, Cottondale, Coker, Holt and the Lake Tuscaloosa area. Give us your address or ZIP code when you call and we’ll match you with a plumber who works there.

Need a different repair? See all plumbing services in Tuscaloosa.

Drain still not moving?

Call and tell us which drain and what you’ve tried. We’ll connect you with a licensed plumber who clears drains in Tuscaloosa.

Talk to someone now(205) 000-0000

Call now (205) 000-0000