If your sink is slow or your toilet keeps backing up, you’re not alone—clogged drains and toilets are among the most common Pasadena Plumbing calls we get at Pershing Plumbing.
Between older Pasadena homes with legacy piping, mature tree roots, and Southern California’s hard water, drain issues can pop up fast.
This guide explains why clogs happen, what you can try safely at home, how to prevent future problems, and when to call Pershing Plumbing, your trusted Pasadena Plumbing team.Quick takeaways
- Most clogs come from hair, grease, wipes, soap scum, and mineral buildup.
- Avoid chemical drain cleaners; they can damage pipes and toilets.
- Use a proper plunger and a simple drain snake for minor blockages.
- Recurrent or multi-fixture backups usually mean a main sewer line issue—time to call a Pasadena Plumbing pro at Pershing Plumbing.
Common Causes of Clogged Drains In Pasadena
- Hair and soap scum: Hair binds with soap residue, forming sticky clumps that catch more debris—especially in showers and bathroom sinks.
- Grease and cooking oils: In the kitchen, cooled grease hardens inside pipes. Add food particles, coffee grounds, or pasta starch, and you’ve got a stubborn clog.
- “Flushable” wipes and paper products: Despite the label, most wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. They snag on rough spots in older pipes common in Pasadena homes.
- Mineral buildup: Southern California’s hard water leaves scale inside pipes, narrowing flow and catching debris.
- Foreign objects: Cotton swabs, dental floss, hygiene products, and kids’ toys can block traps and toilet bends.
- Tree roots: Pasadena’s mature trees send roots into tiny cracks in older clay or cast-iron sewer lines, causing slow drains, gurgling, and recurring backups.
- Low-flow fixtures with outdated design: Early-generation low-flow toilets can be more clog-prone, especially when paired with older drain layouts.
Signs You’re Dealing With A Clog (And How Serious It Is)
- One slow drain: Likely a local clog in that fixture’s trap or branch line.
- Multiple slow drains or backups: Often a main sewer line problem—call Pershing Plumbing for Pasadena Plumbing service.
- Gurgling or bubbling in toilets when running water elsewhere: Air is trapped; this points to a venting issue or a partial sewer line blockage.
- Bad odors from drains: Accumulated organic buildup or a deeper sewer issue.
- Water backing up in a shower or tub when the washing machine drains: A strong sign the main line is restricted.
Safe DIY steps before you call
Try these simple, safe approaches. If they don’t work quickly, stop and call Pershing Plumbing to avoid worsening the clog.
- For sinks and showers:
- Remove the stopper or drain cover and clear visible hair/debris.
- Use a plastic drain zipper or a small hand snake to grab hair clumps.
- Flush with hot (not boiling) water to help dissolve soap and light grease. Avoid pouring boiling water into porcelain fixtures, and be cautious with PVC piping.
- For toilets:
- Use a flange plunger (not a cup plunger). Ensure the flange fits snugly in the toilet outlet and plunge with steady, controlled pushes.
- If you see water rising toward the rim, stop and shut off the water at the valve behind the toilet.
- A toilet auger (closet auger) can safely break up deeper clogs that a plunger can’t reach.
- For P-traps (under sinks):
- Place a bucket under the trap, loosen the slip nuts, and remove the trap to clear sludge. Reinstall carefully and check for leaks.
- What to avoid:
- Chemical drain cleaners: They can corrode pipes, crack toilet porcelain, and are hazardous.
- Over-tight force: Excessive plunging or snaking can damage seals and older pipes.
- Mixing DIY methods: Don’t combine chemical cleaners with other products—dangerous reactions can occur.
Prevention tips that actually work
Taking a few small steps can save you from future Pasadena Plumbing headaches.
- Bathroom drains:
- Install fine-mesh hair catchers in showers and tubs.
- Clean stoppers monthly; soap scum builds fast.
- Run hot water for a minute after showers to move residue along.
- Toilets:
- Only flush human waste and toilet paper. Keep a small trash bin nearby for wipes, floss, cotton pads, and hygiene products.
- If clogs are frequent, consider a toilet with a modern flush design and a full 3-inch flush valve.
- Kitchen sinks:
- Never pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain. Wipe pans with paper towels before washing.
- Use a sink strainer to catch food scraps.
- Rinse with hot water after dishwashing to reduce grease buildup.
- Whole-home maintenance:
- Use enzyme-based drain cleaners monthly to help break down organic buildup safely.
- If your home is older or has big trees, schedule periodic professional drain cleaning to reduce root or scale issues.
- Consider a camera inspection if you’ve had more than one main line backup; catching root intrusion early is key.
When to call a Pasadena Plumbing professional
If any of these apply, it’s time to contact Pershing Plumbing:
- Repeated clogs in the same drain despite DIY efforts
- Slow drainage across multiple fixtures
- Gurgling or sewer odors from several drains
- Water backing up in lower-level fixtures when upstairs plumbing is used
- Signs of root intrusion, collapsing pipes, or older clay/iron lines
- You’re concerned about damaging fixtures or pipes
How Pershing Plumbing Solves Clogged Drains and Toilets
As a local Pasadena Plumbing team, Pershing Plumbing understands the unique challenges of older homes, hard water, and root-prone sewer lines. Our approach is tailored to your plumbing system:
- Thorough diagnostics: We assess symptoms and, when appropriate, use camera inspections to pinpoint blockages, roots, or pipe damage.
- Professional drain cleaning: From targeted snaking for fixture lines to clearing main line blockages, we use the right tool for each clog.
- Hydro-jetting (when needed): High-pressure water can safely remove heavy grease, scale, and roots from inside pipes, restoring flow.
- Toilet repair and replacement: If clogs stem from the toilet’s design or wear, we can repair or recommend a modern, efficient model with stronger flush performance.
- Prevention plans: We’ll set up routine maintenance to keep drains clear and reduce emergency calls.
Local insight: Pasadena’s combination of historic houses, mature landscaping, and mineral-heavy water is a perfect storm for recurring clogs. Pershing Plumbing’s Pasadena Plumbing team has seen it all—from root-filled clay lines to soap-clogged cast iron—and we’ll recommend solutions that last.
FAQ
Clogged drains and toilets
What’s the quickest safe fix for a slow shower drain?
A: Remove the cover, pull hair with a plastic zipper tool, then flush with hot water. Avoid chemicals; they rarely dissolve hair as promised and can harm pipes.
Are “flushable” wipes really safe to flush?
A: No. They tend to stay intact and snag in older pipes. Toss them in the trash to prevent clogs and sewer backups.
Why do my drains gurgle?
A: Gurgling indicates trapped air, often from a partial blockage or venting issue. If multiple fixtures gurgle, call Pershing Plumbing for Pasadena Plumbing service to inspect the main line.
Can hard water cause clogs?
A: Yes. Mineral scale narrows pipes and catches debris. Regular maintenance and, in some cases, a water treatment solution can help.
Your Trusted Pasadena Plumbing Partner
Clogs can be simple—or a warning sign of bigger sewer issues. If your DIY efforts aren’t cutting it, Pershing Plumbing is ready to help. We’ll identify the cause, clear the blockage safely, and offer prevention tips tailored to your home.