If water is rising in a tub, flooding a floor, or backing up out of a drain, stop using every sink, toilet, shower and washer in the house right now. Then call (855) 575-2890. Our line is open 24/7, so a Saturday night backup gets the same attention as a Tuesday morning clog.
Keep children and pets out of any standing water that came up from a drain. If it smells like sewage, treat it as contaminated and do not wade through it barefoot. Wipe up what you safely can and leave the rest for the plumber.
When a clogged drain cannot wait until morning
Most clogs are slow and annoying. Some are not. A drain that is still full after an hour, water showing up in a second fixture, or a floor drain that is rising are all signs of a blockage deeper in the line.
After-hours calls usually come down to one question: is water going somewhere it should not? If a backup is damaging flooring, walls or belongings, call right away. If one bathroom sink drains slowly and nothing else is affected, you can usually wait for a daytime appointment.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| One sink or tub drains slowly | Hair, soap scum or buildup in that fixture's branch line | Try a plunger, then call if it returns within days |
| Two or more fixtures slow or gurgling | Blockage in a shared branch or the main line | Stop using water and call for cleaning |
| Toilet bubbles when the washer runs | Partial main line blockage | Stop laundry and call |
| Water rises in a tub when a toilet flushes | Main line is blocked downstream | Stop all water use and call right away |
| Floor drain in basement or garage overflows | Main line or cleanout blockage | Stop water use, keep the area clear, call |
| Sewage smell with slow drains | Blockage or venting problem | Ventilate, avoid contact, call |
Main line clogs: when everything backs up at once
The main line carries all of the home's waste out to the street sewer or a private lateral. When it clogs, the lowest fixtures in the house show it first. In many homes that is a shower, a tub, or a basement floor drain.
A main line clog is not something a plunger or store-bought chemical will fix. A plumber opens the line at a cleanout when one is available, runs a cable or jet through the blockage, and checks that water flows freely afterward.
If the blockage keeps coming back, a camera look at the pipe can show whether roots, a belly in the pipe, or damage is the real cause. See our sewer line cleaning page for how we handle the lines past the house.
Kitchen sink clogs
Kitchen drains clog differently from bathroom drains. Grease cools and hardens inside the pipe, food scraps catch on the buildup, and the passage narrows a little more each week. By the time the sink stops, the pipe is often coated several feet back.
A plunger can move a soft clog near the trap. A cable clears a hole through the blockage, but grease can leave a coating behind that rebuilds. For a heavily coated line, hydro jetting scrubs the pipe walls rather than just poking through the middle.
If you have a disposal and the sink backs up into the other basin, a garbage disposal problem may be involved. Our garbage disposal repair page covers jams, humming and leaks.
Tub, shower and bathroom sink drains
Hair and soap are the usual culprits in bathrooms. They wind together just below the drain opening and form a mat that traps more of both. A slow tub or shower drain is often a surface problem you can clear with a drain strainer and a plastic hair tool.
When a tub drains slowly and the problem returns within a few weeks, the clog is usually past the trap. A plumber clears it with a cable sized for the drain and checks that the overflow and tub drain are not leaking. Bathroom sinks clog in a similar way, with toothpaste, hair and soap sitting just below the stopper.
Clogged toilets that will not clear
One stubborn clog can often be handled with a flange plunger and patience. Add warm water to the bowl, seat the plunger fully, and push gently before pulling. If water rises toward the rim, do not flush again. Close the shutoff valve behind the toilet to stop the tank from refilling.
If the toilet clogs repeatedly, gurgles when other fixtures run, or backs up other drains when flushed, the problem may be farther down the line than the toilet itself. A toilet that clogs after a child dropped something in it may need to be pulled and checked. Our toilet repair page covers cracked bowls, failing flush parts and leaks.
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Stop using water in the house, including washers and dishwashers
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a standing backup (it can splash and burn skin, and the plumber has to work around it)
- Keep children and pets out of any water that came up from a drain
- Move rugs, cardboard and belongings out of reach of the water
- Find your cleanout cap if you know where it is, but do not open it under pressure
- Turn off the washing machine and note which fixtures are affected
- Put on rubber gloves and boots before cleaning up any contaminated water
Cable cleaning, jetting and camera work: which one fits
Not every clog needs the same tool. A plumber matches the method to the blockage, the pipe size, and the likelihood that the problem will return.
| Method | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Plunger or hand tool | Fresh clogs near a fixture | Cannot reach deeper blockages |
| Drain cable (snake) | Hair, paper, soft clogs, and many main line blockages | May leave grease or scale on pipe walls |
| Hydro jetting | Grease, scale, root growth and heavy buildup | Not suited to every pipe condition |
| Camera inspection | Repeat clogs, unknown cause, buying a home | Shows the problem, does not clear it |
If a clog comes back after being cleared, ask for a camera look. Our sewer inspection page explains what the camera shows and why it matters for repeat backups. One cleaning that fixes a problem is routine. Repeated cleanings of the same drain are a sign something in the pipe needs attention.
Outdoor drains, storm drains and grease traps
Yard drains and French drains collect leaves, dirt and roots, and they clog when debris builds up at the grate or in the pipe. Clearing them is a cable or jetting job, and it can also be a landscaping fix if the drain is poorly graded. These lines are separate from your sewer system, so a clogged yard drain should not cause sewage to back up inside.
Commercial kitchens use grease traps to catch fats before they enter the sewer. A trap that is overdue for pumping can overflow or back up into floor drains. If you run a restaurant or food business in Helena, our commercial plumbing page covers after-hours service for business properties. Ask about grease trap service when you call, since the right approach depends on the trap's size and location.
Helena homes and the drains they have
Helena grew from 3,918 people in 1990 to 20,914 in 2020, so most homes here are newer than 1990. Newer homes are not clog-proof. Builder-grade fixtures, long drain runs to the street sewer, and landscaping near the line can all cause trouble over time.
Old Town Helena is the older part of the city, and older homes can have older drain piping that behaves differently. Mature trees near a lateral line are worth a look if drains slow down every spring. Buck Creek and the Cahaba River run through the area, and heavy rain can raise questions about whether a backup is a pipe problem or a groundwater one. A plumber can usually tell the difference quickly.
Sewer service in Helena comes from the City of Helena Utilities Board. If a backup affects more than your home, call the utility at (205) 663-1670 to report it. If only your home is affected, the blockage is typically in the part of the line you own, and we can clear it. Check with the utility if you are unsure where the city's responsibility ends.
We serve homes in Pelham, Alabaster, Chelsea and Calera too, so a neighbor outside Helena can call the same line.
Preventing the next clog
Prevention is mostly about what goes down the drain. Grease should go in the trash. Wipes labeled flushable still clog lines. Hair catchers in tubs cost little and save a lot of trouble. Run hot water after washing dishes to move soft residue along.
If you have a house with a long main line and a history of slow drains, schedule cleaning before the problem becomes a backup at an inconvenient hour. Scheduled work is easier on your household and your floors than an emergency in the middle of the night.
What affects the cost of drain cleaning
- Location of the clogA clog near a fixture is faster to clear than one deep in the main line
- AccessA cleanout makes the job simpler, while a line without one may need a fixture pulled
- MethodCable cleaning, hydro jetting and camera work are priced differently
- Severity and recurrenceHeavy buildup or roots take more time than a simple blockage
- After-hours timingNight, weekend and holiday calls can carry different rates
You get a clear price before work starts, so you can decide before we begin. Water damage from a sewage backup may be covered by some homeowner policies, so ask your insurance provider what applies to your situation.
Want your real number? Call (855) 575-2890Helena drain cleaning questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. Call (855) 575-2890 and tell us what is backing up and which fixtures are affected.
Avoid it for a standing backup. The chemicals can splash, harm pipes over time, and create a hazard for the plumber who has to work on the line afterward. A plunger is the safest first step.
Look for more than one fixture draining slowly or gurgling, a toilet that bubbles when the washer runs, or water rising in a tub or floor drain. Those signs usually point to the main line.
Yes. Repeat clogs often mean grease buildup, roots or a pipe defect. We can clear the line and recommend a camera inspection to find the cause.
We can clear yard and exterior drains that are clogged with dirt, roots and debris. Tell us what kind of drain it is when you call so we send the right equipment.
Ask when you call. Grease trap service depends on the size and location of the trap, and our commercial plumbing page explains how we handle business properties.
Call the City of Helena Utilities Board at (205) 663-1670. If the backup is only in your home, call us.