Key takeaways
- Hair, soap, grease and wipes cause most clogs.
- Repeat clogs usually mean scale, roots or a damaged pipe.
- Chemical cleaners are a poor long-term fix.
- A camera shows what a snake cannot.
The everyday causes
Bathroom drains collect hair and soap scum, kitchen drains collect grease, food and coffee grounds, and toilets clog from too much paper and from wipes that are labeled flushable but do not break down.
Strainers in tubs and sinks and a habit of wiping grease into the trash rather than rinsing it down are the two easiest ways to avoid clogs.
When it keeps coming back
If the same drain clogs every few weeks, look past the clog. Scale in old cast iron narrows the pipe, roots enter joints in the main line, a low spot holds waste and a poorly sloped pipe never drains fully.
A cable only opens a path through the clog. If something in the pipe is wrong, the clog returns.
What fixes it
Hydro jetting scours the pipe wall and removes scale and grease that a cable leaves behind. A camera inspection shows roots, bellies and breaks, so repair can be targeted. Chemical cleaners can damage pipes and are dangerous to work around if they do not clear the clog.
A plumber in Nashville can tell you which of these your drain needs after a quick look.
Related services
Quick answers
Is it okay to use drain cleaner?
Occasionally, a mild product may help a small clog, but strong chemicals can damage pipes and are hazardous if they do not work. Mechanical cleaning is safer.
What should never go down the kitchen drain?
Grease and oil, coffee grounds in quantity, starchy foods like rice and pasta, eggshells and fibrous vegetables.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-431-3789.