Clearing the drain is half the job. The other half is knowing whether it will come back. That is why we run the camera, free of charge, when the blockage deserves it.
Clogged drain, clogged toilet: what to do before you call
A few simple moves, and a few to avoid.
- Clogged toilet: a flange plunger, pushed slowly, often clears a simple blockage. If the water rises, close the valve behind the toilet.
- Kitchen sink: remove what you can see in the trap. No boiling water in a plastic drain, and no chemical product.
- Shower or tub drain: a hook is enough to pull hair out near the grate. If it stays slow, the blockage is farther down.
- Several drains backing up at once: do not keep trying. The blockage is in the main line, and kitchen tools will not reach it.
Chemical drain products are something we advise against. They rarely solve a real blockage, they are hard on older lines, and they leave a risky liquid in the drain for the person who comes next to clear it.
How we clear it, and how we find the cause
We start with the least invasive method that works: the mechanical auger in the toilet, the sink or the floor drain. For a blockage in the main line, we run longer equipment through the cleanout.
When a drain clogs often, or when the whole house backs up, we run the camera through the line. It is free, and it tells whether the problem is local (a joint, a grease buildup) or farther down (roots, a sagging line). You see the picture with us.
If the line needs repair or replacement, you receive a free written estimate before we touch anything.
What you can expect from us
We are a small contractor from Cantley, RBQ licence 5870-4099-01, and we answer the phone ourselves. We show up with the right equipment, protect the floor, clear the drain, clean up after ourselves and tell you what we found in plain words. No fear, no hard sell.
For an estimate or an appointment, reach JF at (819) 639-6806. If the water is rising right now, the emergency line is (819) 712-3945.
The Gatineau area
The blockages we see most in Gatineau come down to three things: roots, grease and old lines. The maples and poplars on the older streets of Hull and Pointe-Gatineau look for water and find the joints of original lines. In kitchens, grease cools and sticks, and after a few years the kitchen drain clogs again and again.
In houses with a finished basement, a floor drain backing up in spring is not an ordinary clog: it is often the main line filling up with the melting snow. In that case, clearing the drain fixes the symptom and the camera settles the question.
We come to every part of the city and to the municipalities around it.
Common questions
Clogged toilet, plunger not working: what now?
Stop trying and close the valve behind the toilet to avoid an overflow. If an object fell in, tell us on the phone: it changes the tool we bring. We clear it without damaging the toilet.
Sewer blocked: who to call, the city or a plumber?
A plumber first. We clear it and, if the blockage sits in the part under the street, we show it to you on camera: you then have the picture and the exact spot to call the city. Without that, nobody knows which side the problem is on.
Drain cleaning: how much does it cost?
We do not quote without knowing which drain is blocked, where and for how long. Tell us what is happening on the phone and we tell you what to expect. For a line repair, it is a free written estimate before the work.
My drain clogs every few months. Is that normal?
No. A drain that keeps clogging has a cause: a buildup, an open joint, roots, a slope that no longer drains. That is the typical case where the free camera inspection saves you one more cleaning every season.
Are bottled drain products really something to avoid?
Yes. They rarely solve a real blockage, they are hard on old lines, and they leave a risky liquid in the drain. A plunger for a simple clog, and us for the rest.
Do you clear garage drains and outdoor drains?
Yes, floor drains, garage drains and rainwater inlets are part of what we clear. Tell us which one on the phone.