Residential Clogged Drain Services

Clogged drains are not an uncommon problem in households, and in general, they are no reason to panic. This usually happens in a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower, or tub drain or laundry/utility room sink. In washrooms, for instance, the typical reason for drain clogs is a buildup of hair and other runoff waste. Bathroom sinks typically have a drain stopper that you can pull up. If you haven’t cleaned this in a while, chances are it will be full of hair and gunk. It’s time to give it a good cleaning and wipe it down. Put the stopper back in place and run the water. If there is no improvement in water buildup, you may have a clog further down the line. Stores sell ‘drain snakes’ at a minimal cost, and if the clog isn’t too far down the line, using the snake will do the trick and pull out hair and other debris. If that doesn’t work, the clog is likely deeper – that’s when it’s time to call a professional plumber.

*Note: Avoid using chemical ‘cleaners’ as they are abrasive and usually toxic.*

An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure. Save yourself the trouble later by doing your best to prevent debris from going down the drain. In kitchen sinks, you can use mesh covers over the drain. In bathrooms, regularly clean the drains by pulling out the excessive hair or other things stuck around the drain that you can see. Then toss into the trash bin.

Small leaks can be fixed DIY, however, we recommend taking a look to see what might be causing the leak before calling us. We can get some details and, if possible, photos from you to ensure our plumber arrives prepared to fix the issue. Some older fixtures may have been discontinued or have had configuration changes, so these photos help us identify if we need to suggest alternative solutions.

1. First, go to the water shut-off valve at or around the toilet base. Turn the valve until the water shuts off. If the toilet does not have a valve, open the tank and rig the float to stay in its position – this way no more water will flow in.
2. Next use towels or a Shop-Vac to clean up the water that’s spilled onto the floor. Thoroughly wash all surfaces that were affected.
3. Either reach into the toilet (wearing rubber gloves) or use a toilet plunger to try to remove the object(s) blocking the toilet.

If this doesn’t work, give us a call. A toilet overflowing could be a sign of a larger plumbing issue. The clog may be located farther down the pipes. We can diagnose the issue and resolve it promptly and professionally.