Why Does My Drain Keep Clogging?

Clearing a clog once is a nuisance. Clearing the same one every few weeks is a sign that the real cause hasn't been dealt with. Either something keeps going down the drain that shouldn't, or the pipe itself has a problem that keeps catching debris.

Here's how to tell what's going on, what usually causes repeat clogs, and how to choose between snaking, hydro jetting and a camera inspection.

Start with one question: one drain or several?

Where the clog shows up tells you a lot about where the problem is.

• One fixture is slow or clogged (a single sink, tub or toilet). The blockage is usually close to that fixture, in its trap or the branch line it drains into.
• Several fixtures act up at once. If the lowest drains in the house, often a tub or shower, back up when you flush a toilet or run the washing machine, or toilets gurgle when other drains run, the problem is likely in the main sewer line.

A main line clog is not a plunger job. Stop running water in the house and get it looked at, because the next load of laundry can end up on your bathroom floor.

Common causes of repeat clogs

Grease and food in kitchen drains

Cooking fats, oils and grease go down the drain as a liquid, then cool and harden on the inside of the pipe. Food scraps, coffee grounds, rice and pasta stick to that coating, and the opening gets smaller every week. A garbage disposal grinds food, but it doesn't make grease safe to pour down the sink. Running hot water after grease only carries it farther down the line, where it cools and sets anyway.

Hair and soap in bathroom drains

Hair binds with soap scum, toothpaste and other products to form a tough mat just below the drain. A simple drain strainer catches most of it before it becomes a problem.

Things that shouldn't be flushed

Toilets are designed for waste and toilet paper. Wipes, including many labeled "flushable," don't break apart the way toilet paper does. Paper towels, feminine products, cotton swabs and dental floss are common culprits too. They snag in the line and build up over time.

Tree roots in the sewer line

Roots look for water, and a tiny crack or loose joint in an older sewer line is an open invitation. Once inside, roots grow into a net that catches paper and waste. South Florida's year-round growing season and the large shade trees in many yards make this a familiar problem in older neighborhoods. Clearing the roots restores flow, but they can grow back until the entry point is repaired.

A sagging or "bellied" pipe

If part of the sewer line has settled, it forms a low spot where water and solids sit instead of flowing out. The clog keeps coming back in the same place because the pipe's shape is the problem.

Old cast iron drain pipes

Many older homes in Broward and Miami-Dade have cast iron drain lines. Over decades, the inside of cast iron corrodes and builds up rough scale. That narrows the pipe and gives debris something to hang on to. Eventually the pipe can crack.

Slope or venting problems

Less often, a drain that was installed with too little slope or poor venting, sometimes during an old remodel, drains slowly and clogs more than it should.

When snaking is enough

A drain snake, also called a cable machine or auger, feeds a rotating cable into the pipe to break through or pull out the blockage. It's often the right fix for:

• A single fixture clogged with hair, a small object or too much paper
• A toilet clog
• A first-time clog with an obvious cause

The limitation is that a cable opens a path through the clog but doesn't clean the pipe walls. If grease, scale or roots are lining the pipe, a snake gets things moving again for now, and the clog often returns. Our drain cleaning service starts with finding out which kind of clog you have.

When hydro jetting makes sense

Hydro jetting sends water at high pressure through a specialized nozzle that scours the full inside surface of the pipe and flushes the debris away. It's a good fit for:

• Grease buildup in kitchen lines
• Roots growing into the sewer line
• Scale and sludge in older drain lines
• Main line clogs that keep coming back after snaking

Jetting isn't right for every pipe. A line that's badly corroded, cracked or broken should be checked with a camera first, so the cleaning doesn't make a weak spot worse. You can read more about how high-pressure jetting works on our service page.

When a camera inspection makes sense

If the same line clogs more than once in a short time, it's time to look inside instead of guessing. A camera inspection is worth it when:

• The main line has backed up more than once
• You suspect roots, a belly or a broken section
• The home is older and has cast iron or clay drain lines
• Jetting is being considered for an old pipe
• You're buying a home and want to know the condition of the sewer line

A waterproof camera on a flexible cable shows exactly what's in the pipe and where. A locator lets the plumber mark the spot and its depth from above ground. With that video, you can decide between regular cleaning, a spot repair, relining or replacement based on what's actually there. Learn more about our sewer camera inspections.

What to avoid

• Chemical drain cleaners. They can be hard on older pipes, often don't clear the blockage completely, and leave caustic water sitting in the drain for whoever has to open it next.
• Plunging a toilet that's backing up into the tub. That's a sign of a main line problem, and plunging just pushes water to the lowest drain.
• Waiting it out. A slow drain rarely gets better by itself.

Habits that help

• Pour grease into a can or container and put it in the trash once it cools.
• Use strainers in kitchen sinks, tubs and showers.
• Flush only toilet paper.
• Know where your outdoor sewer cleanout is, so a plumber can reach the main line quickly.
• If roots are a repeat problem, ask about a maintenance cleaning schedule or a permanent repair at the entry point.

Stop clearing the same clog

If a drain in your home keeps clogging, call Father & Son Plumbing at (786) 922-5974. We're a family-owned, licensed and insured plumbing company (Florida license CFC1433358) with bases in Hallandale Beach and Aventura, and we'll find out why it keeps happening instead of just clearing it again. We're open Monday through Friday and Sunday, 8 AM to 5 PM (closed Saturday), with same-day appointments when the schedule allows. The $49 service call is waived when you go ahead with the repair, and you'll get a written price before any work starts.