Clogged Drain Cleaning in Washington

Drains clog for different reasons in different parts of Washington. Cast iron and clay lines under big trees are the issue in older neighborhoods, grease and wipes in newer subdivisions, and septic tanks in much of the countryside. Find your city or the closest one below. Each city page has a rough cost range, a look at what local soil and trees do to drains, and one number that connects you with a local plumber.

In Washington, the side sewer that runs from the house to the street is usually the owner's to maintain, and in older homes it is often clay pipe. Douglas fir, cedar and bigleaf maple roots grow into its joints, helped by a long wet season west of the Cascades. Moss and needles wash into yard drains and downspout lines. East of the mountains, water is harder and winters are colder, and many rural homes on both sides use septic systems.

• Older clay side sewers
• Roots from Douglas firs, cedars and bigleaf maples
• A long wet season west of the Cascades
• Moss and needles in yard drains and downspout lines
• Colder winters and harder water east of the mountains

Ask how much of the side sewer is your responsibility and whether the camera shows roots on the private section or near the street.

• Kitchen sink. Cooking grease and oil that cool and harden on the pipe wall, plus food scraps, coffee grounds and soap scum that stick to it. A garbage disposal sends more solids down, not fewer.
• Bathroom sink. Hair mixed with soap, toothpaste and shaving residue, caught on the pop-up stopper or in the trap. Small items dropped down the drain add to it.
• Tub or shower. Hair is the main cause, bound together with soap scum and conditioner. Older tubs with a trip lever drain collect it in the overflow and the drum trap.
• Toilet. Too much paper at once, wipes labeled flushable, paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss and toys. Low-flow toilets from before about 2005 clog more often.
• Floor or laundry drain. Lint from the washing machine, sand and grit, soap, and in basements the silt that washes in. A dry trap lets sewer gas up as well.
• Main sewer line. Tree roots coming in at joints in clay and cast iron pipe, grease built up from years of kitchen use, wipes, and pipe that has sagged or cracked.
• Outdoor or yard drain. Leaves, dirt, sand and roots in yard drains, area drains, driveway trench drains and the pipes that carry downspout water away.