Key Takeaway
A drain that keeps clogging usually has one of three problems: buildup that was only punched through rather than removed, a problem in a shared branch or the main line, or a structural fault such as roots, a sag or a cracked pipe. A clog in one fixture is often fixed with a cable machine in 30 minutes to an hour. Clogs that come back within weeks or months, or several drains backing up at once, call for hydro-jetting or a camera inspection to find the cause. Clean Water Services warns that grease poured down a drain sticks to pipes and causes clogs. SKS Plumbing is open 7 days, 8am to 9pm. Call (503) 319-9348.
A drain that keeps clogging usually has buildup that was only punched through, a problem further down in a shared line, or a structural fault such as roots, a sag or a cracked pipe. Cleaning fixes the first; the other two need the line inspected, because no amount of plunging will fix a pipe that is catching everything that passes.
In Hillsboro and across Washington County, the same few causes come up again and again, from grease in kitchen lines to roots finding their way into older clay sewer pipe. Here is how to tell what you are dealing with.
One Drain or Several?
Where the clogs happen tells you where the problem is:
- One fixture, one drain. A single slow sink, tub or shower usually means a clog in that fixture's trap or branch line.
- Several drains at once. Two or more slow drains, or drains backing up together, point to a shared branch line or the main sewer line.
- Gurgling. A toilet or drain that gurgles when another fixture runs suggests a partial main line blockage or a venting problem.
- Water in the lowest drain. Water coming up through a floor drain, a basement shower or the lowest toilet when you run water elsewhere is a main line warning sign.
If it is several drains at once, stop running water and call. A main line clog only gets worse with use.
Why the Same Clog Comes Back
The buildup was never removed. A plunger, a chemical cleaner or a small hand auger can open a hole through a clog. The grease, soap scum or hair coating the pipe wall stays put, and the next load catches on it within weeks.
Kitchen grease. This is the most common repeat offender in kitchen lines. Clean Water Services, the wastewater utility serving much of Washington County, explains why: "if you pour grease down your drain, it sticks to pipes and eventually causes clogs and messy overflows." (Clean Water Services, Freeze the Grease) Their advice is to pour cooking grease into a can, freeze it and put it in the trash.
Wipes and paper towels. "Flushable" wipes do not break down the way toilet paper does, and they snag on any rough spot in the line.
A structural problem. If a line clogs again within weeks or months of being properly cleaned, there is usually something wrong with the pipe itself: tree roots growing in through a joint, a belly (low spot) where waste settles, or a partially collapsed section. This is especially common in older homes with clay sewer pipe.
When Cleaning Is Enough
Cleaning is the right fix when the pipe is sound and the problem is what is inside it:
- Cable machine (drain snake). For a clog in one fixture or branch line. A straightforward job typically takes 30 minutes to an hour.
- Hydro-jetting. High-pressure water that scours the pipe wall clean, removing grease, scale and roots that a cable machine leaves behind. Used for main lines and heavy buildup, and typically 1 to 2 hours.
Jetting is often the difference between a clog that comes back next month and a line that stays clear, because it removes the coating the next clog would grab onto.
When the Line Needs a Camera
If clogs keep returning, a sewer camera inspection is the step that ends the guessing. A waterproof camera goes down the line and shows exactly what is there: roots, cracks, sags, collapses, or simply heavy buildup, and how far from the cleanout each problem sits. An inspection typically takes 30 minutes to an hour.
What the camera finds decides the fix. Buildup means jetting. A single damaged section can often be spot-repaired. A line that is failing along its length is a bigger decision, which our sewer line repair vs. replacement guide covers in detail.
Get It Fixed Once
A drain that needs clearing every few weeks is costing you more than one proper visit would. SKS Plumbing clears clogs, hydro-jets main lines and runs camera inspections through our drain line repair, replacement and cleaning service across Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, Forest Grove and the rest of Washington County. If the clog is in a kitchen sink or disposal, our kitchen plumbing team handles that too.
We are open seven days a week, 8am to 9pm. Call (503) 319-9348, or book a visit and we will find out why it keeps happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually because the clog was pushed through rather than removed, leaving grease, soap or scale on the pipe walls to catch the next load. If clogs return within weeks or months even after professional cleaning, there is often a structural problem such as tree roots, a belly (low spot) in the line, or a partially collapsed pipe.
If only one sink, tub or shower is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's trap or branch line. If several drains are slow at once, toilets gurgle when other fixtures run, or water comes up in the lowest drain in the house, the problem is likely in the main line.
A drain snake, or cable machine, breaks through or pulls out a blockage. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the inside of the pipe clean, removing grease, scale and roots that a cable machine leaves behind. Jetting is used for main lines and heavy buildup.
When the same drain clogs repeatedly, when several drains back up together, or before paying for a repair or replacement. The camera shows roots, cracks, sags and collapses and pinpoints where they are, so the fix matches the actual problem.
They can clear a minor clog, but they do not remove buildup along the pipe and they can be harsh on older pipes. If a drain needs them more than once, it is time to have it cleaned properly and find out why it keeps clogging.