Clogged drains are the most common plumbing problem in any house, and Erie's older homes have more than their share. When drain pipes are as old as most of the city's housing (the median Erie home was built in 1949), the inside of the pipe is often rough with scale and rust, which catches grease and hair and closes up faster than new pipe.
Common drain problems in Erie homes
Kitchen sink.
Grease, food scraps and soap build up in the trap and the line to the main stack.
Bathroom sink and tub.
Hair and soap scum, often in the stopper or the trap.
Toilet.
Too much paper, wipes or a small object stuck in the trap.
Basement floor drain.
In older homes the floor drain often ties into the main sewer line. If it backs up, the blockage may be further down, in the main line or the sewer lateral to the street.
Laundry drain.
Lint from washing machines builds up in standpipes and laundry tubs.
Signs the problem is bigger than one drain
One slow sink is usually a local clog. Call a plumber sooner if you see:
- More than one fixture draining slowly at the same time.
- Water coming up in the tub or floor drain when you flush a toilet or run the washer.
- Gurgling from drains when other fixtures are in use.
- A sewage smell in the basement.
- The same drain clogging again a few weeks after it was cleared.
These point to a blockage in the main drain or the sewer line, not just the fixture. See sewer line repair in Erie for what that involves.
What you can safely try first
- Use a plunger made for the fixture: a cup plunger for sinks and tubs, a flange plunger for toilets.
- Pull the stopper and clean out hair.
- For a sink, clean the trap under it. Put a bucket under it first.
Avoid chemical drain openers. They rarely clear a full blockage, they can damage old metal pipe and fittings, and they make the job dangerous for the plumber who comes next.
How a plumber clears a drain
A plumber usually starts with a drain snake, also called an auger, run through the fixture or a cleanout. For main lines, they use a larger powered machine with cutting heads that break up roots and buildup. Some use water jetting to scour the inside of a line, though this needs care in very old or fragile pipe.
If a line keeps clogging, ask for a camera inspection. A small camera on a cable shows the inside of the pipe, so you can see whether the cause is a belly, a crack, roots or a collapsed section, instead of paying to clear the same line again and again.
Keeping drains clear
- Pour cooking grease into a can and put it in the trash once it cools.
- Use a screen in tub and shower drains.
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes marked flushable still cause clogs.
- Run hot water after using the kitchen sink.
- Know where your main cleanout is, usually a capped pipe in the basement near where the main drain leaves the house.
What it costs
There is no published Erie price list for drain cleaning, and prices vary a lot by which line is blocked and how it is reached. A simple sink clog through an easy access point costs less than clearing a main line through a roof vent or a buried cleanout. Ask for the price before work starts, and ask whether a camera inspection is included or extra. More on pricing is in our Erie plumber cost guide.
Common questions
Why does my basement floor drain back up?
In many older Erie homes the floor drain connects to the main sewer line. When it backs up, the clog is usually in the main line or the sewer lateral, not the floor drain itself. A plumber should clear the main and check it with a camera.
Are chemical drain cleaners safe for old pipes?
They are best avoided. Old cast iron and galvanized steel are already worn inside, and harsh chemicals can speed that up. A plunger or a snake is safer.
How often should drains be cleaned?
Only when they need it. If the same drain clogs every few months, ask a plumber to find the cause with a camera rather than clearing it over and over.