Published: January 15, 2024 | Reading time: 8 minutes
There is no single schedule that fits every house. A newer home with PVC drains and no history of clogs may never need scheduled cleaning, while an older Lawrenceville house with a clay sewer line and a big oak in the front yard might need attention every year or two. What matters is your pipe, your habits and what your drains have been telling you.
What Decides How Often
Age and material of the sewer line
Homes built before roughly the 1980s often have clay or cast iron lines, and in some older houses other materials. Joints in those pipes can shift or open up over time. Newer houses are more likely to have PVC, which has fewer joints and is harder for roots to enter. If you do not know what you have, a plumber with a camera can show you.
Trees
Roots seek out water and find the joints in older sewer pipes. Established neighborhoods in Lawrenceville, Lilburn and Snellville with mature hardwoods near the sewer line are the likeliest to see root blockages. Georgia red clay also swells and shrinks with the weather, and that movement can pull a joint slightly out of line.
Your kitchen
Grease, food scraps and coffee grounds are the most common cause of kitchen line blockages. If you cook often with fats and oils and your kitchen sink is the one that slows first, that line is the candidate for periodic cleaning, not the whole house.
Slab or crawl space
On a slab, the drain lines run under the concrete, so a bad blockage or a break is harder and more disruptive to reach. That is a good reason to take slow drains seriously early. With a crawl space or basement you can often see more of the piping.
How many people live there
More people means more laundry, more showers and more load on the lines. A big household with older pipe is a bigger risk than a couple in a newer house.
A Practical Schedule
This is a rule of thumb, not a promise. Ask your plumber what they see in your pipes.
- Newer home, no history of slow drains: nothing scheduled. Clean when a drain slows.
- Older home or mature trees on the lot: consider a camera inspection of the main line every few years, and clearing or jetting when the camera shows buildup or roots.
- Past root or grease blockage: ask the plumber how soon it is likely to return, and set a reminder. Many people repeat the cleaning on a regular schedule after a camera shows roots.
- Heavy kitchen use: a kitchen line cleaning if the sink gets slow again after a few months.
Signs You Waited Too Long
Do not wait for a schedule if you see any of these:
- Slow drains in the tub, shower or sink
- Gurgling from drains or the toilet when another fixture is used
- A clog that comes back soon after you clear it
- A sewage smell near a drain or in the yard
- Water backing up in one fixture when another is used, such as the tub when the washer drains
- Several drains blocked at once, or water at a floor drain
Several fixtures acting up together points to the main line. If sewage is coming up, treat it as an emergency and see our guide on what to do if your sewer backs up.
Snaking or Jetting
A drain snake (auger) is a rotating cable that breaks through a blockage. It is quick and well suited to a single stuck clog, but it can leave a coating of residue on the pipe wall.
Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the full inside of the pipe, taking out grease, scale and many roots. It is better for buildup and recurring problems, but not for every pipe. A camera inspection first is wise on very old or fragile lines, because a cracked or collapsed pipe is not something cleaning will solve.
Ask the plumber which method they are proposing and why. More on hydro jetting and drain cleaning.
What to Ask Before You Schedule
- What will you use on this line, and why?
- Will you run a camera, and can I see the footage?
- What did you find in the pipe, and how likely is it to return?
- What does the price include, and could it change once you open the line? Ask for the price before work starts.
We do not set prices. The plumber does. That is the right moment to ask anything you are unsure about.
Calling
For slow drains or a repeated clog, call (770) 285-5619. The line is answered 24/7, and we connect you with an independent local plumber who handles drain cleaning. This site is a referral service, and the plumber does the work. See also how to unclog a drain fast for things to try first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I have my drains professionally cleaned?
There is no one schedule. A newer home with no clog history may not need any scheduled cleaning. An older home with a clay or cast iron sewer line, or mature trees near the line, may benefit from a camera check every few years and cleaning when buildup or roots show up.
What is the difference between hydro jetting and snaking?
A snake is a rotating cable that breaks through a clog and suits a single blockage. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the whole pipe wall, which suits grease, scale, roots and recurring buildup. A camera check first is wise on very old pipe.
Will professional drain cleaning damage my pipes?
Done properly, it should not, but fragile or damaged pipe needs a gentler approach. Ask the plumber what they plan to use and why, and ask for a camera look first if your line is old.
Is preventive drain cleaning worth it?
It depends on the home. For an older line with roots or a kitchen that sees heavy grease, it can head off a backup. For a newer home with no history of problems, it often is not needed.
What should I ask the plumber before they start?
Ask what method they will use, whether they will run a camera, what the price covers, and whether it could change once the line is open. Ask for the price before work begins.