A clogged drain has two possible futures. Cleared properly, it stays clear. Poked at with a hand snake or a bottle of chemical opener, it usually returns — often worse, because the chemical sat on top of the blockage and the partial snake compacted it into a plug.
We clean drains mechanically and completely. That means matching the tool to the actual blockage instead of defaulting to whatever is fastest: augers for hair and soap buildup in tub and bathroom sink lines, heavier sectional machines for kitchen lines packed with grease, and hydro-jetting when the pipe walls themselves are coated — which is common in older Manhattan buildings where decades of grease and scale have narrowed a once-full-size line.
The recurring-clog question
If the same sink backs up every few months, there's a reason. Kitchen lines in apartment buildings collect grease on horizontal runs; bathtub drains catch hair at a specific elbow; toilet lines catch flushable wipes that were never actually flushable. Clearing the immediate stoppage gets you draining today. Finding out why it keeps happening — a sag in the line, scale buildup, a partially collapsed section — is what stops the cycle. When a clog comes back quickly or multiple fixtures back up together, we recommend a camera inspection so you're looking at the inside of the pipe instead of guessing.
What we clean
- Kitchen sink and dishwasher branch lines
- Bathroom sinks, tubs and shower drains
- Toilet and closet bend blockages
- Floor drains in basements, laundry rooms and building lobbies
- Main house drains and branch connections
Our approach
Diagnose before snaking: we confirm which fixture connects to the blocked run, protect surrounding surfaces (no one wants a drain machine's mess on their floors), clear the full length of the problem section rather than punching a hole through the middle of the clog, then run water hard behind it to confirm flow holds. You get told what caused the blockage and whether it's likely to return.
If a cleared line reveals damage — roots, cracks, a belly in the run — that becomes a conversation about sewer repair, not an upsell on the spot. And if the clog is part of something larger like a hidden supply leak under a sink cabinet, our leak repair team handles the source. For water backing up through multiple fixtures right now, go straight to emergency plumbing service.