At a glance
- One fixture slow
- Branch clog, cable
- Low fixtures back up
- Main line, call now
- Grease and scale
- Hydro-jetting
- Recurring clog
- Camera inspection
- Pricing
- Quoted by the plumber before work
Local clog or main line
If only the kitchen sink is slow, the clog is in that sink's trap or branch line. If the lowest fixtures in the house (a ground-floor shower, a tub, a floor drain) back up when you flush or run the washing machine, the main sewer line is blocked and every drain in the house is at risk. Stop running water and call.
What the plumber does
For a branch line, a cable machine (a snake) clears most clogs in under an hour. For a main line, the plumber runs a larger cable through the cleanout, usually a capped pipe at ground level outside the house. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scour grease and scale from the pipe walls and is the right tool for kitchen lines and recurring clogs. A camera inspection shows exactly what is in the pipe and is worth it for a main line that has clogged more than once, or before buying a house built before 1980.
Las Vegas specifics
Older neighborhoods near Downtown and in East Las Vegas have clay or cast iron sewer laterals that crack, let roots in, and scale shut. Newer homes have ABS plastic that rarely fails but can be crushed by settling. Hard water scale narrows pipes everywhere. Tree roots are less of an issue than in wet cities but desert landscaping roots go far for water and find sewer joints.
What not to do
Avoid chemical drain openers. They damage older pipes, sit in the trap when they fail, and the plumber has to work in the chemical. Do not run the dishwasher or washing machine while a main line is blocked. Do not flush wipes, even ones labeled flushable.
Your questions
Where is my sewer cleanout?
Outside, near the house, usually on the side facing the street: a capped pipe at ground level, 3 or 4 inches across. Knowing where it is saves the plumber time.
Can a plumber clear a clog without cutting pipes?
Almost always. Cables and jetting clear the clog from the cleanout or the trap. Pipes are cut only when the camera shows a break or collapse.
How often should a main line be cleaned?
If it has never backed up, never. If it backs up yearly, a camera inspection tells you whether the problem is a repairable section or a pipe that needs replacing.