One slow drain, or all of them?

This is the question that tells us where the problem is, and you can answer it before we get there.

One fixture is slow, everything else is fine. The clog is local — in that trap or the branch line serving it. Usually straightforward.

Several fixtures on the same side of the house are slow. The branch line they share is partly blocked.

The lowest drains in the house back up when you use water anywhere — a basement floor drain that fills when the washer empties, or a tub that gurgles when a toilet flushes. That's the main line. Stop running water and call. Every gallon you send down is coming back somewhere.

What we do about it

We clear the line, and then we find out why it clogged. A cable machine gets you flowing again; it doesn't tell you whether you had grease, roots or a broken pipe. If a line has backed up more than once, we recommend putting a camera down it so you're not paying to clear the same clog three times a year.

Why Maryland drains fail

Grease. It goes down warm and hardens on the pipe wall an inch at a time. The Thanksgiving-week call volume is not a coincidence.

Roots. Older neighborhoods with mature trees and clay or cast-iron laterals get root intrusion at the joints. Roots find the seam, then the seam gets wider.

Wipes. "Flushable" wipes are not flushable. They don't break down, and they catch on anything else in the line.

Bellies and breaks. A section of line that has settled holds water and collects solids. No amount of cabling fixes a low spot — that's a repair, and you should see it on camera before you agree to it.

Older cast iron. Plenty of Baltimore-area houses still have cast-iron drain stacks. They scale and flake from the inside until the opening is a fraction of what it should be.

Camera inspection

If we're going to recommend digging or replacing anything, you should see what we see. A camera run shows the material, the condition, where the trouble is and how far out. We would rather show you the picture than ask you to take our word for it.

What actually helps between visits

Don't put grease down the drain — wipe the pan and throw it away. Run cold water while the disposal runs, and give the disposal easy work, not rice, pasta, potato peels or fiber. Use a hair catcher in the shower. Don't flush wipes.

Chemical drain openers are a last resort. They generate heat, they rarely clear a real blockage, and they make the line hazardous for the person who eventually has to open it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to use a chemical drain opener?

We don't recommend it. It rarely fixes a true blockage, it damages older pipe, and it makes the job dangerous for whoever opens the line next. If you've already poured some in, tell us before we start.

How often should a main line be cleaned?

It shouldn't need it on a schedule. If yours does, something structural is going on — roots or a break — and a camera will show you what.

My toilet gurgles when the washer drains. Is that serious?

It usually means the main line is partly blocked and air is pushing back through the nearest trap. It's worth looking at before it becomes a backup.

Do you do sewer line replacement?

We diagnose it, camera it, and handle repairs. For a full replacement we'll walk you through exactly what's involved, including permits and inspection in your jurisdiction.

What does drain cleaning cost?

It depends on where the clog is and how we have to reach it. We give you the price before we start work — always.