Clogged Drains
Clogged Drains | Emergency Plumbing | Plumbing | Decatur
When a stubborn clog brings life in Decatur to a standstill, HEP answers the call with speed, skill, and a smile. Our licensed technicians arrive equipped with cutting-edge cameras, hydro-jets, and years of local know-how to clear sinks, tubs, and main lines without turning your home into a work zone. We explain every step, quote fair prices up-front, and back our work with rock-solid guarantees—because a plumbing surprise is the last thing you need after a surprise clog.
Day or night, weekends and holidays, our dispatchers are ready to connect you with true emergency plumbing professionals who treat your property like their own. From foul-smelling backups to gurgling floor drains, we restore flow fast so you can get back to cooking, showering, and living comfortably. One call to HEP, and clogged drains are yesterday’s problem.
FAQs
What are the most common causes of clogged drains in Decatur homes?
In Decatur, we routinely see kitchen sink clogs caused by grease, coffee grounds, and fibrous foods like celery getting washed down the disposal. In bathrooms, the biggest offenders are hair, soap scum, and flushable wipes that aren’t truly flushable. Older Decatur properties often have cast-iron or clay sewer lines that can collect scale or be infiltrated by tree roots, creating stubborn blockages in the main line.
When is a clogged drain considered a plumbing emergency?
Call for emergency service if water is backing up into fixtures (e.g., sewage in the tub when you flush the toilet), if a clog prevents all toilets from flushing, or if you see rapid flooding that could damage floors, walls, or electrical systems. A single slow drain can usually wait a few hours, but multiple slow drains or foul sewer odors indicate a main-line obstruction that needs immediate attention.
What can I do to reduce water damage while waiting for the emergency plumber to arrive?
Turn off the water supply to the affected fixture, or to the house if multiple fixtures are backing up. Avoid using any appliances that drain into the clogged line (dishwasher, washing machine). Place towels or a wet/dry shop-vac around overflow areas to limit spreading water. If sewage is present, keep pets and children away and ventilate with fans or open windows.
Do you rely on chemical drain cleaners to clear blockages?
No. Professional plumbers rarely use store-bought chemical drain openers because they can corrode pipes and are hazardous to people and pets. We prefer mechanical methods such as augering (snaking), high-pressure hydro-jetting, or camera-guided root removal. These techniques clear the clog thoroughly, preserve pipe integrity, and allow us to see if there’s underlying damage.
How fast can your Decatur emergency plumbing team get here, and are there after-hours fees?
Our on-call technicians are dispatched 24/7 from within Decatur and the surrounding DeKalb County area. Typical response time is 60–90 minutes, though severe weather or road closures can add a short delay. Because emergencies don’t keep business hours, we offer flat-rate emergency pricing; you’ll know the cost upfront, and there’s no extra surcharge for nights, weekends, or holidays.
What can I do to prevent future clogs, and do you offer maintenance plans?
Preventive steps include installing mesh strainers on sinks and tubs, limiting disposal of grease and coffee grounds, flushing only human waste and toilet paper, and scheduling an annual sewer line camera inspection if you have large trees near the lateral line. We offer affordable maintenance plans that include a yearly whole-house drain cleaning, priority scheduling, and discounts on repairs—ideal for older Decatur homes with recurring root intrusions.