Clogged Drain Clearing & Snaking in Southeast Michigan
Professional drain snaking that gets the water moving again - fast, clean, and backed by a 1-year warranty.
Michigan-licensed Master Plumber with 20+ years of experience clearing every kind of clog. Serving Livonia, Dearborn Heights, Wayne County & all of Southeast Michigan. 24/7 availability with upfront pricing.
The Real Fix
Drain Snaking Done Right - Not Just Poked Through
There's snaking, and then there's proper snaking. We've seen plenty of jobs where someone ran a cable through a line, the homeowner thought it was cleared, and it backed up again three days later because the tech just punched a hole through the soft center of the clog and left the real buildup on the pipe walls.
Here's how we do it: we identify the correct cleanout access point, we use the right size cable and cutting head for the pipe diameter, we run the snake until we hit resistance and then work it - turning, pulling, pushing - until the obstruction is mechanically broken up and cleared. Then we flush the line with water and verify the drain is running free before we pack up our tools.
If we have any doubt about what's causing a recurring problem, we recommend a camera inspection before we go back in with the snake. That's how you fix things right the first time instead of repeating the same service call every six months.
What we Drain Snake
- ✔ Kitchen sink drains - grease & food buildup
- ✔ Bathroom sink drains - hair & soap scum
- ✔ Shower drains - hair, soap, and conditioner buildup
- ✔ Bathtub drains - hair and soap scum in the trap
- ✔ Toilet - foreign objects and waste buildup
- ✔ Floor drains - basement and laundry room
- ✔ Laundry drain standpipes - lint and soap
- ✔ Main sewer line - root intrusion and soft blockage
- Garbage disposal drain - grease and food particle buildup behind the disposal trap
The Process
How a Professional Drain Snaking Works
Step 1: Diagnosis
We ask you what's happening, look at the affected fixtures, and determine whether we’re dealing with a branch drain clog or a main line blockage. The approach depends on what we find.
Step 2: Access Point
We locate the proper cleanout access - through the fixture drain, through a cleanout plug, or through the main sewer cleanout depending on which line is affected.
Step 3: Snake & Clear
The cable goes in with the right cutting head and we work the obstruction until it's mechanically broken up and pulled out or flushed through. We don't stop until the line is clear.
Step 4: Flush & Verify
We flush the line with water and confirm it's draining freely before we consider the job done. If we're not satisfied with the flow rate, we keep working.
Know The Difference
When to Snake vs. When You Need Hydro Jetting
We'll be straight with you: snaking is the right call in most situations. It's effective, it's fast, and it's affordable. But there are situations where snaking is treating the symptom instead of the cause:
- First-time clog with no recurring history
- Single fixture backup (not multiple at once)
- Soft obstruction - hair, food, foreign object
- Toilet, shower, or sink with isolated blockage
- Same drain has been snaked 2+ times this year
- Multiple fixtures slow or backing up simultaneously
- Grease buildup suspected in kitchen or main line
- Root intrusion confirmed or suspected
- Commercial kitchen or multi-family property
Not sure which one applies to your situation? Call us and describe what you're seeing - we'll tell you the right answer honestly.
What You Pay
Drain Snaking Pricing in Southeast Michigan
We give upfront pricing before work starts - no surprise invoices. Here's a general range so you know what to expect:
Prices vary based on access difficulty, time of day, and what's found once we're in the line. We'll quote you exactly before touching anything.
Clogged Drain FAQ
Can we snake my own drain instead of calling a plumber?
You can try - hand-cranked drain snakes from the hardware store work fine for shallow clogs close to the fixture. The problem is most homeowners don't have the right size cable for the pipe, don't use the right cutting head for the obstruction type, and can't reach blockages that are deeper in the line. If the DIY snake doesn't clear it on the first try, call us - don't keep forcing it or you risk pushing the clog deeper or damaging the line.
Why does my drain keep clogging in the same spot?
Recurring clogs in the same location usually mean one of three things: the clog was never fully cleared (just poked through), there's buildup on the pipe walls that keeps accumulating, or there's a structural issue like a belly in the pipe, root intrusion, or a partial collapse that creates a natural trap point. We’ll put a camera in the line if a recurring clog doesn't respond to snaking - that's the only way to know for sure what's causing it.
How long will a drain cleaning last?
A properly cleared drain with no underlying pipe issues should stay clear for at least a year with normal use. If the same drain starts slowing within weeks, there's something more going on - grease buildup that snaking didn't remove, root intrusion that cut through faster than expected, or a structural issue in the pipe. We’ll get to the bottom of it.
What's the difference between a plumber's snake and a store-bought one?
Professional drain snakes have longer cables (50–100 feet vs. 15–25 feet for consumer models), stronger electric motors, and interchangeable cutting heads designed for different types of obstructions. A consumer snake is fine for a surface-level hair clog near the drain opening - but for anything in the main line or deeper into the branch drain, you need professional equipment.
Is snaking safe for old cast iron pipes?
Yes - drain snaking is generally safe on cast iron pipes, even old ones. The cable is flexible and the cutting head is sized to the pipe - it doesn't exert the kind of lateral pressure that could damage a pipe wall. Hydro jetting on structurally compromised pipe is a bigger concern, which is why we run a camera first if there's any doubt about pipe condition.
Do you snake main sewer lines?
Yes. Main sewer line snaking is one of my most common calls. We access the line through the main cleanout (usually near the foundation or in the basement) and run a heavy-duty cable to break through tree root intrusion, grease buildup, and debris. If the same line has backed up before, we recommend a camera inspection alongside the snaking so we can see what's actually in there and whether a more thorough cleaning like hydro jetting is warranted.
How do we know if my drain clog is in the branch line or the main sewer?
Branch drain clogs affect only one fixture - one sink, one tub, one toilet. Main sewer line clogs affect multiple fixtures simultaneously. Classic signs of a main line clog: water backs up in the shower when you flush the toilet, multiple drains are slow at the same time, or water comes up through your basement floor drain. If you're seeing those signs, call us - it needs immediate attention.
WHO WE SERVE
Residential & Commercial - Both Done Right
Homeowners & Residential
Every service Pete offers is available for residential homes - from a single backed-up bathroom sink to a full main sewer line camera inspection and hydro jetting. Upfront pricing. 1-year workmanship warranty. No surprises.
Restaurants & Commercial Kitchens
Grease buildup in commercial kitchen lines is one of the most common - and most damaging - drain problems. Pete provides commercial-grade hydro jetting, grease trap line cleaning, and recurring FOG maintenance for restaurants and food service operations throughout Metro Detroit.
Multi-Family & Property Managers
Own rental units or manage multi-family properties? Pete works with landlords and property managers who need fast, reliable drain and sewer service with documented work records. Whether it is one unit or an entire building, we respond and get it done.
PRICING & PAYMENT
Flexible Payment Options & Our Price Guarantee
Financing Available
Drain and sewer work can be unexpected. Pete The Plumber works with third-party financing partners to help make the cost manageable. Ask about financing options when you call - approval is quick and getting your drain fixed shouldn't wait.
1-Year Workmanship Warranty
Every drain cleaning and plumbing service comes with a 1-year workmanship warranty. If the problem recurs due to our work, we come back at no charge. That's the Pete The Plumber guarantee.
Clogged Drain? Let's Get It Cleared Today.
Serving Livonia, Dearborn Heights, Wayne County & all of Southeast Michigan. 24/7 availability. Upfront pricing. 1-year workmanship warranty.