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Storm drain backups often happen when rainfall overwhelms local drainage capacity—sometimes immediately during intense storms, and other times as water accumulates in low-lying areas. While homeowners can take steps to limit damage and improve readiness, several key drivers are determined by municipal infrastructure and storm conditions. Below is what homeowners can influence, what they can’t, and how to respond when water starts to rise. What homeowners can control Keep nearby... Read more »

When a toilet backs up, it’s tempting to assume the worst. But many clogs are limited to the toilet itself or the local drain line serving that fixture. Others indicate a potential sewer or mainline problem—often requiring different tools, a different response, and sometimes professional intervention. Start with what the toilet does (and how fast) If water rises in the bowl after flushing and then drains slowly or not at all, the blockage is often close to the toilet. A straightfor... Read more »

When drains start backing up, homeowners usually face a choice: the more targeted (and typically cheaper) option of rodding, or hydro jetting, which uses high-pressure water to clear and wash the pipe interior. The “worth it” question usually comes down to how bad the clog is, what likely caused it, and whether the problem is recurring. Rodding works by physically breaking up or pushing through blockages using a mechanical auger. It’s commonly used for straightforward obstr... Read more »

Homeowners along the North Shore of Chicago often discover root intrusion in places they least expect—inside sewer lines, around foundation drains, or even near utility conduits. While tree roots can grow into many plumbing systems anywhere, a few regional factors make the problem more common (and sometimes more destructive) in this area. Key takeaway: Root intrusion isn’t random. It typically happens where roots find moisture, oxygen-free “gaps,” and aging infrastructure t... Read more »

A damaged sewer line can cause backups, odors, and water damage—but the best fix isn’t always a complete replacement. In many cases, targeted repairs can restore service quickly and cost-effectively. In others, replacing the line is the safer choice because the underlying pipe has reached the end of its useful life. The key is to match the remedy to the type and extent of damage. Modern inspection tools like camera surveys and pressure tests help determine whether the problem is locali... Read more »

Bathtubs and showers share one goal—moving water away fast—but their drains often develop problems in different ways. A clog in a shower is frequently driven by hair and soap residue, while bathtub issues can include heavier debris, thicker grime build-up, and slower drainage due to bathtub plumbing geometry. Understanding the differences can prevent repeat clogs and help you avoid fixes that only work for one drain type. Why shower drains clog more often Shower drains typically coll... Read more »

When a home’s drains start backing up, it’s tempting to assume every clog works the same way. But laundry drain problems often develop for different reasons than kitchen or bathroom clogs—meaning the best prevention and repair approaches can vary significantly. Understanding how laundry drains clog is especially important because washing machines push large, fast batches of water through pipes that may also be affected by soap buildup, fabric fibers, and other debris that don&rsq... Read more »

Persistent drain clogs—especially when a similar backup comes back weeks later—often point beyond a single drain or trap. Plumbing professionals commonly treat recurring backups as a signal that the home’s main sewer line may be partially blocked, misaligned, or affected by root intrusion, buildup, or other underlying issues. Unlike one-off stoppages caused by everyday debris, repeated “returns” suggest the pathway farther downstream is not clearing consistently. As a resul... Read more »

Power rodding is a plumbing method designed to clear severe obstructions in sewer lines and main drains, especially when smaller tools can’t reach or effectively break up a blockage. Unlike manual drain snakes, power rodding uses a motor to drive a rotating or push-capable rod system, improving force and reach inside pipes. When power rodding is typically used Plumbers often recommend power rodding for recurring or stubborn clogs that affect larger drain lines, including sewer ... Read more »

When a drain backs up, homeowners often face a key decision: power rodding or hydro jetting. Both methods can restore flow, but they’re designed for different situations—especially when it comes to the type of blockage and the condition of your pipes. What power rodding does Power rodding uses a rotating or pushing cable (often with specialized heads) to break apart and pull back material causing a blockage. It’s commonly used for clogs like compacted hair, small objects, or ... Read more »

Video inspection is one of the few diagnostic tools that lets homeowners and building managers actually see what’s happening inside a sewer, storm drain, or plumbing line. But because it costs more than basic checks, the real question is: when does the footage change the decision enough to justify the price? In practice, video inspection is most cost-effective when the issue is unclear, recurring, or expensive to guess. When you can’t reliably locate the obstruction, detect the t... Read more »

When a drain backs up, it’s tempting to call the first company that answers. But the best results usually come from choosing a contractor who can diagnose the issue clearly, explain options upfront, and perform the work safely—especially if the problem involves roots, grease buildup, or damaged pipes. Use the questions below as a checklist before you schedule drain cleaning. 1) Are you licensed, insured, and bonded? Ask what licenses apply in your area and confirm they carry li... Read more »

When a drain backs up, two common solutions come up quickly: drain snaking (also called cable or auger clearing) and hydro jetting. Both can restore flow, but they’re not interchangeable—each method performs best under different conditions. Understanding how they work—and where their strengths and limits lie—can help you decide what to ask a plumber for and what to expect. How drain snaking works Snaking uses a rotating cable or auger inserted into the drain line. The tool brea... Read more »

Tenant complaints about slow drains, foul odors, standing water, or recurring clogs rarely come out of nowhere. In many buildings, the root cause is predictable: gradual buildup in traps and lines, missed inspections, delayed snaking or hydro-jetting, or seasonal strain after storms and temperature swings. A structured drain checklist gives property managers a consistent way to prevent failures—before they escalate into service requests and disputes. Start with a pre-inspection routine B... Read more »

A sump pump is one of those home systems you hope you’ll never need—until it stops working at the worst possible time. The good news is that many sump pump problems show up gradually. If you know what to watch for, you can address issues before they escalate into a basement flooding event. 1) Water isn’t going down as fast as it used to One of the most common early indicators is performance decline. If your basement water level seems to rise longer between pump cycles, or it ... Read more »

Chemical drain cleaners and professional rodding both aim to clear blocked pipes, but they typically work in different ways. Chemicals dissolve certain materials, while rodding physically breaks up and removes clogs—often addressing the root cause rather than just the symptom. Which option “works” best depends on the clog’s composition (grease, hair, scale, or debris), the condition of your plumbing, and the risks involved with repeated chemical use. What chemical drain... Read more »

Residents in the Chicago suburbs often hear competing claims about which older pipe material fails first: clay (typically vitrified clay) or cast iron. The short answer is that neither “always” fails first. But the two materials tend to fail in different ways, and Chicago-area conditions make those failure modes show up at different times. The main driver is how the pipe behaves under stress. Freeze-thaw can widen defects, soil movement can misalign joints, and groundwater chemis... Read more »