Mechanical drain cleaning for clogs that snakes can clear: kitchen lines, bathroom branches, mainlines, and sewer laterals. Camera inspection available so you see what we see.
What rooter service does
A rooter is a powered cable with a cutting head on the end that grinds through whatever is blocking a drain. We run the cable from a cleanout or removed fixture down to the obstruction, cut through the blockage, and pull it back out. For root intrusion in older sewer laterals, the rooter cuts the roots flush with the pipe wall and restores flow.
Most clogs are clearable with rooter service alone. Some — heavy grease, deep scale, or extensive root mats — need hydrojetting after the rooter to clean the pipe walls. We will tell you upfront which one your situation needs.
When to call for rooter service
Multiple drains slow at once. If a tub drains slow when the kitchen sink runs, or the toilet bubbles when the washer drains, the issue is in the mainline, not at any individual fixture. Stop running water immediately and call us.
A single drain that has been getting slower over weeks. Hair and soap buildup in bathroom drains is gradual. By the time you notice, the line is 60-80% blocked. A 30-minute rooter call clears it.
A mainline cleanout that's gurgling or has standing water at the cap. That is a backed-up sewer and needs immediate clearing before sewage reaches floor drains or fixtures.
A toilet that flushes slowly and other drains nearby slow down right after. Mainline blockage just past the toilet branch.
Why Valley homes get root intrusion
Many Reseda, Tarzana, and Encino homes were built between 1945 and 1965 with clay-tile sewer laterals. Clay joints are sealed with mortar that breaks down after 40-60 years. Tree roots — especially ficus, magnolia, and pine — sense moisture at the joints and grow into the pipe. Once inside, they form a mat that catches paper and grease.
Routine rooter service every 12-24 months keeps the line flowing. If the pipe is past 70 years old, has back-pitches, or has multiple offsets, lining or replacement is the better long-term answer. We'll tell you which category yours is in.
Our process
We start at the most accessible point — usually the cleanout outside the home or a removed toilet — and run a sectional cable sized to the line. For 4-inch sewer mains, we use a 5/8-inch cable with a cutting head. For 2-inch kitchen lines, a smaller cable.
Once flow is restored, we offer a camera inspection so you can see the pipe condition. The camera is included in some packages and is a flat add-on to others. We'll show you any cracks, offsets, or remaining root that informs whether you should plan for hydrojetting or eventual replacement.
Pricing guidance
Single fixture rooter: $145-$295. Mainline rooter: $225-$495. Camera inspection add-on: $125-$225. After-hours emergency rooter has a trip charge plus the standard rate. We quote a flat rate before starting; if the cable cannot clear the line because of a structural issue (collapse, severe back-pitch), you pay the diagnostic only and we put that toward the next-step repair.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a rooter service take?
- Single-fixture clogs usually clear in 30-45 minutes. Mainline clogs take 1-2 hours including setup, clearing, and cleanup.
- Do you do video inspection?
- Yes. We carry a self-leveling color camera that records the inspection so you can keep the file. Recommended after a mainline rooter or when you are buying a home in the Valley.
- What if the rooter doesn't clear it?
- If the cable can't punch through, the issue is structural — a collapse, severe offset, or full root takeover — and the line needs hydrojetting, lining, or replacement. We diagnose and quote on the spot.