Drain Cleaning & Unblocking

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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Flushing food down the toilet. We’ve all done it, yet we all know better.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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
10. 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.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Feminine hygiene products, dental floss, Q-Tips, and wrappers do not belong in the toilet.
7. “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!
8. 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.
9. Don’t wash coffee grinds down the sink.
10. 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.
11. 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!
12. 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.
13. Keep John The Plumber in mind when you need a reliable plumber who will do the job correctly.

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: