How we clear a drain
Every drain job starts with access. If the home has a usable cleanout, great—we start there. If it doesn’t, the technician may need another appropriate access point such as a roof vent or removing a toilet, depending on the system and the job.
Clearing it is step one. Finding out why is step two.
Once the line is open, we may recommend a sewer camera inspection—especially for recurring stoppages or when there is reason to suspect a defect. If we see a problem, we show you what the camera found whenever practical and explain the repair options.
The big three we see in clogged lines
Tampons and wipes are two of the biggest recurring offenders we see. Grease is close behind. “Flushable” on the package does not mean your sewer line is excited about it. When grease is confirmed, we recommend hydrojetting because opening a path through grease is not the same thing as cleaning the buildup off the pipe walls.
When standard drain cleaning is not enough
A cable is often the right first tool. If the line has substantial grease, stubborn buildup, repeated stoppages, or a blockage that standard cabling cannot adequately clear, hydrojetting may be the better next step. If a camera shows a break, we move the conversation to repair instead of pretending another cleaning fixed broken pipe.
Why Smith & Sons
We do not want the customer experience to be “machine goes in, water goes down, technician disappears.” When there is reason to look deeper, we explain it. When there is camera evidence, we show it. When there are multiple repair paths, we explain the options.