Drain Cleaning in Fort Myers

One slow sink is a nuisance. Several slow drains at once, or water coming up in the tub when you flush, usually means a main line problem. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Is it one drain or the main line?

A single fixture clog affects one sink, tub or toilet. Hair, soap scum, grease or a foreign object is usually to blame, and it’s often a quick fix.

A main line clog shows up as several drains slowing at once, gurgling toilets, or water backing up into the tub or shower when you run the washing machine or flush. The lowest drain in the house (often a shower) is where it surfaces first. Main line problems need a plumber with the right equipment, and repeated main line clogs deserve a camera inspection.

What causes clogs in Fort Myers homes

• Tree roots. Ficus, banyan and other thirsty trees find cracks and joints in older sewer laterals.
• Grease and “flushable” wipes. These are the most common self-inflicted clogs. Wipes don’t break down the way toilet paper does.
• Scale and corrosion. Older cast iron drains roughen inside over time and catch debris.
• Bellies in the line. Sandy soil can settle and create low spots where waste collects.
• Septic issues. Parts of Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers and other areas still use septic systems. Slow drains throughout the house can mean a full tank or a failing drain field rather than a pipe clog.

Snaking vs. hydro jetting

Cable snaking (augering) punches through or pulls out the blockage. It’s fast and affordable, and it’s the right first step for most clogs. It may not fully clean the pipe walls, though.

Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the inside of the pipe, washing out grease, sludge and fine roots. It costs more and isn’t right for pipes that are already badly damaged, which is why many plumbers run a camera first.

When to ask for a camera inspection

If your main line has clogged more than once in a year, if you have an older home with cast iron or clay pipe, or if you’re buying a house, a sewer camera inspection is worth it. The plumber runs a waterproof camera through the line to find roots, cracks, bellies or collapsed sections. That’s the difference between paying for drain cleaning every few months and fixing the actual problem. See sewer line repair if the camera finds damage.

Skip the chemical drain cleaners

Caustic drain openers can damage older pipes, rarely clear serious clogs and make the job more hazardous for the plumber who comes after. For a slow bathroom sink, pulling and cleaning the pop-up stopper often does the trick. For anything bigger, call a pro.

Typical price ranges are in our Fort Myers plumbing cost guide.