Clog-busting Cables
Clog-busting Cables | Drain Opening | Plumbing | Pelham
When a stubborn clog stops your sink, tub, or main line in its tracks, HEP’s team arrives with the same grit as Pelham’s iron heritage—backed by modern, clog-busting cable machines that chew through buildup, roots, and grease in minutes. Our licensed plumbers thread flexible steel cables deep into your pipes, breaking apart blockages without harsh chemicals or messy excavations, so your water can race away as freely as the Oak Mountain trails after a fresh rain.
Customers love that we pick up the phone 24/7, quote fair, upfront pricing, and leave every workspace cleaner than we found it. From emergency drain opening to preventative maintenance plans, HEP handles it all with a neighborly smile and a workmanship guarantee that’s as solid as our cables. Call today and reclaim your routine—your drains deserve to flow like new.
FAQs
What are clog-busting cables and how do they work?
Clog-busting cables—also called drain snakes or augers—are flexible, coiled steel cables that spin inside your drain line. Our technician feeds the cable through the clean-out or fixture opening until it reaches the blockage. A motor then rotates the cable, allowing its cutting head to break up grease, hair, food debris, tree roots, and other obstructions. Once the clog is shredded or snagged, we retract the cable, flush the line, and test the drain to ensure full flow has been restored.
Which types of drains can your cable service clear in Pelham homes?
We can mechanically clear almost any residential or light-commercial line, including kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, floor drains, laundry lines, and main sewer laterals up to 6 inches in diameter. If you have a clean-out, we can snake the main line from there; if not, we can usually work from a toilet flange or exterior access point. Our vans carry multiple cable sizes, so we can match the tool to the drain without risking damage.
How can I tell if I need professional cable drain opening instead of DIY methods?
Slow draining fixtures in more than one room, gurgling toilets, water backing up in the tub when the washer drains, or foul odors from floor drains indicate a deeper problem that home plungers or chemical cleaners won’t fix. If you’ve tried a store-bought hand snake and only get temporary relief—or the cable can’t pass a certain point—you likely have a solid obstruction, heavy grease buildup, or root intrusion that requires our powered equipment and expertise. Calling us early prevents overflows, water damage, and costly pipe repairs.
Will cable drain cleaning damage my pipes?
No. When performed by a trained plumber, cable snaking is safe for cast iron, PVC, ABS, and copper piping. We adjust cable diameter, cutting heads, and rotational speed to suit the pipe material and size. Unlike harsh chemical cleaners that can corrode pipe walls, mechanical cleaning physically removes the clog without leaving residue. If we suspect fragile or deteriorated piping, we can perform a camera inspection first and switch to a gentler approach if necessary.
How long does a typical drain opening service take and what does it cost?
Most single-fixture clogs in Pelham take 30–60 minutes from arrival to clean-up. A main sewer line can take 60–90 minutes, depending on length and severity. Our up-front pricing starts at $149 for interior drains and $249 for main sewer cables, which includes travel, setup, cable cleaning, and a final flow test. If we discover excessive roots or need to hydro-jet after snaking, we’ll quote the additional work before proceeding, so there are no surprises.
What can I do to prevent future clogs after your service?
• Avoid pouring grease, coffee grounds, or starchy foods down kitchen drains. • Install hair-catching screens in tub and shower drains. • Flush only toilet paper—no wipes, feminine products, or cotton swabs. • Run hot water and a small amount of dish soap through kitchen drains weekly to break up grease film. • Schedule an annual camera inspection if trees grow near your sewer line; early root cutting is cheaper than an emergency backup. • Ask us about bio-enzymatic drain maintenance products—safe bacteria that digest organic residue and keep pipes clean without chemicals.