New Berlin, WI Drain Cleaning Near You

It depends on what's causing the backup. A grease clog cleared by augering will likely return if the pipe wall still carries a heavy grease coating - hydro jetting addresses that. A root intrusion will regrow unless the entry point is identified and addressed. Roto-Rooter uses camera inspection after clearing a recurring backup to find the underlying cause, so the recommended fix targets the source rather than just the symptom.

The clearest sign is multiple fixtures backing up at the same time. If the toilet gurgles when you run the bathroom sink, or water backs up into the tub when you flush, the blockage is almost certainly in the main line between your house and the street - not in any individual fixture drain. A single slow drain usually points to a localized clog; widespread backups point deeper.

A single slow drain that responds to a plunger is usually a minor blockage. Call a professional when the drain doesn't respond to basic clearing, when more than one fixture is slow at the same time, when you hear gurgling sounds from other drains, or when water backs up into a fixture you aren't using. These patterns suggest the blockage is deeper in the line and needs professional equipment to clear safely.

Cooking grease is the main culprit. It leaves the pan as a liquid but cools and solidifies on the pipe wall, narrowing the drain with each meal. Food solids and soap scum layer on top of that grease over time. A cable auger punches through the immediate blockage, but Roto-Rooter's hydro jetting scours the pipe wall itself - so the buildup doesn't simply rebuild in a few weeks.

A sewer camera is a waterproof lens mounted on a flexible cable that travels through the drain line and transmits live video. It reveals the location and cause of a blockage - whether that's a grease buildup, a root mass, a pipe belly where water pools, or a collapsed section. Without a camera, a technician is working blind. With one, Roto-Rooter can identify exactly what the problem is before recommending a clearing method.

The basement floor drain sits at the lowest point in the home's drainage system, so it's the first place water appears when the main line is compromised. It acts as a pressure-release valve for the system. If that drain is backing up while other fixtures drain normally, the blockage is likely in the main line downstream from the floor drain connection. Roto-Rooter technicians inspect the main line first in these situations.

Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure water stream directed through a specialized nozzle to scour the interior pipe wall. A cable auger cuts a hole through a clog; hydro jetting removes the grease, mineral scale, and root debris clinging to the pipe surface. Roto-Rooter technicians typically recommend hydro jetting when a line has recurring clogs or when camera inspection shows heavy buildup that augering alone won't clear.

Yes. Roots seek moisture and can enter a drain line through hairline cracks at pipe joints - especially in older clay or cast iron sewer laterals. Once inside, they absorb water from the pipe and expand, eventually causing recurring clogs or a full blockage. The Roto-Rooter Machine is designed to cut through root intrusion, and a follow-up camera inspection confirms whether the roots have caused any structural damage to the line.

Hair is the primary cause. It binds with soap scum and toothpaste residue to form a dense mat just past the P-trap. Unlike kitchen grease, which builds gradually on the pipe wall, bathroom clogs tend to form a defined plug that grows with each shower. An auger or drain snake pulls the mass out. For drains that slow repeatedly, Roto-Rooter can inspect the P-trap and branch line to confirm there's no deeper issue.

A hand snake is a short, manually turned cable suited for clearing P-traps and shallow clogs in branch lines. The Roto-Rooter Machine is a motorized cable system that can reach much further into the drain line and applies enough rotational force to cut through compacted grease, debris, and even tree roots. For main sewer line blockages or deep clogs that a hand tool can't reach, the machine is the appropriate tool.