Drains & Cleaning

First, check to see if all the drains on all levels of the house are running slow or stopped. If your home uses a septic system, it could be a sign of system failure. With homes using a municipal wastewater system, the problem may lie in the sewer main or an improper cross-connection. If only one drain is running slow, it’s more likely a blocked or partially blocked trap.

First, try using a toilet plunger to clear a simple blockage. Be sure there’s plenty of water in the sink, tub or toilet, and the blocked drain is filled with water. If this isn’t successful, we suggest a service call. Take caution in using chemical drain cleaners. If the drain is completely stopped, do not use a chemical drain cleaner, because the chemical cleaner won’t reach the blockage when there is no water movement. Also, see our Bathrooms section for more service information.

Call us… our technicians will use the right tools, such as professional power cleaning equipment to clear the drain or sewer line. Once the line is clear, an inspection camera will be used to identify the cause of blockage and its location.

The basement of homes today should have a floor drain to remove any water from a sink or clothes washer overflow, or an air conditioner condensation line. The drain may backup when storm water from municipal main lines are unable to take water away fast enough during heavy rainfall or flood conditions -- even if a basement sump pump has been installed. Unfortunately, the backup may also include raw sewage, causing even more damage.

There are several ways to prevent sewer backups. The two most popular are a standpipe or a backwater valve. The standpipe is simply a PVC pipe, usually 4-feet long, that is fitted to a basement floor drain and enclosed with a watertight rubber seal. The inexpensive standpipe can be effective, but not foolproof. You must remember, or be available, to put it in before a storm hits, or leave it in permanently -- which will not allow standing water to drain out.

To make the basement completely safe from sewage backup at the floor drain -- consider installing a backwater valve, also called a backflow prevention valve. The backwater valve is installed in the basement, at the drain exit point from the house, by connecting it to a lateral sewer drain line under the concrete floor. The valve allows water and effluent to drain out, but not come in from an outside main.

It’s suggested that the backwater valve be serviced by the homeowner or a Molitor Plumbing tech every spring and fall for a simple inspection and cleaning if needed. Backwater valves can only be installed by a licensed plumber, such as Molitor Plumbing, LLC. Give us a call to learn more about this feature.