San Francisco drain service · Camera included
Clear the drain. Find out why it clogged.
We clear kitchen, bathroom, toilet, floor-drain, branch, and main-line blockages across San Francisco. Every drain service includes camera inspection, so cable clearing, hydro jetting, root removal, descaling, or repair is based on what is actually inside the pipe.
Quick answer
A recurring clog needs a diagnosis, not just another opening.
A single slow fixture can be a local obstruction. Several slow or gurgling fixtures, wastewater at a low drain, or a clog that returns after clearing can indicate a deeper branch or main-line problem. We restore flow, inspect the line, and show you the condition before recommending cleaning, maintenance, or repair beyond the initial visit.
Active backup or overflow?
Stop running water and using affected fixtures. Keep people and pets away from sewage, and do not add or mix drain chemicals. Call us and tell the dispatcher where the backup appears and what was running when it started.
One slow sink, tub, or shower
A localized trap or branch-line blockage is more likely when only one fixture is affected. Hair, soap, food, grease, or a foreign object are common starting points.
Several fixtures gurgle or drain slowly
When fixtures share symptoms, the restriction may be farther down a branch, stack, or main line. Continuing to run water can turn a slow drain into an overflow.
The clog keeps returning
A repeat blockage can point to grease, scale, roots, corrosion, a damaged pipe, or a low section that holds waste. Clearing the opening without identifying the cause usually buys only time.
Wastewater backs up at a low drain
A floor drain, shower, or lower-level fixture backing up when another fixture runs is a main-line warning. Stop using water and keep people and pets away from sewage.
Different conditions, different tools
The camera determines what happens after flow is restored.
We do not treat cable clearing, hydro jetting, root removal, and repair as interchangeable upgrades. Pipe condition and the type of buildup determine the method.
Cable clearing
A drain cable is often the right first tool for a localized obstruction. The goal is to restore the opening without using more force than the pipe condition can safely take.
Camera inspection
Every Lutz drain service includes camera inspection. The camera helps separate a simple obstruction from roots, scale, corrosion, a broken section, or a pipe that has lost proper fall.
Hydro jetting
High-pressure water can remove grease, sludge, scale, and remaining buildup across the pipe wall when the line and access are suitable. It is not the automatic answer for every pipe.
Root removal and descaling
Roots and hard scale need a method selected for the pipe material and condition. Camera findings guide whether cleaning is sufficient or a damaged section needs repair.
Service boundary
Drain clearing and sewer repair are related, but they are not the same job.
Cleaning addresses a blockage or buildup. A damaged sewer lateral can require a different scope. San Francisco's aging clay and cast-iron laterals can show roots, corrosion, offsets, or failed sections on camera. When the evidence moves beyond cleaning, we explain the change and connect it to our sewer-line service rather than hiding repair work inside a cleaning recommendation.
What changes the scope
Access, buildup, and pipe condition drive the work.
We inspect before recommending more than the line needs. These are the factors that change time, equipment, and price.
Drain service questions
Know what the first visit should answer.
The goal is not only to restore flow. It is to establish why the line stopped flowing and what, if anything, prevents the problem from returning.
Is a camera inspection included with drain cleaning?
Yes. Every Lutz drain service includes camera inspection so we can show you whether the line has a simple obstruction, roots, grease, scale, corrosion, a damaged section, or another condition that changes the recommendation.
Is hydro jetting better than snaking a drain?
They solve different problems. A cable can be the right tool for a localized clog. Hydro jetting is useful when suitable pipe needs broader removal of grease, sludge, or scale. We inspect the line and choose the least disruptive method that addresses the actual condition.
What should I do during a sewer or wastewater backup?
Stop running water and using toilets or drains, keep people and pets away from the affected area, and call for service. Do not mix drain chemicals. Tell the technician if any chemical product has already been poured into the line.
How do I know whether I need drain cleaning or sewer-line repair?
A removable obstruction or buildup may need cleaning only. Camera evidence of a broken, badly offset, collapsed, or repeatedly root-damaged lateral can move the job into sewer repair. Lutz handles traditional excavation replacement, SSLI reports, and the related San Francisco permit coordination on the sewer service page.
Do you clean commercial and restaurant drains?
Yes. We handle commercial drain cleaning, grease-related restrictions, and hydro jetting when the line and access are suitable. The building schedule, cleanout access, and wastewater conditions are reviewed before work starts.
Can I request after-hours help for a severe drain backup?
Yes. Our office answers live Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. After hours, leave a voicemail on the main line for dispatcher callback on genuine emergencies such as an active sewage backup or flooding risk.
Ready to clear the line?
Request drain service with camera inspection included.
Send the affected fixtures, when the problem started, whether it has happened before, and any chemical product already used. Photos or video of an active backup can help us prepare.
Read the seasonal drain-maintenance guide