Drains & Clogs Questions Answered

What Causes Sewage Backups and What Should You Do?

Sewage backups are serious plumbing emergencies that require immediate attention. The most common causes include:

• ✔ Main sewer line blockage: The most common cause, often due to tree roots, grease buildup, or foreign objects.
• ✔ Collapsed or broken sewer pipe: Older pipes, especially clay or cast iron, can crack, collapse, or disintegrate over time.
• ✔ City sewer main issues: Problems with the municipal sewer system can cause backups into homes.
• ✔ Heavy rainfall: In some areas, heavy rains can overwhelm the sewer system, causing backups.
• ✔ Septic system failure: For homes with septic tanks, an overflowing or failing tank can cause backups.

If you experience sewage backing up into toilets, tubs, or floor drains, take these immediate steps:

• ✔ Stop using all water in your home
• ✔ Turn off water to your home if possible
• ✔ Avoid contact with the sewage, which contains harmful bacteria
• ✔ Call us for emergency service at (770) 627-4421

After resolving the immediate backup, we recommend a camera inspection to identify the root cause and prevent future occurrences. For homes prone to backups, we can install backflow prevention devices to protect against sewage intrusion.

What Is Hydro-Jetting and When Do You Need It?

Hydro-jetting is an advanced drain cleaning method that uses highly pressurized water (typically 3,500–4,000 PSI) to thoroughly clean the interior of pipes. Unlike traditional drain snakes that merely punch holes through blockages, hydro-jetting completely removes:

• ✔ Grease and fat buildup
• ✔ Mineral scale
• ✔ Tree roots
• ✔ Sludge and debris
• ✔ Biofilm (bacteria colonies)

You might need hydro-jetting if:

• ✔ You have recurring clogs despite regular drain cleaning
• ✔ Multiple fixtures in your home are draining slowly
• ✔ Your drains emit foul odors that persist after conventional cleaning
• ✔ You haven't had your sewer line professionally cleaned in several years
• ✔ A camera inspection reveals significant buildup along pipe walls
• ✔ You have older cast iron or clay pipes that have developed scale buildup

Hydro-jetting is highly effective but should be performed by professionals, as the high water pressure can damage compromised pipes. Our technicians first perform a video inspection to ensure your pipes can withstand the procedure, then use specialized nozzles designed for your specific plumbing system to safely restore your pipes to near-new condition.

What Causes Slow Draining Sinks?

Slow draining sinks are typically caused by:

• ✔ Hair buildup: In bathroom sinks and showers, hair is the most common cause of blockages, combining with soap scum to form stubborn clogs.
• ✔ Soap scum accumulation: Soap combines with minerals in water to create a sticky residue that gradually narrows drain pipes.
• ✔ Grease and food particles: In kitchen sinks, cooking oils, fats, and food waste can solidify and stick to pipe walls, restricting water flow.
• ✔ Foreign objects: Items accidentally washed down drains (jewelry, small toys, excessive toilet paper) can cause partial blockages.
• ✔ Mineral buildup: In areas with hard water, mineral deposits can accumulate inside pipes, gradually reducing their internal diameter.
• ✔ Tree root intrusion: For slow drainage affecting multiple fixtures, tree roots may have infiltrated your sewer line.
• ✔ Improper drain slope: Plumbing drains require proper downward slope; if incorrectly installed, gravity won't effectively move water.

Regular maintenance can prevent most clogs, but for persistent slow drains, our professional drain cleaning services can restore proper flow. We use methods ranging from cable machines (snakes) to high-pressure hydro-jetting depending on the severity and cause of the clog.

How to Safely Unclog a Drain

For safe and effective drain unclogging, follow these steps in order of increasing intensity:

• ✔ Boiling water: For simple clogs, pour boiling water down the drain in 2–3 stages, allowing time between pours. (Not recommended for PVC pipes or porcelain sinks.)
• ✔ Baking soda and vinegar:
  • Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain
  • Follow with ½ cup white vinegar
  • Cover the drain for 30 minutes
  • Flush with hot water
• ✔ Plunger: Create a tight seal and use quick, forceful plunges to dislodge the clog. Fill the sink with enough water to cover the plunger's cup.
• ✔ Drain snake/auger: Feed the snake into the drain until you reach the clog, then rotate to break it up or pull it out.
• ✔ Remove and clean P-trap: For sink drains, place a bucket beneath the curved pipe (P-trap), unscrew the connectors, and clean out the trap. Reattach securely.

What to avoid:

• ✔ Chemical drain cleaners can damage pipes, harm the environment, and create health hazards.
• ✔ Using excessive force with tools can crack pipes or fixtures.
• ✔ Mixing different chemical cleaners can create toxic gases.

If these methods don't work, or if you're uncomfortable performing them, our professionals can clear your drains safely using specialized equipment without risking damage to your plumbing system. For recurring clogs, we can perform video inspection to identify underlying issues.

What Causes Drain Odors and How to Fix Them

Unpleasant drain odors can make your home uncomfortable and may indicate plumbing issues. Common causes include:

• ✔ Dry P-trap: The curved pipe section under sinks and fixtures is designed to hold water, which blocks sewer gases. If a fixture isn't used regularly, this water can evaporate, allowing gases to escape.
• ✔ Biofilm buildup: Bacteria and organic matter can form a slime layer inside drains that produces odors.
• ✔ Food decomposition: Food particles trapped in garbage disposals or drain pipes can rot and cause smells.
• ✔ Sewer line issues: Damaged or blocked sewer lines can allow gases to back up into your home.
• ✔ Venting problems: Plumbing vent issues can cause negative pressure that pulls water from P-traps.
• ✔ Mold or mildew: Moisture around drains can promote mold growth that creates musty odors.

For infrequently used fixtures, simply running water for 30 seconds can refill the P-trap and eliminate odors. For persistent smells, a thorough drain cleaning may be necessary to remove biofilm and debris. If odors persist throughout your home, the issue might be with your sewer line or venting system, requiring professional inspection and repair.

Why Isn’t My Dishwasher Draining Properly?

When your dishwasher isn't draining properly, leaving standing water at the bottom, several issues could be responsible:

• ✔ Clogged filter: The dishwasher's filter basket may be clogged with food particles.
• ✔ Blocked drain hose: The drain hose may be kinked or clogged.
• ✔ Clogged air gap: If your sink has an air gap, it might be blocked.
• ✔ Garbage disposal connection: If recently installed, the knockout plug in the disposal might not have been removed.
• ✔ Drain pump failure: The pump that forces water out might be malfunctioning.
• ✔ Clogged sink drain: The problem might be in your sink drain or further down the line.

Start troubleshooting by cleaning the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher, which is often the simplest solution. Next, check that the drain hose isn't kinked where it connects to the garbage disposal or sink drain. Also run your garbage disposal to clear any potential blockages, as many dishwashers drain through the disposal. For persistent issues, a professional plumber can diagnose and address more complex problems with the drain pump or internal components.

Proper water heater maintenance can extend its lifespan and improve efficiency. Here are key maintenance tasks:

For Traditional Tank Water Heaters:

• ✔ Annual flushing: Drain and flush your water heater annually to remove sediment buildup that reduces efficiency and shortens lifespan.
• ✔ Check the pressure relief valve: Test the temperature and pressure relief valve yearly to ensure it's functioning properly.
• ✔ Inspect the anode rod: Have the sacrificial anode rod checked every 2–3 years and replaced if significantly corroded.
• ✔ Check for leaks: Regularly inspect connections, the tank, and surrounding area for any signs of moisture or leaking.
• ✔ Maintain clearance: Keep the area around your water heater clear of items that could be fire hazards.

For Tankless Water Heaters:

• ✔ Descaling: Flush with a vinegar solution annually to remove mineral buildup (more frequently in areas with hard water).
• ✔ Clean the air intake filter: Check and clean the filter every 1–2 months.
• ✔ Inspect venting: Ensure venting remains unobstructed and in good condition.

A&G Plumbing offers professional water heater maintenance services where we can perform these tasks properly and safely. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your unit but also maintains its energy efficiency and performance.

How to Prevent Drain Clogs

Preventing drain clogs is much easier and less expensive than dealing with them after they occur. Here are our top recommendations:

For Kitchen Drains:

• ✔ Use drain strainers to catch food particles and debris
• ✔ Never pour grease, oil, or fat down the drain (collect and dispose of in the trash)
• ✔ Avoid putting coffee grounds, eggshells, pasta, rice, and fibrous vegetables down the disposal
• ✔ Run cold water before, during, and after using your garbage disposal
• ✔ Periodically flush drains with hot water to prevent grease buildup

For Bathroom Drains:

• ✔ Install hair catchers in shower and tub drains
• ✔ Regularly remove and clean drain stoppers to remove hair and soap scum
• ✔ Never flush "flushable" wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, or cotton balls
• ✔ Use liquid toilet paper instead of thicker, quilted varieties if clogs are frequent

General Maintenance:

• ✔ Monthly, pour a pot of boiling water down drains to help dissolve buildup
• ✔ Use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar followed by hot water for natural cleaning
• ✔ Schedule annual professional drain cleaning as preventative maintenance

What Should Never Go Down the Drain?

To prevent clogs and expensive plumbing issues, avoid putting these items down any drain:

Kitchen Sink / Garbage Disposal:

• ✔ Cooking grease, oils, and fats – These solidify in pipes, causing major blockages
• ✔ Coffee grounds – They don't break down and create a thick, sediment-like blockage
• ✔ Eggshells – Their membrane lining can wrap around disposal blades and stick to pipes
• ✔ Starchy foods – Pasta, rice, and potatoes expand with water and create a paste-like clog
• ✔ Fibrous vegetables – Celery, corn husks, artichokes, and onion skins can tangle disposal blades
• ✔ Bones and fruit pits – Too hard for disposals to handle, causing damage to blades
• ✔ Non-food items – Plastic, paper, metal, or other non-biodegradable materials

Bathroom Drains:

• ✔ Hair – The primary cause of bathroom drain clogs; use drain covers to catch hair
• ✔ "Flushable" wipes – Despite marketing claims, these don't break down like toilet paper
• ✔ Dental floss – Non-biodegradable and can tangle with other debris
• ✔ Cotton swabs, cotton balls – Expand when wet and don't break down
• ✔ Feminine hygiene products – These expand and don't dissolve in water
• ✔ Medications – Can contaminate water supply and harm aquatic life
• ✔ Kitty litter – Even "flushable" varieties cause clogs and environmental problems

All Drains:

• ✔ Paint, solvents, automotive fluids – Toxic to the environment and harmful to pipes
• ✔ Chemical drain cleaners – Damage pipes with repeated use and can create hazardous chemical reactions

Proper disposal habits are the most cost-effective form of plumbing maintenance. When in doubt, throw it in the trash instead of washing it down the drain. For existing clogs, contact our professional plumbers for safe, effective removal that won't damage your plumbing system.

Can Tree Roots Damage My Sewer Line?

Yes, tree roots are one of the most common and destructive causes of sewer line damage. Here's how the process typically unfolds:

• ✔ Tree roots naturally grow toward sources of water and nutrients.
• ✔ Tiny hairline cracks, loose joints, or small leaks in sewer pipes emit moisture and vapor.
• ✔ Roots detect this moisture and grow toward the pipe.
• ✔ Fine, hair-like roots enter through small openings in the pipe.
• ✔ Once inside, they expand and create a web-like structure that catches toilet paper, waste, and debris.
• ✔ This results in increasingly severe blockages over time.
• ✔ As roots continue to grow and expand, they can crack, displace, or completely break pipes.

Signs of root intrusion include recurring drain backups, multiple slow-draining fixtures, gurgling toilets, and sinkholes or unusually lush patches of grass in your yard. If you suspect root intrusion, a sewer camera inspection can confirm the issue. For minor root intrusion, hydro-jetting may clear the roots, but for severe cases, pipe repair or replacement may be necessary. Preventative measures include regular sewer line cleaning and installation of barriers to redirect root growth away from your sewer lines.

Gurgling or popping sounds coming from your drains are typically signs of air trapped in the plumbing system, usually caused by a partial clog or a venting issue. When wastewater flows through your pipes, it displaces air. If that air has nowhere to escape—due to a blockage or a malfunctioning vent—it creates negative pressure, resulting in the gurgling or bubbling noises you hear.

Common causes include buildup of grease, hair, or debris in the pipes, or a blocked plumbing vent (often located on the roof). These vents are essential for balancing air pressure and allowing water to flow freely through your drain lines.

In some cases, improper pipe installation or older, undersized plumbing systems may also contribute to poor drainage and gurgling noises.

To prevent further damage or backups, it’s important to have a professional plumber inspect the issue. At A&G Plumbing and Drain, we serve Metro Atlanta, Marietta, and surrounding areas with expert drain diagnostics and safe cleaning solutions to restore quiet, efficient flow to your plumbing system.

While chemical drain cleaners may offer a quick fix for minor clogs, they are generally not a safe or long-term solution for your plumbing system. Most commercial drain cleaners contain harsh acids or caustic substances that can corrode your pipes over time—especially if used frequently or in older homes with metal or PVC piping.

These chemicals can also pose health and safety risks. Fumes can irritate your eyes, lungs, and skin, and if mishandled, they can cause serious injury. Drain cleaners are also harmful to septic systems and the environment when washed into the water supply.

Better alternatives include mechanical methods like plungers or drain snakes, which clear clogs without damaging your plumbing. A natural home remedy—pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain followed by hot water—can also help loosen minor buildup safely.

For recurring or stubborn clogs, professional drain cleaning is the safest and most effective choice. At A&G Plumbing and Drain, we offer safe, non-corrosive methods to clear your drains quickly without harming your pipes or your home.

Preventing drain clogs in your home starts with everyday habits and regular maintenance. Clogs form when debris, grease, or buildup restricts water flow over time. Following a few simple tips can keep your drains running freely and avoid the need for emergency service.

1. Don’t pour grease or oil down the drain: Grease solidifies as it cools, sticking to pipe walls and trapping other debris. Instead, pour it into a container and dispose of it in the trash.

2. Use drain strainers: Install mesh strainers or hair catchers in kitchen sinks, tubs, and showers. These inexpensive tools trap food particles, hair, and soap scum before they enter your plumbing system.

3. Run hot water after use: After using the kitchen sink, run hot water for 15–30 seconds to help flush away any residual grease or food waste that could cause buildup.

4. Avoid flushing non-flushable items: Only flush toilet paper. Items like wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs, and hygiene products can easily clog your sewer line.

5. Clean drains regularly: Once a month, flush your drains with a mixture of hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. This natural solution helps break down buildup without damaging your pipes.

For stubborn or recurring clogs, A&G Plumbing and Drain offers professional drain cleaning services across Metro Atlanta, Marietta, and surrounding areas.