Plumber Near You
Drain Cleaning and Clog Removal
Your drain system puts up with a lot of your waste. It deals with dirty sink water loaded with food particles and grease, toilet water loaded with toilet paper and sanitary products, and often much worse.
We take our drain systems for granted and don’t often give them much thought. But once in a while, they need a little love and care to keep functioning optimally. A professional drain cleaning service is just the ticket!
Call John The Plumber today for a professional drain cleaning at your convenience. We’re fast, effective, and we’ll be there when you need us.


Had them over twice just over a year ago. The first was for a drain issue in the basement. Then a month later to repair the drain and vent for our kitchen sink. They did an outstanding job both times. Very clean repair / installation and left no mess. He explained everything, he was very polite, professional, and a great service plumber.

Why Choose John The Plumber?
John The Plumber and his team of expert plumbers are among the best at what they do. If you’re dealing with slow drains or a complete drain blockage, we can help you no matter what it takes. We have special equipment to blast blockages out, augers to snake clogs, and the skills necessary to replace a section of pipe if the blocked drain has gotten out of hand.
What separates John The Plumber from competitors
We know that there are other talented plumbers near you, but our dedication to customer convenience and effective plumbing truly sets us apart. Our goals are to be the best, offer the best customer service, make effective use of time, and get the job done the first time.

I contacted John’s yesterday, they had a service person at my home this morning. He quickly diagnosed the problem and the toilet is now working perfectly. I can’t say enough I much I appreciated how great this company is at communicating with their customers and the speed of the service. Their prices are VERY competitive. I’ll be calling them the next time I have a problem in my home!

Can I ignore a slow drain?
Slow draining indicates a partial blockage. Something is caught somewhere in the pipes. While water may filter through it, more matter and debris will likely catch and collect until you have a complete blockage.
Once your drains are blocked completely, they will be harder to deal with and can be riskier to fix. Blocked drain pipes can back up into your home. Worse yet, they can burst.
Drain blockages that get this bad will likely require more time, equipment, and supplies to fix, which is why we advise you to clean your drains regularly and at the first sign of a problem. Good maintenance and fast action will save you money.
Common Causes of Drain Clogs
- Old galvanized or cast iron drains. Most Ottawa neighbourhoods have exceeded the expected lifetime of metal drainage. These pipes deteriorate from the inside. Causing the opening in the drain pipe to collect rust and buildup until the entire pipe is full of sediment and debris.
- Improper plumbing vents. The Ontario plumbing code was produced for a reason. Improperly vented plumbing fixtures will not drain properly. Have you ever placed your thumb over a straw, and pulled it out of a drink, only to find that the liquid was still in the straw? Once you removed your thumb, it drained out of the straw didn’t it? The drain waste and vent system in your home operates much the same way.
- Too much debris down the laundry tub drain. Are you guilty of taking your plumbing drainage system for granted? Have you ever pushed it when washing your dirty paint brushes, or cleaning your tools in your laundry tub? Just because it doesn’t look as fancy as the nice stainless steel sink in your kitchen, doesn’t mean the drain is capable of any extra wear and tear.
- Grease in your kitchen sink. My mother used to pour the bacon fat in a tin can, and then wipe out of the pan with a paper towel before rinsing it off in the sink. It turns out she had learned this lesson with a call to the plumber years earlier. Grease, even in small amounts will cause blocked drains over time. These are also one of the hardest types of blockages to clear.
- Hair in your shower or bathtub drain. These can be stubborn drains to clean. Often, a drain backup can be avoided by installing a hair strainer on your drain. You can purchase these at Home Depot, in the plumbing aisle, for less than $10.
- Flushing food down the toilet. We’ve all done it, yet we all know better.
- Tree roots. The big beautiful maple in your front yard is probably wreaking havoc on your drain services if your pipe is made from cast iron, concrete, clay, asbestos or other non plastic pipes. Roots from trees are in constant search for nutrients and your drain pipe is the fuel source it is seeking. Consider upgrading this drain to PVC before your basement fills with sewage.
- Toys in the toilet. Every week we get a call from a frustrated mother complaining about the fact that her toilet is probably plugged with a toy train, boat, ninja turtle etc.
- Sanitary napkins. These are the number one culprit for homes that have basement bathrooms connected to sewage pumps. Ottawa drain cleaning service calls can get costly if a tampon plugs up your pump as often times, this will burn out the pump, and cause a backed up drain
- Counter sloped piping. Sometimes plumbing systems will work correctly for years and years even when a section of the piping has been sloped the wrong way. Eventually though, these pipes will clog and you will definitely need a drain cleaning service, as well as a correction to the pipe.

He was timely, efficient, professional, and very helpful and friendly! We had a blocked drainage pipe and he took the time to explain what was happening and went through every option with us.

Can’t I just use Drano to unclog my drain?
The short answer is that plumbers always advise against it.
While these products can be useful, they’re designed to destroy any matter making up the clog. Chemical cleaners don’t know the difference between your piping and your drain blockage. For the most part, chemical drainers can be harmful to your plumbing system. Regular use of chemical drainers will undoubtedly shorten the lifespan of your plumbing system.
We have some inexpensive alternatives below, which are incredibly effective at cleaning drains while remaining safe on your plumbing system.

Tips to Avoid Clogged Drains
- Don’t treat your drains and toilet like a garbage can. As convenient as it may seem at the moment, sacrificing a morning or an afternoon for a plumber appointment is not.
- Clear plates into the garbage or compost properly before washing. Food matter and grease are some of the most common causes of clogs, especially in a kitchen.
- Pour grease into a disposable cup and allow it to harden, and dispose of it afterward in your garbage. If you don’t want to be wasteful, you can clear grease into any container and throw it into the trash after hardening.
- Use strainers in your drains. This applies to kitchen sinks, showers, bathtubs, and any other drain. Strainers are available in most hardware stores, and they’re cheap. Not only do they prevent clogs, but they save you from regularly having to pull hair-goop out of the shower drain.
- Educate children about what can and cannot go into the garbage. You’d be amazed at how many plumbing service calls are because of a toy being flushed.
- Feminine hygiene products, dental floss, Q-Tips, and wrappers do not belong in the toilet.
- “Flushable” wipes aren’t that flushable. As convenient as they are, they can cost you a plumber service fee. Consider purchasing a Bidet attachment instead!
- Regularly clean your drains with a combination of Baking Soda + Vinegar or Dish Soap + Hot Water. Cleaning your drains every month or two will likely prevent you from needing drain cleaning services.
- Don’t wash coffee grinds down the sink.
- Flush the sink drains with hot water after every use. Run it for long enough that you’re confident the matter has successfully washed through your system.
- Be mindful of what you’re washing in your utility sink. Cement, for example, is designed to harden. These can lead to some problematic clogs!
- Flush drains, don’t just turn the tap on. Use the stopper to fill some water and flush the drain with a half-sink full of water.
- Keep John The Plumber in mind when you need a reliable plumber who will do the job correctly.

Great service, clean work and well mannered plumber. I recently had issues with a blocked drain line which John the plumber came out and cleared. I was also able to book them for the same day so we were up and running right away! As far as plumber prices go they were good and fair. Will use again. Thanks!

9 Signs that Drain Cleaning is Needed
- Water is not draining.
- Water is draining slowly.
- Odours are coming out of the drains.
- Water backing up in lower drains.
- Frequent clogging.
- Fruit flies coming out of the drains.
- You require multiple flushes to clear a toilet.
- Unusual noises when using drains.
- You don’t remember the last time you cleaned your drains.

How We Can Help
When it comes to drain clogs and cleaning, John The Plumber can help in many ways. We come equipped to auger and snake drains, locate clogs with plumbing inspection cameras, blast drain clogs away with Hydrojet technology, and more.
But that’s not all! John The Plumber is the plumber to choose when you need:
DIY Drain Cleaning Tips and Tricks
- Plungers aren’t just for toilets. Plungers work great on sinks as well, and plungers designed specifically for sinks are available.
- If you try Snaking or using a Plumber’s Auger at home, be very careful. Snake’s are notorious for scratching toilet porcelain, leaving it damaged and ugly.
- Try Baking Soda + Vinegar. Place ½ cup of each in the sink and allow it to sit for around an hour. After the hour, boil a kettle of water and flush it down the drain. Running the hot water afterward is a good idea, too!
- Use Baking Soda + Vinegar to clean your drains every month or two. Good plumbing maintenance will often prevent your need for a plumber.
- Using a Wire Hanger as a makeshift Plumber’s Auger has worked for many people in the past.
- Remember that harsh chemical drain cleaners can do more harm than good.
- Don’t use a plunger if you have used chemicals in the drain or toilet. Many people get splash-back when they plunge.
