What you might notice
- Water drains slowly or backs up into the other side of a double sink
- Dishwasher water comes up in the sink
- A bad smell from the drain or disposal
- The same kitchen clog keeps coming back every few months
Likely causes
- Fats, oils and grease (often called FOG) that harden inside the pipe
- Food scraps, rice, pasta, coffee grounds and eggshells
- Garbage disposal debris that did not get flushed through
- Build-up further down the kitchen line, often where it runs under the slab
Safe things to try first
- If you have a disposal, turn it off at the switch, then press the red reset button on the bottom of the unit. Never put your hand inside.
- Some disposals have a hex socket on the bottom; with the power off, turn it back and forth with the matching key to free a jam.
- For a double sink, seal the other drain with a wet rag or stopper, then use a cup plunger with a few inches of water.
- Run hot tap water for a minute after the clog clears.
- From now on, wipe greasy pans with a paper towel and throw scraps in the trash.
If water starts rising or you see sewage, stop and call. Don’t take apart anything you’re not comfortable putting back together.
When to call a pro
- The sink is still slow after plunging
- The kitchen clog comes back every few months, which usually means grease is built up along the line
- Water backs up into another fixture when the kitchen drains
- You smell sewage, not just food, from the drain
What Rooter Champion does
For a single clog, our $55 drain cleaning clears the kitchen line and includes a free camera inspection so you can see the grease and what is left in the pipe. If the camera shows heavy grease coating the pipe walls, we may recommend hydro jetting, which uses high-pressure water to scour the build-up off the walls instead of just punching a hole through it. You see the footage first and decide.
Grease that coats the whole line usually needs hydro jetting; if several drains back up, see main sewer line clogs. Local to us? See drain service in Fullerton.
Our $55 drain cleaning includes a free camera inspection, so you can see the problem for yourself. Rooter Champion is family-owned, licensed and insured (CA Lic. #1063585).
Common questions
Can I pour grease down the drain with hot water?
No. Hot water only moves the grease a few feet before it cools and sticks. Let grease cool in a can or jar and throw it in the trash.
Why does my kitchen sink keep clogging after it was snaked?
A cable opens a path through the grease, but the rest can stay stuck to the pipe walls. That is when a camera inspection and hydro jetting make sense.
Is it safe to use a chemical drain cleaner in a garbage disposal?
We do not recommend it. Chemical cleaners can damage disposal parts and seals, and they leave caustic water in the sink that can splash you or whoever opens the drain next.
What customers say
5.0 stars from 52 Google reviews on our La Habra profile.
“Bryan is a professional who cares about your home. Our sink had a recurring drainage issue. Bryan and crew properly diagnosed it and got right to work. No more odor or gurgling. Thanks again!”
“David was great — cautious, took extra time to locate the issue, ran a couple snakes before the big one, and cleaned up all the mess. Didn’t try to oversell. One of the best plumbers I’ve ever met.”
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Local, family-owned, based in La Habra
Rooter Champion is a family-owned drain and sewer company at 1401 S Beach Blvd Unit A, La Habra, CA 90631. We serve homes and businesses in La Habra, Fullerton, La Mirada, Whittier and surrounding cities, including Brea, Placentia, Anaheim and Buena Park.
Open 7 days, 8am–5pm. We respond within 1 hour. Licensed & insured, CA Lic. #1063585.