Services for Your Clogged Drain in Scarborough, ON
Clogged drains are right up there among the most common issues that everyone has to deal with at some point. Unfortunately, they're also an incredibly annoying plumbing problem that can be very disruptive to your household's daily routines. If you're tired of struggling with a blocked drain that just doesn't want to unclog, put down the plunger and give your local Scarborough plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Scarborough, ON a call. Since our team of licensed plumbers has dealt with numerous issues related to a clogged drain, Scarborough residents can rely on us to get the problem solved quickly and effectively.
How Mr. Rooter Plumbing Handles a Clogged Drain in Scarborough
You've plunged and plunged . . . and then plunged some more, but all that hard work hasn't paid off and you're still stuck with a clogged drain. Scarborough homeowners naturally encounter clogged drains now and then, and usually they can be eliminated with a plunger and a touch of elbow grease. But sometimes you run into a situation where a stubborn clog won't come loose no matter what you do—or worse, it seems like you fixed it because the water drains away, but the next time someone uses that fixture the blockage is back. Those are signs that indicate you need the help of a local plumber for Scarborough clogged drain repair.
When it comes to calling a qualified plumber to fix a clogged drain, Scarborough residents are sometimes unsure of what to expect. Our reliable team of professionals has the training, skill and experience, along with the right equipment, to efficiently handle a wide range of plumbing needs, including drain unblocking. Here are some of the services we provide for homeowners with clogged drains.
Drain Camera Inspection
Most people typically don't know what exactly caused their clogged drains, which makes sense because it's generally a mixture of various substances and items. Knowing the location of the blockage and what material it is made of will go a long way toward determining the best method of treatment, so your plumber will start by carrying out an inspection to get that information and aid their diagnosis. In years gone by, getting access to blocked sewer lines was a time-consuming, destructive process that involved cutting into drywall and digging a large trench across your yard. Luckily, our team now uses non-invasive video inspection techniques that are much faster and don't cause anywhere near the same level of destruction on your property.
A small video camera on a flexible metal cable is lowered into your drain and maneuvered through the pipe, recording footage of what's causing your clogged drain. Scarborough plumbing professionals on our team can then play the footage back to get a better idea what is causing the problem and recommend the best course of action. Video plumbing inspection is also very helpful after drain cleaning to ensure that all debris has been removed and your wastewater lines are now in good condition.
HydroScrub® Jetting
The most effective and efficient plumbing maintenance tool we have available is HydroScrub® jetting. It is a drain cleaning method that uses a high-pressure water jet to push away stubborn blockages, leaving your sewage lines functioning properly by eliminating your clogged drain. Scarborough drain cleaning experts have noticed another advantage of hydro jetting: while a plumbing auger pulls the blockage back up through your line and into your home, causing an unpleasant mess, hydro jetting pushes the debris through your drain line and into the municipal sewer. It also gets rid of solidified grease from the interior of the line, leaving it cleaner and less likely to clog up again in the near future.
Biodegradable Drain Cleaner
Harsh chemical drain cleaner can actually cause damage to your wastewater disposal lines by wearing away at them from the inside when you're just trying to get it to clear out a clogged drain. Scarborough's local flora and fauna can suffer environmental harm if those chemicals get into groundwater. Instead, we use an environmentally friendly solution which contains natural enzymes that eat away at clog-causing substances, leaving your pipes clean and undamaged.
Trust Mr. Rooter Plumbing to Deal With Your Clogged Drain in Scarborough, ON
Whether a plumbing system needs a major overhaul such as a sewer line replacement or a plumbing repair to deal with leaky faucets or a clogged drain, Scarborough homeowners can count on the trusted team of professionals at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Scarborough, ON. Call us at 416-755-6121, any time of the night or day, for expert help restoring your system to perfect working order.
Along with drain repair service for clogged drains, we can also take care of services for your plumbing system such as water heater repair, sump pump replacement, backwater valve installation and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clogged Drains in Scarborough, ON
What Are the Warning Signs of Clogged Drains?
Many homes and commercial properties suffer from problems caused by filthy pipes without realizing it. Loud noises while you're using sinks or showers, water that takes too long to drain, and unusual smells are all indications you need cleaning service for a clogged drain. Scarborough homeowners will definitely benefit from routine maintenance services for an older property, but even newer buildings need regular plumbing services to protect against future problems.
There are several signs that your plumbing system needs help from a professional plumber, including:
- Slow drainage in fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, or showers
- Rotten, musty odors in the kitchen, or sewage smells in bathrooms and utility rooms
- Low water pressure that is localized in one fixture such as a kitchen sink
- Fixtures react in odd ways, like a toilet bubbling when the bathroom faucet is turned on
- Gurgling, sucking, banging, grinding, screeching or trickling noises coming from pipes
- Small flies or gnats hovering around sinks
- Raw sewage backing up in fixtures that are near to the ground, like a basement toilet or floor drain
Is It a Plumbing Emergency If I Have a Scarborough Clogged Drain After Hours?
That depends—if you have other fixtures available to you and can avoid using the affected fixture, it may not be at an emergency level to you, but it still needs to be handled by a professional plumber so you don't find yourself dealing with more serious issues in the near future.
A drain that isn't working normally can be a huge inconvenience, so it's fair to consider it an emergency plumbing situation. The good news is, you're never alone when you have a clogged drain. Scarborough residents can call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Scarborough ON any time, even during the night or during a holiday long weekend. We provide 24-hour emergency plumbing service, so our team of reliable plumbers is always standing by.
What Caused My Clogged Drain in Scarborough?
By now, you may be wondering what exactly led to your system's inconvenient clogged drain. The plumbers at Mr. Rooter will be able to tell you a lot more about your specific blockage once we inspect your wastewater lines, but in our experience, they are most often caused by people rinsing or flushing substances and items into their wastewater lines that really don't belong there. The blockage substances change according to where the fixture is located. For example, a kitchen sink clog is typically caused by leftover food particles, especially items such as egg shells and rice that can turn into a sand-like texture in an in-sink garbage disposal.
In other parts of your house, food scraps aren't a problem. A clogged shower drain is usually the result of hair clumps and soap residue, while a clogged toilet can be caused by a multitude of problem items such as feminine hygiene products or "flushable" wipes, which are not really flushable at all. The bathroom sink drain often gets blocked up by dental floss, razor blades, bottle caps and other things that fall down an unprotected drain opening accidentally.
Can I Fix Clogged Drains With Baking Soda and Vinegar?
Homemade natural alternatives like baking soda and white vinegar aren't unsafe so much as just ineffective at clearing a clogged drain. Scarborough elementary school science class taught us that these two substances will cause a reaction in a closed environment such as a bottle with the cap on, but your wastewater disposal line doesn't qualify as a closed environment. The mixture will fizz harmlessly for a minute or two without making much headway on the issue, and then you'll have just added more material to the clog. Cola products are another DIY solution that isn't really going to do much of anything, and that sticky sugar isn't very good for your plumbing system.
What's the Right Way to Plunge Clogged Drains?
When it comes to a run-of-the-mill, basic clogged drain, Scarborough homeowners can often dislodge it with the right plunging technique. The first step is to ensure you're using the right kind of plunger. If you're plunging a flat drain in a fixture such as a sink, bathtub or shower, get a tool with a plunger cup end that can fit over the drain and form a seal. A toilet plunger is bell or ball-shaped so it can fit over a toilet drain.
Once you've got the right plunger available, here are the steps to follow:
- If you're working on one side of a double kitchen sink, plug up the hole on the other side with a rag. If it's a fixture with an overflow drain, plug that up.
- Add water into the fixture until the opening is covered by a few inches.
- Put your plunger over the drain opening and push down slowly at first to form a seal.
- Start plunging by pushing down on the plunger, then pulling up sharply to dislodge the blockage.
- If the water starts to move out of the fixture and into your wastewater lines, your work is done. Don't be worried if it doesn't happen right away, as it can take quite a bit of plunging to work a clog loose.
How Do I Avoid Clogged Drains in the Future?
If you never want to deal with another clogged drain in Scarborough, most plumbers recommend being extra-cautious about what you put into your wastewater disposal lines. Some people are surprised to learn that they should never let liquified fat, oil or grease get in their kitchen sink, since getting rid of fat is a typical part of the cooking process. The problem is that hot water can only do so much to clear your drains. Once the grease cools and solidifies inside your line, it starts to form a blockage that grows every time something else gets caught in that sticky mess.
Another way to avoid clogs as much as possible is to use hair catchers on your bathroom sink, and shower drains. Clumps of hair are among the most common causes of blockages. Human hair sheds constantly, and of course hair can't dissolve in wastewater lines. If it gets caught up with other materials in the drains like soap scum, it’s the perfect recipe for a tougher clog that will require cleaning.
Speaking of regular drain cleaning service, it's the best, most effective preventative measure you can take to avoid ever having another clogged drain. Scarborough homeowners are sometimes reluctant to call a plumber for regular maintenance when nothing seems to be going wrong, but it can save a huge amount of time, money and hassle by eliminating blockages before they develop enough to cause noticeable problems for your household.
Dealing With a Clogged Drain? Scarborough Can Rely On Mr. Rooter Plumbing
There are few things more annoying than a clogged drain. Scarborough residents don't have to search far for help—your local, qualified plumber at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Scarborough ON is standing by, ready to deliver expert drain service and other services that will keep your plumbing system in excellent shape. Give us a call today at 416-755-621 to schedule an appointment with our friendly customer service staff.
