When a clogged drain is an emergency
Most slow drains can wait a day. Some cannot, and the difference is whether water has anywhere left to go.
Treat it as an emergency and call right away if you see any of these signs:
- Sewage or gray water coming up in a tub, shower or floor drain
- Two or more fixtures clogged at once, such as a toilet and the shower together
- Gurgling from a toilet when the washer drains
- Water pooling near the cleanout or a wet spot in the yard over the sewer line
Steps to take while you wait for us
Stop using every sink, toilet, shower and appliance that drains. Each flush or load of laundry adds gallons to a line that is already full, and the water will find the lowest opening in the house.
If water is rising, find the main water shutoff and turn it clockwise until it stops. Keep people away from floor drains and basement bathrooms until the line is clear, because sewer backups carry bacteria.
Drain backing up at 11 p.m.?
Our line is answered 24/7. Call and we will start sorting out a same-day visit.
How we clear a clogged drain
The method depends on where the blockage sits. A sink trap and a 4-inch main line need very different tools.
- 1
Find the blockage
We ask which fixtures are slow, then test them. One slow sink points to a branch line, and several point to the main.
- 2
Choose the tool
A hand auger handles a tub or sink. A powered cable reaches 50 to 100 feet into a main line.
- 3
Clear and flush
We run the cable until the line moves freely, then flush it with water to confirm it drains.
- 4
Look for the cause
If grease, roots or a broken pipe caused it, we say so and explain your options before any extra work.
Large buildups of grease or mineral scale sometimes need more than a cable. In those cases we may recommend hydro jetting, which uses high-pressure water to scrub the pipe wall.
Why drains clog in Midvale homes
Four causes account for most of the calls we hear.
Grease and food in kitchen lines
Cooking fat cools inside the pipe and narrows it a little more with every wash. A 1.5-inch kitchen drain can close up in a year or two.
Hair and soap in bathrooms
Hair knots around soap scum in tub and shower traps. It starts as a slow drain and ends as standing water.
Roots in older lateral lines
Homes near Old Town sit on some of the oldest streets in the city, and older drain pipe has more joints for roots to enter. A camera shows what your line is made of.
Wipes and paper products
Flushable wipes do not break down like toilet paper. They collect at bends and catch everything behind them.
Chemical cleaner or a licensed plumber?
Store-bought cleaner is tempting at midnight. Here is how it compares for a full drain.
Chemical cleaner
- Works only on thin, partial clogs
- Can sit in a full drain and burn skin
- Does not remove roots or solid objects
- Can damage older pipe over time
Licensed plumber
- Clears full blockages with a cable or jetter
- Uses a camera when the cause is unclear
- Finds roots, breaks and belly sections
- Gives a clear price before work starts
Who owns the pipe that is backing up?
In Midvale, the pipe that runs from your house to the street main is usually the owner's responsibility. The city says lateral maintenance and ownership typically falls to the property owner, not the municipality.
Four sewer districts serve Midvale: Midvale City, Cottonwood Improvement District, Midvalley Improvement District and Sandy Suburban Improvement District. If the blockage is out in the street main, we can tell you which one to call.
What affects the cost of drain cleaning
We never quote a flat number without seeing the problem. These are the factors that move the price.
Insurance usually covers sudden water damage but often excludes slow clogs and maintenance, so check your policy and keep photos if water reached your floors.
Related drain and sewer services
If a cable clears the clog but it returns within weeks, a sewer inspection with a camera can show whether roots or a sagging section is the real problem. A repeat clog in the main line is also a good reason to ask about sewer line cleaning.
If the camera finds a cracked or collapsed pipe, cleaning will not hold. That is when sewer line repair becomes the better plan, and we will explain the choice before you decide.
Where this guidance comes from
Drain work follows the International Plumbing Code (IPC), which sets pipe sizes and venting. Utah licensing guidelines apply to anyone who opens a sewer line for pay.
Drain cleaning questions from Midvale homeowners
Yes. Our line is answered 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. We book same-day appointments when available, and we give you a clear price before work starts.
Run water in the fixture farthest from the main drain. If only one fixture is slow, the clog is probably in that branch. If a tub gurgles when you flush a toilet, or several drains back up together, the main line is the likely culprit.
We recommend against it. If the drain is full, the cleaner sits there and can splash back on skin when we open the line. Plain hot water and patience are safer.
Policies differ. Many cover sudden water damage but not routine clogs. Take photos of any damage and read your policy or ask your agent.
A sink or tub usually takes under an hour, and a main line can take longer if roots or a camera check are involved. We will give you a time estimate once we see the problem.
Yes. We work on homes, apartments and small commercial buildings in Midvale. See our commercial plumbing page for after-hours business calls.