Clogged drains in Asheville homes and businesses
Most clogs build up over time. Kitchen lines collect grease and food waste, bathroom lines collect hair and soap, and toilets clog from too much paper or items that shouldn't be flushed. In older Asheville homes, cast-iron drain pipe adds to the problem. Its inner walls roughen with age, which gives debris more to catch on.
Where the clog sits matters. A single slow fixture usually means a blockage in that fixture's branch line. When several drains back up at once, or water comes up through a floor drain, the problem is usually in the main sewer line. We determine which one you have before we start, so you pay for the right fix.
How we clear a drain
We start by asking which fixtures are affected and how long the problem has been going on, then test the drains to locate the blockage. Most clogs are cleared with a cable machine sized to the pipe: a smaller machine for sink and tub lines, and a sectional or drum machine for main lines.
For heavy grease, sludge, or buildup along the pipe walls, we use hydro-jetting. High-pressure water scours the inside of the pipe clean rather than just opening a hole through the blockage. It is often the better choice for restaurant kitchen lines and main lines that clog repeatedly.
When a clog keeps returning, or the house has older cast-iron or clay pipe, we run a camera through the line. The footage shows whether the cause is grease, tree roots, a sagging section, or broken pipe. Once the line is flowing, we run water to confirm it drains properly and walk you through what we found.
Drain cleaning versus sewer line repair
Cleaning removes what is blocking the pipe. It can't fix the pipe itself. If the camera shows roots growing through the joints, a section that has sagged and holds water, or cast iron that has cracked or rusted through, the line will keep clogging no matter how often it is cleaned.
In that case, we show you the footage and explain your options, from a spot repair to a full line replacement. Our sewer and water line page covers that work in more detail.
Residential and commercial drain service
We clean drains for homeowners, landlords, vacation rental owners, and property managers in Asheville, Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Weaverville, Fletcher, and the surrounding towns. We also service restaurants, offices, and retail spaces, including kitchen lines, floor drains, and restroom fixtures.
Before any work begins, we tell you what we plan to do and what it will cost.
They were highly knowledgeable and had the right tools ready to unclog our main line that had massive amounts of roots grown into it. Their expertise and kindness really shown through!