If there is gurgling in the toilet when the washing machine is draining water or the shower is blocked when someone uses the toilet, then this is probably not the immediate fixture causing the problem but the main drain line, which is responsible for carrying all the gallons of waste water from your California home to the municipal sewer system. The experts at California Drain Experts clear the main line drain from the cleanout, not from the sink traps, meaning that the obstruction is being cleared in its actual location.
The company provides main drain cleaning services throughout California, in cities such as Los Angeles (90012), Long Beach (90802), San Jose (95112), Fresno (93721) and Riverside (92501). There is always upfront pricing, same day service and post-cleaning inspection with our video camera for your peace of mind. Call now for a free quotation.
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Main lines in California can consist of just about anything. Your 1940s Craftsman in Pasadena (91101) may very well have a vitrified clay system with joint connections every few feet. Your 1960s tract home in the San Fernando Valley probably has cast iron beneath the slab connecting with clay on the outside. In newer construction in Irvine (92618) and Roseville (95678), you’ll find ABS or PVC systems. They fail in different ways, and a main line cleaned with the wrong type of cable head and/or pressure can back up again within weeks.
Our technicians start by locating your cleanout, usually situated in the front yard, along the side of your driveway, or at the corner of your house next to your main bathroom. Then we insert the appropriate cable size for your line, clear out any roots or other obstruction, and run a camera through to check on proper flow. We give you an understandable report of our findings.
The major blockages in California generally occur at one of three sources; root growth into clay pipe joints, grease build-up from kitchens over many years finally getting to the outside line, and offset pipe joints due to movement in the soil catching paper and wipes.
Main line work consists of access and verification. We have to get into the line, clean it out completely, and verify its cleanliness before we move on.
We locate your cleanout opening, open it cautiously in case water is trapped behind it, and find out if there’s a problem above the cleanout towards the house or below it towards the street.
Our cleaning crew uses a sectional cable machine designed for the 3 to 4 inch main lines, along with cutting heads to clear roots and spearheads to clear paper or debris from your lines.
When the video reveals any grease, scale or root hair build-up inside your pipes, we do hydro jetting to restore your line to full diameter instead of a restricted passageway.
We insert the video camera into your cleaned line, present you the video, and identify any belly, offset joints or cracks that might be the source of your next stoppage.
A backed-up main line causes an effect on all fixtures in the home and the next time you flush, the waste can come through the floor drain or bathtub drain. Turn off the water supply and give us a call at California Drain Experts. We’ll open your line up from the clean-out.
It’s not the same process to clear a main line than to unclog a drain. It requires bigger tools, knowledge of the piping in California houses and the use of a camera to verify the results. This is our standard of work for every call to service for a main line blockage.
We bring with us sectional machines capable of clearing 3 and 4 inches pipes, root cutters and hydro jetters, so we don't have to clear your main line with a portable drum machine.
A lot of California houses have underground or painted out, or simply don't have cleanouts. We find them, open them properly, and can even recommend you the installation of a cleanout in your house.
At the end of every main drain cleaning service we pass a camera to your pipe.
Here are the common issues that we solve for homeowners in California, and how each can be solved.
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The roots of ficus, jacaranda, eucalyptus and sycamore trees infiltrate the joints in aged clay lines and form dense masses. We cut them down to the pipe wall and suggest a maintenance schedule based on our observations.
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If your tub gets filled up with water when flushing the toilet, or the laundry drains into the floor drain, then the main sewer line gets restricted. We clean it from the cleanout to prevent the clog from being pushed down further.
3
Grease that enters the sewer pipes from the kitchen cools and solidifies during its journey. When it reaches the main line it becomes a ring that traps everything else. We remove it by combining cabling with jetting.
4
Movement of the soil in many areas of California misaligns the joints in sewer lines. These ledges trap wipes and paper towels and cause repeated clogs until the joints are fixed.
5
Sections of pipes that have settled become filled with standing water and debris. We clean them and use a camera to determine the depth of the belly for you to decide if repair is needed.
California Drain Experts will give you drain cleaning services for all California inhabitants or businessmen who have issues related to their drains like clogged drains or slow draining. We employ modern techniques to identify the issue and clean your drain systems completely. If you have any issue related to your drain systems, then we can help you.
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Professional drain cleaning that California residents rely on for removing grease, hair, sludge and any other buildup from sink, shower, tub, and underground drains. Prevents buildup, bad odor, and drain problems at your home or business location.
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Main Line Drain Cleaning cleans out the main line drain which is used by everyone’s waste water. If there is more than one drain which starts blocking at the same time, then this is the type of cleaning which must be done.
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In case a backup happens on an occasion that is least expected, you can trust our emergency drain cleaning services to arrive equipped with industrial equipment to clear the blockage.
Grease, hair, and soap accumulate in kitchen, bathroom, shower, and washing machine drains gradually. The right method of unclogging a drain is cleaning the accumulated substances.
The high-pressure water cleans the inside walls of the pipe, which cannot be cleaned using the process of snaking.
Your main sewer line will be cleaned and maintained using our HD Camera Technology, allowing us to actually see the problem rather than guess what it is.
Keep storm drains, yard drains and catch basins free of leaves, sediment and other debris to prevent flooding during winter storms.
Remove clear grease, fat, oil, and food deposits from your body. Rid yourself of smells and clogs through proper cleansing.
The most frequent service offered by our company is Septic Tank Cleaning. Have your septic system cleaned!
Damaged, cracked, leaking or collapsed drain pipes are repaired to bring back proper wastewater flow. We have trenchless methods for protecting your landscaping.
The snake and cable can penetrate clogs made up of grease, hair, and other substances. We use our tools to unclog pipes without destroying them.
When it comes to sewage backups, we get there quickly and remove any blockages in order to help prevent odors and property damage.
We clean out sediment, roots, and dirt from your french drain to increase water flow to prevent standing water.
A sewer camera inspection allows us to identify everything that is going on inside your pipes, including clogs, cracks, and roots, allowing us to pinpoint where there is an issue prior to recommending expensive repair.
We remove dirt, sediment, roots and debris from french drains that restrict water flow. Regular maintenance prevents standing water near your foundation.
Main drain cleaning is our expertise when it comes to homes and rental units in Southern California, the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Inland Empire areas. Main line cleaning is done most often in areas where there are mature trees in the streets and clay lateral pipes, such as in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and Sacramento. Service areas include:
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Our customers value our quick service and effective drain cleaning.
The kitchen sink was taking ages to drain for several weeks and then finally just stopped working on a Sunday. They came the same day, cleaned the drain and played us the footage of the camera inspection. Great price and really neat work.
J
John D.
Homeowner, Sacramento
We had sewer backup problems in our shower. They discovered roots in our sewer main line and got them out right away that day. They explained everything in a way that was so simple to understand.
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Sarah L.
Homeowner, San Diego
I own a restaurant, and our floor drains were taking forever to drain during the dinner rush times. They came when the business closed and jetted our lines. No more sewer backups!
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Mike R.
Restaurant Owner, Los Angeles
I made the call at 11 PM with regards to my clogged toilet. The crew showed up within an hour. Super professional and courteous, definitely worth their price!
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Emily T.
Homeowner, San Jose
We purchased a new home and needed information on the condition of the sewer line. After running the camera inside we were told that there was a crack, and they explained to us how we should address it
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David K.
Home Buyer, Oakland
The bathroom drain was getting clogged every couple of months. They told me that there were mineral deposits in the pipes, hydro jetted it and everything has been okay ever since.
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Laura S.
Homeowner, Riverside
The main line problems in California depend on the age of the community. Homes that were built before 1970 have either clay or cast iron pipes which are usually affected by tree roots and corrosion, while modern communities are affected by wipes and grease.
In the City of Los Angeles, Long Beach and older sections of Orange County, many mains are clay pipe with mortar joints. Root intrusion from large trees along streets is the number one reason for main line stoppages that we clean out.
Many older houses in San Francisco, Oakland, or Berkeley may contain cast iron or clay pipes with very little clearance, sometimes requiring access to go through a basement or a clean-out near the property line. We have the right-sized cable for this tight space.
Hard water scale and grease are typical main line problems in Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield. The coat that is left behind after cabling is cleaned using jetting.
The homeowner takes care of the sewer lateral from the house to the city main in the majority of cities in California. Maintaining it free and clear ensures that you are not charged for any backups that will occur.
Severe weather conditions during the months of November to March force water into broken mains and cause the pipes that are partially clogged to be flooded with water.
Many Californian residential areas have been constructed with clay and cast iron pipes that have been in operation for 50 to 80 years and need to be cleaned regularly.
The problems occur within the home, but the reason is below ground. Here are some of the major line services we provide in California.
A family in a 1950’s house in Long Beach had their bathtub filled with dirty water whenever the washer was draining. The main line was almost completely blocked up with roots at two clay joints.
The main was cabled with a root cutting head out of the front yard clean out and then jetted. The camera showed that there was good flow from the house to the street connection.
Regular root cutting after every 12 to 18 months is advised for this line along with camera inspection to monitor the two joints.
One homeowner in Sacramento had slow drain pipes in the entire home and a bathroom toilet that made a gurgling sound when the kitchen sink was running. There was no cleanout available.
The buried line was found and opened temporarily via the roof vent before installing an official two-way cleanout for easier future cleaning access from the yard.
Because of the installation of the new cleanout, regular maintenance of the main line has become easier and more cost-effective.
A duplex rental in Riverside had frequent clogs occurring about every two months due to wipes getting caught on an offset joint in the main line.
The line was cleared out, jetted, and using the camera the offset was located 38 feet from the clean out, so that the owner could have an accurate quote on repairs.
The tenants were provided with a simple flushing guide, and the owner scheduled a spot repair at the offset.
The main factors that influence drain cleaning cost in California are whether you can get access to the clean out, the distance where the clog is located, and if rooters or grease needs jetting.
| Service | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Main line cabling from existing cleanout | $225 to $450 |
| Main line clearing through roof vent or toilet pull | $350 to $650 |
| Root cutting in main sewer line | $300 to $600 |
| Main line hydro jetting | $450 to $900+ |
| Camera inspection after clearing | $150 to $300 |
| Cleanout installation (if none exists) | $650 to $1,800 |
| After-hours or weekend service | Standard rate + $75 to $150 |
Most California main drain calls fall into one of these ranges:
Main Drain Cleaning Long Beach, CA
90802
Main Drain Cleaning Torrance, CA
90503
Main Drain Cleaning Fullerton, CA
92832
Main Drain Cleaning Hayward, CA
94541
Main Drain Cleaning Elk Grove, CA
95624
Here are answers to common questions about main drain cleaning in California.
This can be seen when more than one pipe is clogged simultaneously, especially on the ground level. When your toilet makes noises while the washing machine is draining, your tub fills with water while flushing the toilet, or the floor drain starts to overflow, it means that the problem is caused by the main pipe being clogged.
Most main line clearing in California costs between $225 and $650 when there is a usable cleanout. Jobs that require hydro jetting or removing the toilet for access usually run $450 to $1,000 or more. We always give a price before starting.
In most California homes the cleanout is a capped pipe in the front yard, near the driveway, or along the foundation close to the main bathroom. In older homes it may be buried or missing, and we can locate it or install a new one.
Lines with no root or grease problems may never need routine cleaning. Older clay mains with known root intrusion usually benefit from cleaning every 12 to 24 months. A camera inspection tells us which group your home is in.
Rental machines can open small clogs, but they often punch a hole through roots or grease without clearing the pipe, and an inexperienced user can get a cable stuck or damage an old clay line. If more than one fixture is backing up, a professional main drain cleaning is the safer choice.
Call on California Drain Experts when you need help with your main drain that is clogged or backing up. Our team will clean your main drain lines for residential homes, rental property, and small business in California using a camera inspection to verify our work.
A free-flowing main line ensures all the drains in the building will be functioning well.
Regarding any questions you may have regarding our drain cleaning services, pricing, areas we cover and scheduling.
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