Clogged drains are the everyday plumbing problem in every house. In Longview, where the median home was built in 1978, many drain lines have been working for over four decades. Add a wet climate with roots looking for moisture, and main line backups are a regular call here.
Where Longview drains clog
Kitchen sink.
Grease and food scraps cool and stick inside the pipe, then catch everything else.
Bathroom sink, tub and shower.
Hair and soap build up in the trap and stopper.
Toilet.
Too much paper, wipes or a small object lodged in the trap.
Laundry.
Lint packs into the standpipe.
Main line.
Roots, grease and sags in the line out to the street. Often shows first at an outdoor cleanout or the lowest tub in the house.
Signs it is the main line
A single slow sink is a local clog. Call a plumber if:
- Several fixtures drain slowly at once.
- Water comes up in the tub or shower when the toilet flushes or the washer drains.
- Drains gurgle when other fixtures run.
- The outdoor cleanout cap is wet or overflowing.
- Drains get worse every time it rains.
That last one matters in Longview, which gets about 48 inches of rain a year. A sewer line with cracks or loose joints can fill with groundwater and roots during wet spells. See sewer line repair in Longview.
What you can safely try
- A cup plunger for sinks and tubs, a flange plunger for toilets.
- Pull the stopper and clean out the hair.
- Take off the sink trap, with a bucket under it, and clear it by hand.
- Run very hot water down a kitchen drain that is just slow, not stopped.
Leave the chemical drain cleaners on the shelf. They rarely open a full clog, they can harm older pipe and plastic fittings, and they put the next person to open the line at risk.
How a plumber clears it
Most drains are cleared with a cable machine (a snake or auger) through the fixture or a cleanout. Main lines get a larger machine with cutting heads for roots. Water jetting, which scours the inside of the pipe with high pressure water, is another option for grease and roots in a sound line.
If the same line keeps clogging, ask for a camera inspection. It shows whether the cause is roots, a sag, a crack or a broken section, so you can fix the cause instead of paying for the same clear every few months.
Keeping drains clear
- Let grease cool in a can and throw it away.
- Put strainers in tubs and showers.
- Flush only toilet paper; flushable wipes still clog.
- Know where your outdoor cleanout is and keep the cap on and visible.
- If roots are a known problem, ask the plumber about how often to have the main checked.
What it costs
We have not found a published Longview price for drain cleaning. Price depends on which line is blocked and how it is reached. A sink cleared through the trap costs less than a main line cleared through a roof vent. Ask for the price first and whether a camera look is included. More in our Longview plumber cost guide.
Common questions
Why do my drains slow down after it rains?
A cracked or root-filled sewer line can let groundwater in during wet weather. With about 48 inches of rain a year in Longview, that is a common clue. A camera inspection will show it.
Where is my sewer cleanout?
In many homes it is a capped pipe sticking up from the ground near the house, often along the side closest to the street. Some homes have one inside as well.
Is jetting better than snaking?
Each has its place. A snake punches through a clog; jetting scours the pipe walls. Ask the plumber which suits your line and why.