A slow sink is an annoyance. A floor drain backing up into the basement is a problem that cannot wait. Wilson's plumbers clear kitchen, bath, laundry, floor and main drains for homeowners across Northeast Ohio, and we find out why the drain clogged so it does not come back next month.
Call 330-920-0225. Our call center answers around the clock, so you can get a plumber on the schedule any time.
One clogged drain or the main line?
The first question on any drain call is where the blockage is. If one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line: hair in a tub drain, grease and food in a kitchen line, lint in a laundry drain. If several fixtures are slow at once, if a toilet gurgles when the washer drains, or if water comes up through a basement floor drain, the clog is usually in the main line that carries everything out to the city sewer or septic system.
Branch clogs are typically cleared with a cable machine sized to the pipe. Main line clogs need a larger machine, and often a camera, to see what caused them. Telling the two apart on the first visit saves time and money.
Signs you need a plumber, not another bottle of drain cleaner
- More than one drain is slow or backing up at the same time.
- Water rises in the basement floor drain or tub when you run the washer or flush a toilet.
- Gurgling from drains or toilets after water runs elsewhere in the house.
- Sewage odor in the basement.
- The same drain clogs again within weeks of being cleared.
- You have already used a chemical cleaner and the drain is still slow. Tell your plumber, since those chemicals can be harmful to skin and eyes.
How Wilson clears drains
Cable drain cleaning
For most clogs, a motorized cable with the right cutting head breaks up the blockage and pulls out what is causing it. The plumber runs water afterward to confirm the line flows freely.
Hydro jetting
When a line has heavy grease, scale or sludge buildup, or keeps clogging after it is cabled, Wilson offers hydro jetting. A high pressure water nozzle scours the inside of the pipe wall instead of punching a hole through the clog. Hydro jetting is not right for every pipe, so the plumber checks the line's condition first.
Camera inspection
A camera sent down the line shows what is actually inside it: roots, a sag where water sits, a broken or separated joint, or buildup. If a main line keeps clogging, the camera tells you whether cleaning is enough or the pipe needs sewer repair.
What a drain cleaning visit includes
Your plumber will ask which drains are affected and when it started, then locate the blockage and explain the recommended method before starting. You get upfront pricing before any work begins. Once the line is clear, we test it and tell you what we saw, including anything that points to a bigger problem, so you can decide what to do next without pressure.
Keeping drains clear
- Keep grease, oil and coffee grounds out of the kitchen sink. They cool and stick to the pipe wall.
- Use hair catchers in tubs and showers and clean them often.
- Only flush toilet paper. So-called flushable wipes do not break down like paper.
- Run hot water after using the kitchen sink.
- Have the main line inspected if your home has had more than one backup.
For more, see our guides on whether coffee grounds clog drains and clearing a drain clogged with hair.
Annual drain camera inspection with the Healthy Home Membership
Wilson's Healthy Home Membership is $15 a month and includes one main drain camera inspection a year to confirm proper flow, plus a waived dispatch fee and 15% off repairs. Terms apply, including a 12-month minimum.
Where we clean drains
Wilson's plumbers work across Northeast Ohio, with offices in Stow, Akron, Solon and Beachwood. For other plumbing needs, see our plumbing services and water heater service.
FAQs
Drain cleaning questions
How do I know if my main sewer line is clogged?
Several drains slowing at once, water rising in a basement floor drain or tub when you flush or run the washer, and gurgling toilets are the usual signs. A single slow fixture is more often a branch line clog that is simpler to clear.
Is hydro jetting better than snaking a drain?
They solve different problems. Cabling, often called snaking, opens most clogs quickly. Hydro jetting scrubs grease and buildup off the pipe wall and suits lines that keep clogging. Your plumber checks the pipe's condition before recommending jetting.
Why does my drain keep clogging after it is cleared?
A recurring clog usually has a cause the cleaning did not fix, such as roots, a sagging section or a damaged pipe. A camera inspection shows what is happening inside the line so you can fix the cause rather than clear it again.
Are chemical drain cleaners safe for my pipes?
Harsh chemical cleaners can damage older pipes and are hazardous to skin and eyes, and they often leave the clog in place. If you have already used one, tell your plumber before work starts so they can take precautions.
Do you clean basement floor drains?
Yes. A basement floor drain that backs up often points to a problem in the main line rather than the floor drain itself. Wilson clears the floor drain and checks whether the main line needs cleaning or a camera inspection.
Book drain cleaning with Wilson
Call 330-920-0225 or book online. Upfront pricing before work starts. Read what homeowners say in our Google reviews.