How often should I have my drains cleaned?

Regular drain cleaning is essential to prevent buildup and clogs. For most homes, it is recommended to have your drains professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months. However, properties with older plumbing, heavy usage, or recurring issues may benefit from more frequent cleaning. Our expert plumbers can assess your situation and recommend the best cleaning schedule for your drains.

Why are my drains clogged?

Clogged drains are typically caused by the accumulation of hair, grease, soap scum, food particles, and foreign objects. For example, kitchen drains often clog due to cooking oils and undissolved food waste, while bathroom drains get blocked by hair and soap residue. Improper disposal of items like baby wipes or feminine hygiene products in toilets also leads to blockages. For more details, see our section on Common Causes of Clogged Drains.

How can I prevent a clogged drain?

Preventing drain clogs involves mindful use of your drains: • Avoid pouring grease or cooking oil down kitchen sinks. • Use drain strainers to catch hair and debris. • Dispose of food waste and non-flushable items properly. • Schedule regular drain flushing and cleaning with professionals. • Avoid chemical drain cleaners that can damage pipes.

Why does my drain run slowly?

Partial blockages from mineral deposits, grease buildup, or accumulated debris inside pipes often cause slow drains. Over time, these narrow the pipe diameter, restricting water flow. Slow drains can also result from improper pipe slope or venting issues. Prompt drain clearing can restore normal flow and prevent complete clogs.

How much does drain cleaning cost?

Drain cleaning costs vary depending on several factors, including the severity and location of the clog, the type of drain, the method required (e.g., snaking vs. hydro-jetting), and whether repairs or replacements are needed. Since each situation is unique, we recommend contacting Black Forest Plumbing for a personalized quote. We offer transparent pricing and cost-effective solutions tailored to your needs.

Professional Drain Cleaning and Clearing Services for Blocks and Clogs

Are you having trouble keeping your drains clean? As a property owner, you know how inconvenient a clogged drain can be. Unaddressed blockages can compromise the integrity of your property and your health. Fortunately, Black Forest Plumbing offers comprehensive and affordable residential and commercial drain cleaning services in the GTA and surrounding areas including Markham, Newmarket, Aurora and Barrie.

Contact us today to have your drains cleaned quickly and efficiently. We’ll work around your busy schedule and find a time that works best for you.

Expert Drain Clearing Services

At Black Forest Plumbing, we believe every property deserves the highest quality plumbing and drain-clearing services. We provide expert drain cleaning, repair, and replacement services tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your drains function optimally. Our services cover:

Kitchen drains: We clear grease, food particles, and other debris that commonly clog kitchen sinks and drains, restoring smooth drainage to keep your kitchen running efficiently.

Bathroom drains: Whether it’s your shower, bathtub, toilet, urinal, or bathroom sinks, we remove hair, soap scum, and mineral buildup that cause slow or clogged drains.

Sewer drain: We specialize in clearing and repairing main sewer drains to prevent backups and flooding. Learn more about our sewer line cleaning and main drain blockage services.

Utility drains: From laundry rooms to floor drains, our team handles all types of utility drains, ensuring your entire plumbing system stays clear and functional.

Our comprehensive drain clearing services include:

Drain flushing to remove buildup and maintain pipe health
Drain unclogging using advanced tools and techniques
Drain clearing with hydro-jetting and drain snaking for stubborn blockages
Drain repair and replacement to fix damaged or deteriorated pipes
Locating drains
Cleaning roof drains
Cleaning lawn area drains
Installing clean-outs

Drain problems can happen at any time, which is why Black Forest Plumbing offers 24/7 emergency drain cleaning services. Whether it’s a sudden clog or a drain backup threatening your property, our licensed plumbers are ready to respond quickly and efficiently, day or night.

Don’t wait for a minor clog to turn into a major disaster. Contact us anytime for prompt emergency drain clearing and cleaning services you can trust.

Our Drain Clearing Processes

As a professional drain cleaning service provider, we use a variety of modern equipment, such as drain snakes and high-end drain machines, to identify drain issues and deliver effective cleaning. Here’s an overview of some of our processes.

Drain camera inspections. A drain camera consists of a small, waterproof camera attached to a flexible rod. The unit is drawn through hidden pipes and drains to quickly identify what’s causing a blockage or leak.
Drain snaking. A drain snake, also called a plumbing snake or sewer snake, is a flexible auger that reaches down into pipes to dislodge blockages. A drain snake effectively scrapes and cleans the inside of your pipes to remove buildup and prevent future clogs.
High-end drain machines. Our team uses the latest drain cleaning machines, including hydro-jetting equipment, to clean out hardened sludge, debris, dirt, grease, hair or even tree roots from pipes, drains, sewer lines and sump pits.

While we know that drain cleaning is a messy job, we do our best to perform it without hampering your routine or causing any harm to your property.

24/7 Emergency Drain Cleaning Services

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Reasons Why Drains Need Efficient Cleaning

Your drain problems may be due to the accumulation of fat and grease or the invasion of tree roots. Whatever the cause, ignoring your drain problems can lead to major repairs. Here are four reasons why it’s important to invest in professional drain cleaning.

1. Identify future problems

Having your drains regularly cleaned eliminates existing clogs and identifies any potential problems that could arise in the future. Daily wear and tear can cause hidden corrosion, leaks, fractures and cracks.

2. Prevent future clogs

If your pipes continue to clog, there may be an obstruction that your plunger can’t dislodge. This issue requires prompt attention from a trained plumber who can clear the debris from inside the pipe walls and prevent future clogs.

3. Improve the lifespan of your drains

Failing to clean your drains properly can lead to scale buildup, causing the inside of your pipes to narrow. This can result in water flow problems, increased obstructions and frozen pipes during winter. Cleaning your drains periodically is one of the best ways to help them last longer.

4. Prevent expensive repairs

Cleaning your pipes regularly allows you to catch minor issues early on and prevent them from turning into costly, major repairs.

Here are some signs it’s time to have your drains cleaned by the professionals at Black Forest Plumbing:

Slow Drains

Although it may seem minor, a slow-moving drain can eventually escalate into a huge issue. For example, the pipe can narrow due to mineral buildup, or the grading can be thrown off.

Recurring Clogs

Recurring clogs often occur when your pipes aren’t cleaned properly. Shower and bathroom sink drains are especially prone to stubborn clogs, as a lot of hair regularly washes down the pipe.

Foul Smell

Unpleasant odours emanating from your drains are a sign that there’s something wrong with your drainage system. While you can try to clean it yourself, it’s better to leave it to a professional.

Water Flooding

If you notice water on the floor of your basement or near a drain, it may indicate that your drain is clogged, causing dirty water to flow out of the system.

Multiple Clogged Drains

If more than one drain in your home is clogged, you need to have a professional inspect your main drain line. This type of issue requires professional drain cleaning, which can’t be done with plungers or chemical cleaners.

Common Signs Your Drains Need Cleaning

Here are several causes of clogged drains throughout your home:

Hair, fur and soap residue commonly cause clogs, especially in the bathroom and laundry room. When hair and fur bind to soap scum, it can knot up and reduce the diameter of your pipes, causing slow drainage or backups.
Cooking oil, grease and fat cause serious problems in your kitchen drains. These substances coat the inside of your pipes and solidify, causing major blockages.
Undissolved food waste can become tightly packed inside your pipes, harming your entire drainage system. For instance, tea leaves and coffee grounds are especially problematic because they don’t break down.
Baby wipes, diapers and feminine hygiene products should never be flushed down the toilet. These items are too bulky and can easily cause a blockage.

Common Causes of Clogged Drains

How to Increase the Lifespan of Your Pipes

Your pipes get used all day long — when flushing the toilet, washing the dishes or completing other chores. This continuous usage can eventually wear down your pipes, causing leakages and cracks. Sometimes, natural factors like the invasion of roots can also cause damage to the pipes. If you haven’t had your pipes repaired recently and want them to last longer, take the following steps:

Maintain the right level of water pressure

Avoid using chemical drain cleaners

Don’t ignore any leakages

Invest in regular drain cleaning

Avoid flushing things like toys and wrappers down the toilet

If there is a slow drain, get it fixed immediately

Choose Black Forest Plumbing for Affordable Drain Cleaning

At Black Forest Plumbing, we always take the time to understand your needs before delivering a solution. Our values of honesty and transparency have enabled us to become a trusted name in the business. Here are just a handful of reasons to do business with us:

Prompt and accurate drain cleaning services

Trained and friendly professionals who treat you like family

Courteous and honest customer service that never lets you down

Cost-effective cleaning solutions that fit within your budget

We guarantee 100% satisfaction with "fix it right, or it's free" policy

How often should I schedule maintenance for my home HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems?

We recommend scheduling maintenance services at least once a year to ensure your systems function at their best.
Is a maintenance plan or membership worth it?

Yes, a maintenance plan is well worth it. Investing in preventative maintenance prevents unexpected breakdowns, reduces your energy consumption and prolongs the lifespan of your home’s critical systems.
How much does a maintenance plan cost?

Our maintenance plan costs just a dollar a day and includes plumbing and electrical inspections, as well as furnace and AC tune-ups, so you can maximize your home’s mechanical system performance without breaking the bank. With the Black Forest Plumbing VIP membership, you get over $2000 worth of services for $365/year.

Schedule Reliable Drain Cleaning Services

If you need to clear or unclog a blocked drain in your home or business, the licensed and insured plumbers at Black Forest Plumbing can help. Count on us for right-sized pricing and guaranteed satisfaction. We serve customers in York Region, Simcoe County and the GTA. Contact us today to schedule an appointment in Newmarket, Barrie, Markham, Aurora and surrounding areas.