Drain cleaning in Ventura

Drain cleaning is the removal of grease, hair, scale, roots and debris from the inside of a drain pipe so water flows freely again. We clear sink, tub, toilet and main sewer line clogs anywhere in Ventura, 24 hours a day.

Signs you need drain cleaning

• Water drains slowly from a sink, tub or shower.
• Gurgling sounds from a drain or toilet after another fixture runs.
• Sewage odor from floor drains or the yard cleanout.
• Water backing up into the tub when the toilet flushes or the washer drains.
• More than one fixture clogged at the same time, which points to the main line.
• Fruit flies or drain flies that keep coming back around a kitchen sink.

One slow fixture is usually a local clog in that fixture's drain. Several fixtures backing up together, especially on the lowest floor, means the main sewer line is blocked.

What causes clogged drains in Ventura homes

Four causes account for most Ventura drain calls.

• Tree roots in the sewer lateral. Older clay and cast-iron laterals have joints that roots can enter. Midtown and the Westside have mature street trees and many pre-1960 laterals.
• Grease and food waste in kitchen lines, which cools and hardens inside the pipe. See kitchen sink clog repair.
• Mineral scale. Ventura's water ranges from 15 to 37 grains per gallon of hardness on average, according to Ventura Water. Scale narrows small drain lines and traps hair and soap.
• Wipes and paper products that don't break down, even ones labeled "flushable."

How we clear drains

Cable drain machine (snaking)

A cable machine spins a steel cable with a cutting head through the pipe to break up a clog. It's the right tool for most sink, tub and toilet clogs, and for opening a main line quickly in an emergency.

Hydro jetting

Hydro jetting sends water at high pressure through a jetting nozzle that scours the full inside wall of the pipe. Jetting removes grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches through, so the line stays clear longer. We camera-check old clay or cast-iron pipe before jetting, because jetting can damage badly cracked pipe.

Camera inspection

A recurring main line clog has a cause. After clearing it, we can run a sewer camera inspection to show you whether the problem is roots, a broken section or a sag in the line.

How pricing works

Every job is different, so the cost depends on the type of work and what the job requires. We look at the problem first, explain your options, and confirm the price with you before any work starts.

When a clog is really a sewer problem

If the same main line clog returns within months, the lateral likely has roots, an offset joint or a belly where waste settles. Clearing it again only buys time. A camera inspection shows the cause, and sewer line repair fixes it. Homeowners selling in Ventura also need a private sewer lateral inspection before close of escrow.

Drain cleaning questions