How Long Does it Take to Unclog a Sewer Line?

A foul smell in your basement is a strong sign of a sewer blockage. The good news is it takes about 1 to 3 hours to unclog a sewer line using video inspection, augers and/or a high-pressure power flushing system. Call a drainage contractor to deal with interior drains emptying slowly or backing up.

How do you know if your main sewer line is clogged or just a specific drain?

Knowing how complicated a drain problem is can be tricky, especially if you are a home’s new owner. The typical culprits that cause clogged drains are:

• Congealed soaps
• Food residues 
• Coagulated cooking fats or oils
• Tree roots
• Collapsed or broken pipes

Using strong chemicals like acid is often unnecessary and causes environmental problems. Boiled water poured through a recently hand-cleaned or snaked drain can suffice. Call a plumber or handyperson, or try to unclog these various drains yourself. 

Anatomy of a bathroom sink drain:

Follow these solutions for minor drain clogs:

Bathroom: 

• Toothpaste/hair and tiny bits build upon the pivot rod. (see the drawing above) Cleaning a bathroom sink drain is a fix for a handyperson, plumber, or some homeowners with the aid of a YouTube tutorial.
• Soap scum/residue and hair build up in a shower or tub drain and clog the drain. Soap is made with various fatty acids that react with mineral water to thicken the lather. 

Check that you, a handyman, or a plumber have cleared the shower or tub drains before deciding whether the main sewer line is clogged. Using softened water helps prevent soap from resolidifying, as does using liquid soap (made of different fatty acids), or using boiling water then vinegar and baking soda. 

Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors are plumbers and drainage contractors; the latter is the best service for clogged sewer lines. Read more about the difference between a plumber and a drainage contractor.

Kitchen:

• Hardened fats and oils are the culprits in kitchen sink drains. Like toothpaste and soap, it becomes the vehicle for food bits and hair to build up and clog a kitchen drain.
• Food scum/residue builds up inside the drain area in a dishwasher. 

Laundry:

• Soap residue and clothing lint will clog washing machine drains. Washing machines are often located in basements, and being closer to a house’s main drain, they may be the first indication of a backed-up sewer. The best plan is to use a plumber’s snake to see if the clog is easily fixed.

See Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors’ client testimonials here.

Are exterior sewer cleanouts the main drain of a house?

Yes, exterior sewer cleanouts are an exterior extension of their interior counterpart located on the house’s basement floor. 

Read our article, ‘Sewer Cleanouts – How to Find Them and When to Clean Them’ on our Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors Resources Page to read more about the process.  

Does DRAIN VIDEO INSPECTION work?

Yes, drain or pipeline video inspection works very well. It travels quickly through hundreds of metres of sewer lines for an accurate visual analysis. This allows for more focused work and provides assurance afterward that the blockage is cleared. 

Tree root encroachment is common, especially with older tiled sewer lines. Unfortunately, with the repeated use of lesser quality eeling equipment, the eeling of an exterior line can also be hard on old tile drainage lines that a big tree root has compromised; this combination can result in the collapse of these older lines. 

A video inspection will bring into view whatever is taking place so you can plan for repair work if necessary.

Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors have been London, Ontario plumbing and drainage specialists since 1972 when John Ashworth began the business. His son Shawn has led the well-known family company since 2007.