Drain Cleaning & Unclogging

A clogged or slow drain is one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners deal with — and one of the most frustrating, because it’s the kind of thing that feels like it should be simple to fix. Sometimes it is. But when the store-bought solution doesn’t hold, or the same drain keeps backing up no matter what you try, it’s time to call someone who can get to the actual source of the problem. Drain cleaning is one of our most frequent calls, and we handle everything from a stubborn kitchen sink to a main line that’s backing up the whole house.

The DIY Fix Didn’t Work. You’re Not Alone.

Most homeowners dealing with a clogged drain try something first — a plunger, a bottle of drain cleaner, a snake from the hardware store. Sometimes it works. Often it provides temporary relief without addressing what’s actually causing the blockage. Chemical drain cleaners in particular are hard on pipes over time and rarely dissolve the kind of buildup that causes recurring clogs. If you’ve already tried the obvious things and the drain is still slow or backed up, that’s not a reflection on your effort — it’s a sign the clog is deeper or more stubborn than a DIY fix can reach.

Why Some Clogs Keep Coming Back

A drain that clogs repeatedly despite regular attempts to clear it is usually telling you something. In kitchen sinks, grease and food debris accumulate in the pipe walls over time and build up faster than any single clearing can address. In bathroom drains, years of soap scum and hair create a sticky residue that coats the inside of pipes and catches everything that passes through. In some cases a recurring clog points to a problem further down the line — a partial obstruction, a pipe that’s out of slope, or early root intrusion — that won’t respond to surface-level treatment. Getting a persistent clog properly assessed is how you stop clearing the same drain every few months.

What Professional Drain Cleaning Actually Does

Professional drain cleaning goes further than anything available at the hardware store. Hydro jetting — a high-pressure water process — scours the interior walls of pipes and removes accumulated grease, scale, and debris rather than just punching a hole through the blockage. A drain snake or auger in the right hands reaches deeper and more effectively than consumer versions. For more complex situations, a camera inspection can identify exactly what’s causing the problem and where, which makes the cleaning more targeted and confirms the line is clear when the work is done. The right tool depends on the drain, the clog, and what’s causing it.

When a Slow Drain Is More Than a Slow Drain

Multiple slow drains throughout the house at the same time, drains that gurgle when other fixtures run, or sewage odors coming from drains are all signs that the problem isn’t isolated to a single drain — it’s in the main line. These situations go beyond standard drain cleaning and into sewer line territory, which requires a different diagnostic approach and potentially a different repair. Catching this distinction early matters, because treating a main line problem as a simple clog is how small issues become expensive ones. If what you’re experiencing seems to be affecting more than one drain, mention that when you call — it helps us get to the right answer faster.

Fitch Clears Drains Across Charlottesville — Fast

Drain cleaning is one of the services where response time matters, and we take that seriously. We’re a licensed, family-owned company that has been serving Charlottesville and the surrounding area since 1983 — and a backed-up drain is not something we think you should have to live with longer than necessary. Whether it’s a kitchen sink, a shower, a toilet, or something that’s affecting the whole house, give us a call and we’ll get it sorted out.