Reliable Full-Service Drain Cleaning in Austin, TX
Westmoreland Plumbing cleans residential and commercial drains and sewer lines across Austin, using camera inspection to find the problem and hydrojetting to clear it.
A drain rarely stops working all at once. Food, grease, soap, and hair collect on the inside of the pipe where you can’t see them, and the opening gets narrower until water stops moving the way it should. Westmoreland Plumbing has served Austin since 1976, and we clean drains for homes and businesses, including slow bathroom sinks and sewer lines backing up. The earlier you call, the more likely it is that a cleaning solves it before a blockage causes damage.
Signs Your Drains Need Cleaning
Your drains usually give you a warning before they stop. Water that lingers around your feet in the shower is the obvious one, but sound and smell tell you just as much. A gurgle from the tub when the washing machine empties means air is being pulled through the water in a partly blocked line. A sour or sewage smell from a drain means waste is sitting in the pipe and breaking down, and those odors can work their way into the house.
Pay attention to how many fixtures are involved, because that tells you where the trouble is. One slow drain usually means a blockage in that fixture’s branch line. Several slow drains at once, or a toilet that bubbles when the sink runs, points to the main line that carries everything out of the building. A main line problem deserves a quick call, since the next thing it does is back up into the lowest drain in the house.
How We Clean a Drain
We start by working out what kind of blockage we’re dealing with and how far down it sits. The right method depends on the answer, so we look before we choose a tool. A soft clog near a fixture is a short job. Grease packed along a long run of pipe takes more, and tree roots or a damaged section of line need to be seen first.
Our sewer and drain work generally follows the same order:
- Find the problem. We ask what you’ve noticed and test the fixtures involved, then run a camera down the line when the location isn’t clear.
- Clear the line. We use the method that fits the blockage and the pipe, including hydrojetting for heavy buildup.
- Answer your questions. Ask us anything you’d like to know about your line.
Main Line and Sewer Line Cleaning
Every drain in a building empties into one main line, and that line carries wastewater out to the sewer. A blockage there affects everything upstream of it, so a main line problem can look like several separate clogs at once. Grease that has traveled a long way before hardening, wipes and other items that don’t break down, and roots working into an older joint are the usual suspects.
Westmoreland Plumbing cleans main lines and sewer lines for homes and commercial properties. If water comes up in a tub or floor drain when you use a sink, stop running water and call us. Austin Water says wastewater may back up and overflow through a manhole, cleanout, or drain, and yours may be the lowest opening on the line. Many properties have a cleanout, a capped pipe that gives a plumber direct access to the line, so tell us if you know where yours is.
Sewer Camera and Video Inspection
Our team uses a sewer camera and video inspection to find the source of a blockage quickly. The camera travels down the pipe on a cable and shows us the inside of the line, so nobody has to guess at what’s causing the backup or dig to find out. You find out why the clog formed as well as where it is.
A camera inspection can show a blockage’s location and what it’s made of, along with the condition of the pipe around it. That’s useful after a cleaning that didn’t last, and it’s useful when a line keeps slowing down at the same spot. If you’d like to know what’s going on inside a sewer line, ask about an inspection when you call. It can also put your mind at ease about an older line, or show you what you’re dealing with before you plan any other work on the property.
Hydrojetting for Grease and Heavy Buildup
Once we know where the blockage is, our hydrojetting equipment can clear it. Hydrojetting sends a stream of high-pressure water through the line to break up the clog and wash the walls of the pipe clean, which removes the grease and scale a cable can leave behind. It works well on lines that clog again soon after a basic clearing, and on long runs where buildup coats the pipe for many feet.
It isn’t the answer for every drain. Pipe that’s already damaged or very old needs a look first, and that’s one more reason we like to see the line on camera before choosing the method. When hydrojetting isn’t the right fit, Westmoreland Plumbing will work out the best strategy for your line.
Residential and Commercial Drain Cleaning
At home, regular drain cleaning means fewer overflowing toilets and plugged-up tubs, along with faster drainage and fewer odors. A clogged pipe can also become a breeding ground for bacteria, and standing water on your property is a health hazard you don’t want to live with. Skipping maintenance to save money tends to work the other way, because a blocked pipe can damage the drainage system and bring on a much larger repair.
Businesses run the same risks with less room for downtime. Offices and other commercial buildings put heavy use on their drains, and a backup can close a restroom during business hours. We provide commercial drain cleaning and maintenance around Austin, and we can schedule a convenient appointment.
What Keeps Austin Drains Clear
Most of what clogs a drain goes in one spoonful at a time, and a few habits make a real difference. Austin Water tells residents to collect cooking grease in a can or jar with a lid, seal it in a bag once it’s cool, and put it in the trash. It also advises wiping pans with a paper towel before washing them. Hot water only moves grease a little farther down the pipe.
Toilets need the same care. Austin Water lists disposable wipes, including those marked “flushable,” and feminine hygiene products among the common causes of sewer overflows. They don’t break down the way toilet paper does. Keep those out of the toilet and keep food scraps out of the disposal, and your pipes are far less likely to clog between cleanings.
Drain Cleaning Questions We Hear in Austin
How often should drains be cleaned?
Every few years is a good schedule for most household drains, and a little more often for sewage pipes. A kitchen that sees a lot of cooking or a line with a history of backups may need it sooner. If the same drain keeps slowing down, tell us, because that pattern usually points to something in the line that a routine cleaning should look at.
Are chemical drain cleaners bad for pipes?
A store-bought treatment won’t always hurt anything, but it tends to open a small channel through a clog and leave the rest in place. It also can’t reach a blockage far down the line. When a drain has already slowed twice, we’d skip the bottle and have the line cleaned properly.
How much does drain cleaning cost in Austin?
The price depends on where the blockage is and what it takes to clear it. A single sink is a different job from a main line that needs a camera and hydrojetting. Call us with what you’re seeing and we’ll talk through our rates and what the visit is likely to involve.
How long does drain cleaning take?
A single fixture is often a short visit. A main line that needs a camera inspection and hydrojetting takes longer, and we’ll give you a better idea once we’ve seen what’s in the line.
What’s the difference between drain cleaning and clearing a clog?
Clearing a clog opens a blocked pipe so water can move again. Drain cleaning removes the buildup along the length of the line, and it helps keep the next clog from forming. If something’s already stopped up, start with our page on clogged pipes repair.
Do you clean drains for businesses?
Yes. We clean drains for homes and commercial properties, and we can set up regular maintenance. Our page on commercial and residential plumbing services covers what else we do for building owners.
What Our Customers Say
See more reviewsThere are plumbers, then there are GOOD plumbers. Westmoreland is in the category GREAT plumbers. Timely and logical. They fixed the problem. No judgment for our tenant who clogged the line. A Plus!
Tommy and all the guys at Westmoreland Plumbing are great! We are in an old building and unfortunately need frequent service. Westmoreland is always on time, professional and gets the job done. Tommy is a pleasure to work with, and all the technicians are courteous do their job well. We recommend Westmoreland Plumbing to anyone who values a job well done!
Ryan was absolutely outstanding! After experiencing a clog in our sink, Ryan came out to diagnose the issue. Turns out we needed more than an unclogged drain, but Ryan and his team were fast, efficient, and so nice! Prompt customer service and a fantastic job.