Slow kitchen and bath drains
A sink or tub that drains slowly has buildup in the line: grease in the kitchen, hair and soap scale in the bath. We clear it and check that the line past it flows, so it is not slow again next month.
Residential and Commercial Drain Service
Drain Cleaning in Chapel Hill, NC
Slow sink, clogged tub, or a main line backing up? We clear the blockage, camera the line when it needs it, and tell you what caused it. You get the real price in writing before we start.
Licensed
Bonded
Insured
Locally Owned
Drain Problems
Drain problems we clear in Chapel Hill
Whether it is one stubborn drain or the whole house, most Chapel Hill drain calls fall into one of these six.
Main-line backups
When toilets gurgle, tubs back up, and several drains slow down at once, the blockage is in the main line. Stop running water and call. We clear it and camera the line to see why it clogged.
Cabling or hydro jetting
A cable punches a hole through a clog. Hydro jetting scours the pipe wall clean of grease and scale. We tell you which one the line needs instead of selling you the bigger job.
Old cast-iron drains
Homes near campus can have cast-iron drains that have rusted and roughened inside over decades. That rough surface catches paper and grease. A camera shows how much pipe is left.
Roots in old laterals
Roots get into joints of old clay lines and keep coming back. Clearing them restores flow for a while. If the joints have opened up, repairing the lateral is the lasting fix.
Basement and crawlspace drains
Floor drains and low drains in basements and crawlspaces back up when the line is blocked or a sump or pump fails. We find which one it is before we start clearing.
Clear Answers
What a drain call looks like
- 1
Tell us which drains are slow
One fixture or several? New, or has it happened before? That tells us whether the blockage is near the fixture or in the main line.
- 2
Clear it and look inside
We cable or jet the line, and run a camera when the cause is not obvious or the clog keeps coming back. You see what we see.
- 3
Price and options in writing
We explain what we found and give you the price before we start. If the line needs more than cleaning, we say so and show you why.
Chapel Hill Drains
Drains in older Chapel Hill homes
Chapel Hill has older housing, much of it in the UNC Campus Area, Eastgate, and North Chapel Hill, and plenty of it under mature trees. Older homes can have cast-iron drains inside and clay laterals outside. Rough cast iron collects paper and grease, and roots find joints in clay, so these lines clog more than newer PVC does. A camera tells us which you have, and whether the line needs a cable or hydro jetting.
Student rentals and small multifamily buildings tend to see repeat clogs from heavy use. If you manage rentals in Carrboro or around campus, we give you a written price before we start, with notes on what we found, so you can plan and keep records. For a line that keeps coming back, see sewer line repair.
Our shop is at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex, and we work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00. Call or text (919) 679-1275, or book online. More about the town is on our Chapel Hill plumber page. If the clog came with a leak at a pipe, see pipe leak repair.
Chapel Hill neighborhoods we serve
- Southern Village
- Meadowmont
- Carrboro
- UNC Campus Area
- Eastgate
- Governors Club
- Fearrington
- North Chapel Hill
Commercial Drain Service
Commercial drain cleaning in Chapel Hill
Restaurants, rentals, and small multifamily buildings put hard use on a drain. We clear the line, camera it, and give you a written price so you can plan around it.
Franklin Street restaurants
Kitchen lines carry grease and food solids. We cable or jet them, camera what we cleared, and try to schedule around service hours.
Grease lines
Grease builds up on pipe walls and a cable only punches a hole through it. Hydro jetting cleans the wall. We tell you how often the line is likely to need it.
Small multifamily and property managers
Repeat backups at the same building mean the line needs a look, not another cable. You get a written price, footage of what we found, and options you can budget around.
Helpful Details
Drain cleaning questions from Chapel Hill
How much does drain cleaning cost in Chapel Hill?
It depends on which drain, how far the blockage is, how easy the line is to reach, and whether it needs cabling or jetting. We give you the price in writing before we start, and nothing is done until you approve it.
Should I use a cable or hydro jetting?
A cable clears a clog. Jetting cleans the pipe wall, so it suits grease and scale and lines that keep clogging. We look at the line and recommend what fits, and we do not sell the bigger job when the smaller one will do.
Why does my drain keep clogging?
A clog that returns usually has a cause: grease coating, roots, a rough old cast-iron pipe, or a sag in the line. We camera it to find which one, so you can fix the cause.
My main line is backing up. What do I do?
Stop running water in the house, including washers and dishwashers, and call (919) 679-1275. We will clear the line and camera it to see what caused it.
I manage student rentals. Can I get a written price?
Yes. We give a written price before we start and notes on what we found, so you have a record for the property.
Do you clean basement and crawlspace drains?
Yes. We check whether the problem is a clog in the line or something else, like a failed pump, before we start clearing.
Drain help nearby
More plumbing services in Chapel Hill
Pipe Leak & Burst Pipe Repair in Chapel Hill, NCWater Line Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NCSink Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NCFaucet Repair & Installation in Chapel Hill, NCGarbage Disposal Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NCToilet Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NCShower & Bathtub Plumbing in Chapel Hill, NCGas Line Repair & Installation in Chapel Hill, NCWater Softener Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NCWater Heater Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NC
Serving Chapel Hill and the rest of the Triangle: Apex, Cary, Durham, Holly Springs, Raleigh and Morrisville. Not sure we cover your address? Call (919) 679-1275 and ask.
4.9
600+ five-star reviews
Trusted across the Triangle
Google·Yelp·Thumbtack
“Matt was amazing! I've worked with many plumbing companies, and I will definitely contact Sweetwater Plumbing for all my plumbing needs moving forward.”
K
Keila Feracho
Verified Google review
“Sweetwater saved the day! I had an active leak from a water pipe in the ceiling. They fixed the leak promptly and did a great cleanup job.”
S
Sandy Alex
Verified Google review
“Chris arrived on time and made an assessment. A most conscientious and capable young man — the quality of his work was outstanding.”
B
Bodin Schexnayder
Verified Google review
“Great job. Punctual, professional, took time to explain the work, what my options were, and let me choose.”
K
Krista Summitt
Verified Google review
“Joseph was a great technician. He investigated the problem and walked me through every step of the way. So kind and patient.”
C
Connie Knox
Verified Google review
“I needed repair work done on short notice after a house inspection. Excellent work and great folks to work with.”
J
Jack Frankenfield
Verified Google review
ServiceTitan Online Scheduling
Book Plumbing Service Online
Choose the help you need and the scheduler will guide you through the details and available times.
Need help now? Call (919) 679-1275.