What clogs drains
Most clogs build up slowly. In bathrooms it's hair and soap. In kitchens it's grease and food scraps, which harden in the pipe as they cool. Toilets clog on "flushable" wipes, paper towels and toys. Main sewer lines clog from all of the above plus tree roots that grow in through old joints.
Mike has written about what clogs drains and why oil shouldn't go down the sink.
Snaking or hydro jetting?
A drain snake is the right tool for a single clogged sink, tub or toilet. Hydro jetting sprays high-pressure water through the line and cleans the pipe walls, so it's the better choice for grease-heavy kitchen lines and main lines with roots. It costs more than snaking, but the line stays clear longer. Mike explains the difference in Should I have my pipes snaked or hydro jetted?
When the camera comes out
If a drain clogs again and again, clearing it isn't enough. A sewer camera inspection shows roots, a cracked or sagging pipe, or a collapsed section, and you watch the screen with us. Then you decide on the fix with the facts in front of you. See What's the point of a sewer camera inspection?
