Clogged or slow sink, tub, or shower
Hair, soap scale, and grease collect close to the fixture. We clear the line with the right tool and check that it flows downstream, rather than pouring in chemicals that can harm old pipe.
Residential and Commercial Drain Service
Drain Cleaning & Hydro Jetting in Durham, NC
Clogged drain, blocked main, or a line that keeps backing up after every cleaning? We clear it, show you what caused it, and tell you when a cable is enough and when hydro jetting is the better job. You get the price before we start.
Licensed
Bonded
Insured
Locally Owned
Drain Service
Drain problems we clear in Durham
Most drain calls are one of these six. Tell us which one sounds like yours.
Blocked drain that keeps coming back
A line that clears and clogs again within weeks has buildup on the pipe wall. A cable punches through it and leaves the rest. That is the case for hydro jetting, below.
Main line backup
When several fixtures back up at once, or a tub gurgles when the toilet flushes, the blockage is in the main. We clear it and run a camera to see whether it was a clog, roots, or damaged pipe.
Old cast-iron drain lines
Many older Durham homes have cast-iron drains, and the inside of that pipe roughens with scale and rust over decades. Debris catches on it. We clear carefully and use the camera to see what shape the pipe is in.
Basement floor drains
A basement floor drain that backs up shares a line with the rest of the house, and a slow one is an early warning. We clear it, and we camera it if it backs up more than once.
Toilet that gurgles or backs up
If the toilet backs up when another fixture runs, the trouble is past the toilet. We find whether it is the branch line or the main. For the fixture itself, see [toilet repair in Durham](/toilet-installation-repair-durham-nc).
Clear Answers
What a drain call looks like
- 1
Tell us what is happening
Which fixtures are affected, when it started, and whether it has happened before. We give you an arrival window and the price before work starts.
- 2
We clear it the right way
A cable for a simple clog. Hydro jetting when grease or scale keeps bringing it back. A camera when the symptoms point to the main.
- 3
You see what we found
We explain the cause in plain language and show you the camera footage when we ran one. If the pipe needs repair, you hear it from us with a price, no pressure.
Hydro Jetting and Drains in Durham
Hydro jetting, and when a cable is enough
Hydro jetting sends high-pressure water through a nozzle on a flexible hose and scours the whole inside of the pipe. A cable only punches a hole through a clog. For one slow sink or a single clog that has not happened before, a cable is enough and jetting would be overkill. When the same line clogs again and again, or a long main is coated with grease and scale, jetting is the better tool. That is common in older cast-iron lines, where rough pipe holds on to buildup.
We run a camera before we jet and again after. The first look tells us whether the pipe can take the pressure, because a collapsed or badly cracked line needs repair first. The second lets you see the cleaned pipe. If the camera shows damage, we walk you through sewer line repair options with the price up front. Roots in Durham clay are another reason a main backs up more than once.
Durham homes run from older ones in Forest Hills, Hope Valley, and North Durham to newer ones in Southpoint and Woodcroft. Our shop is at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex, and we work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00. For the rest of the house, see our Durham plumber page, or our water heater repair in Durham.
Durham neighborhoods we serve
- Southpoint
- Hope Valley
- Forest Hills
- Downtown Durham
- Brightleaf
- North Durham
- SW Durham
- Woodcroft
Commercial Drain Service
Commercial drain cleaning and jetting in Durham
Restaurants downtown and on Ninth Street, breweries, offices, and multi-unit properties call us for the same reasons homeowners do, with less tolerance for downtime. We clear, jet, inspect, and repair commercial drain lines, and we schedule around your hours where we can.
Restaurant floor drains and grease lines
Kitchen floor drains and the lines to the grease trap outlet load up with grease and soap scale. We clear them, jet them when the pipe wall needs it, and can set a jetting schedule so the line is cleaned before it backs up during service.
Breweries and production spaces
Floor drains that carry wash water and solids clog with sediment and residue. We clear and jet them, and camera the line when backups repeat.
Property managers and HOAs
Repeat calls from the same building or shared lateral mean buildup, not bad luck. We camera the line, clear it, and send you what we found so you can plan maintenance.
Helpful Details
Drain cleaning questions from Durham
What is the difference between drain cleaning and hydro jetting?
A cable clears the clog. Jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the whole pipe wall, removing grease and scale that cause the next clog. We use a cable for simple blockages and jetting when clogs keep returning.
Is hydro jetting safe for old cast-iron pipe?
Sometimes, and sometimes not. We run a camera first, and we will not jet a line that is cracked, collapsed, or too weak to take it. If the camera shows damage, we explain the repair options instead.
How much does drain cleaning cost in Durham?
It depends on which drain, where the blockage is, and whether it needs a cable, jetting, or a camera inspection. We give you the price before we start and nothing is added without your okay. Call (919) 679-1275.
Why does my basement floor drain back up?
It usually shares the main line with the rest of the house, so a backup there means the main is partly blocked. We clear it and camera the line if it has happened before.
Do you clean restaurant and brewery drains in Durham?
Yes. Floor drains, kitchen lines, and grease lines, including scheduled jetting for commercial kitchens, camera inspections, and sewer line repair when the pipe is the problem.
Should I use chemical drain cleaner first?
We would rather you did not. Caustic cleaners rarely clear a real blockage, they can damage older pipe, and they make the line unsafe for whoever opens it next. A plunger and hot water are fine to try. If that fails, call.
Drain help nearby
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Serving Durham and the rest of the Triangle: Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, Raleigh and Morrisville. Not sure we cover your address? Call (919) 679-1275 and ask.
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“Joseph was a great technician. He investigated the problem and walked me through every step of the way. So kind and patient.”
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