As a homeowner, you probably know your way around a plunger, plumber’s snake, and liquid drain cleaners to deal with a clogged sink or toilet. Those a common and relatively simple repairs and seldom need the expertise of a licensed plumber. However, if you find yourself plunging your toilets and sinks more frequently, you may have a blocked main sewer line. Simply put, the main line is the line that runs beneath your yard and carries wastewater from your house, and dumps it into your septic tank or the municipal sewer system. A blocked main line is a major plumbing problem and not a job for even the most skilled DIYer to attempt. Listed below are some indicators that you may have a clogged main line. If you experience any of these, contact Atlas Butler Plumbing at 614-681-2183, ASAP!

Gurgling. If you hear gurgling from your sink or toilet, that’s a sign that something is amiss with your main line. As clogs build within the line, as the water is trying to drain, it can cause bubbling or gurgling sounds.

Drains run slowly. Oftentimes, your drain may run slowly because of a small clog such as hair in the bathtub, and are easy to remove. However, if several of the drains in your home are running slowly, that’s a symptom of a clogged main line.

Foul odor. If your drains smell bad and you haven’t put anything particularly odorous down the sink or garbage disposal, that could signal a clogged main line.

The primary causes of a clogged main sewer line are flushing inappropriate items down the toilet (e.g., feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers), tree root infiltration, and age and conditions of the pipes. The plumber will repair your clogged main line by locating the clog and determining what caused it. They will use rooters, hydro-jetting, and even commercial-grade chemicals to dislodge the clog. In cases where tree roots have grown into the pipes, it may be necessary to excavate your yard to repair the pipes and if necessary, remove the tree.

If you suspect you may have a clogged main sewer line, get in touch with Atlas Butler Plumbing right away at 614-681-2183. The longer you wait, the worse the clog will get, and the more expensive it can be to repair. Our phones are answered 24/7 and in most cases, we can come to your home the same day you call. There are never extra charges for after-hours or overtime calls.

High-Pressure Drain Cleaning

If are frustrated with chronically clogged drains and backups, consider high-pressure drain cleaning. Also known as hydro-jetting, this method of drain cleaning forces a stream of high-pressure water through the pipes to break up clogs and improve water flow. This is really something that you shouldn’t DIY, as if you’re not experienced, things could easily get out of hand, and you’ll end up with more problems than just slow drains. The plumbers at Atlas Butler are experienced in high-pressure drain cleaning and can use this clog-busting technology to force debris through your pipes and discharge it into the sewer system.

High-pressure drain cleaning can get rid of most clogs, including grease, hair, coffee grounds, and even small tree roots. In cases where larger tree roots are a problem, your Atlas Butler technician will recommend the best remedy for removing them. Often, what you put down the sink isn’t even the problem. In areas with hard water, calcium and other mineral deposits build up inside the pipes, which blocks pipes. Hydro-jetting can clean those away as well.

High-pressure drain cleaning has other benefits including economy; it’s more cost-effective than other popular methods of eliminating clogs because it doesn’t require special equipment (like drilling) or chemicals. That said, the absence of harsh chemicals makes hydro-jetting an environmentally friendly practice.  It’s also a speedy process and eliminates any foul odors coming from your drains or in your basement.

If you think high-pressure drain cleaning is a solution to your backed-up sewer lines or clogged sinks, or slow drains, call Atlas Butler at 614-681-2183. Our phone is answered 24/7 by a live person and in most cases, you can get a same-day appointment.

You flip on the water and the disposal after cleaning dinner dishes, and the water doesn’t drain. The water mixed with the scraps from dinner circle the drain while your disposal hums. You probably have a clog that needs to be cleared. The main culprit of a clogged kitchen sink is a backed-up garbage disposal, which can happen when you put things down the drain that collect in the pipe.  Kitchen disposals are designed to chop up food refuse and send them down the main drain, but there are some foods and particles that can collect and create a backup. There are many preventive steps you can take to avoid these problems, which starts with knowing what NOT to put down your kitchen drain.

The worst items to put down your garbage disposal are greases and fats, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps and eggshells. Other no-nos include pasta and rice, which when combined with water, can stick together and create a mess. A good rule of thumb, or hand, is … if the scraps are bigger than your fist, then don’t put them down the disposal. And don’t forget to run lots and lots of water.

If you have a clogged sink or backed-up garbage disposal, call Atlas Butler Plumbing at 614-681-2183 to schedule an appointment. Our experienced plumbing techs will inspect the drain and find the quickest solution to open your drain. The pros at Atlas Butler Plumbing are available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies in your home.