Yearly Drain Cleaning and Why It’s Important

Prevent Drain Problems Before They Start

Most homeowners don’t think much about their drains – until something goes wrong. But waiting until you have a clog or backup is like waiting for your car engine to seize up before changing the oil. Yearly drain cleaning is a form of insurance: preventative maintenance that keeps your plumbing system flowing, your crawl space dry, and your home free of nasty surprises.

What Happens If You Skip Regular Drain Cleaning?

Ignoring slow or clogged drains is like ignoring a check-engine light. You might get away with it for a while, but when it fails, it fails big. Backups don’t wait for business hours – they often happen in the middle of the night, filling your bathroom or crawl space with sewage.

We’ve seen it firsthand: one customer had leaks all through their crawl space and didn’t even know it until we ran a sewer inspection camera. By the time a problem like that shows itself, the repairs – and restoration work – can be expensive. Regular cleaning helps you catch these issues before they become disasters.

Common Drain Problems in North Alabama

Here’s what we see most often in Huntsville and the surrounding area:

• Old, brittle cast iron pipes that crack or break.
• Roots creeping into outdoor drain lines.
• Grease build-up in kitchen sinks (yes, it sneaks in even if you try to prevent it).
• Hair clogs in showers.
• And one more thing: are flushable wipes really flushable? No way. They don’t break down like toilet paper and are one of the leading causes of blockages.

Most clogs (about 80% of the time) are just clogs. A quick pass with a sewer machine clears them out. But if the same fixture keeps clogging up again and again, that’s your sign there’s a deeper issue. 

Warning Signs You Need Professional Drain Cleaning

Don’t wait for a flood to call a plumber. Keep an eye (and ear) out for these red flags:

• Slow-draining sinks, tubs, or toilets.
• Toilets that bubble when you flush.
  • Why is my toilet bubbling? It usually means there’s a blockage or venting issue.
• Sinks that gurgle or make strange noises.
  • Why does my sink gurgle? Gurgling noises often point to trapped air from a clog in the line.
• Multiple fixtures backing up at once.

If you notice any of these, it’s time to call for professional drain cleaning.

How We Handle Drain Cleaning

At B&C Plumbing, we come prepared. Our team uses a range of tools depending on the problem:

• Toilet augers for localized blockages.
• Sink machines for small lines.
• Larger sewer machines for main lines.
• And most importantly, a sewer inspection camera to see what’s happening inside the pipes.

A typical call looks like this:

• If it’s one bathroom backing up, we’ll start there with an auger or small machine.
• If the whole house is affected, we’ll locate the drain cleanout outside and work from there.

Most issues are resolved quickly, but if we find bigger problems, we’ll help you make a plan before it escalates.

Preventative vs. Emergency Drain Cleaning

Emergency cleaning is all about getting the water moving again – fast.

Preventative cleaning is a different story. It’s about flushing water through your main lines, running the camera to check for trouble, and even pouring solutions through your P-traps (sinks, showers) to clear grease and buildup.

For businesses – especially restaurants – yearly scheduled drain cleaning isn’t just smart, it’s essential. And if you’ve got an older home with cast iron pipes, preventative cleaning can save you from costly surprises.

Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe?

It depends. If you’re on city sewer, an occasional store-bought cleaner might be okay. But if you’re on a septic system, products like Drano can do serious damage. They wipe out the bacteria your septic tank needs to break down waste. Septic-safe cleaners are available, but they go directly into the tank – not your drains.

Why Choose B&C Plumbing for Drain Cleaning?

Plenty of plumbers can clear a clog. What makes B&C different is how we think about the bigger picture:

• Prevention first. We don’t just clear today’s clog – we check for what could cause the next one.
• Honest service. If it’s just a clog, we’ll say so. If it’s bigger, we’ll show you on the camera.
• Local experience. We know Huntsville homes, the older cast iron pipes, and the problems that come with them.

We’ve already saved homeowners from expensive restoration jobs by catching cracked pipes and leaks early – and we’ll do the same for you.

Schedule Your Yearly Drain Cleaning Today

Think of yearly drain cleaning as a little insurance policy for your home or business. It’s simple, affordable, and it can save you thousands in emergency repairs.

Call B&C Plumbing today at (256) 382-0825 or request service online. We proudly serve Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, and all of North Alabama.