Before and after
What the homeowner called about
The garage floor drain, the one the water heater and HVAC drain into, was backing up in this Tulsa home, and "bad stuff" was coming out of it. The homeowner suspected the main line was clogged.
Why that drain matters
Michael says the first thing he checks on a whole-home inspection is the floor drain for the HVAC condensate line, "'cause the condensate builds up, like a bacteria builds up sludge, and those drains easily clog and they've seen them flood entire houses." A backed-up garage floor drain is next to two expensive pieces of equipment.
What our plumber found
Trystan and Josh cleared the line, and the cast iron inside "was actually really smooth." No scale buildup or damage, just a blockage.
How we fixed it
We cleared the interior drain line with our cable machine. We clear lines with cable machines and a flex-shaft chain cleaner. We don't offer hydro jetting. If the blades can't make it through, that usually means a break, roots or something caught, and that's when we'd run the camera.
If one drain is backing up, it's often just that line. If drains and a toilet are backing up together, "then it's always your sewer line." Tell the office what else in the house is slow when you call.
What this means for your home
- Keep an eye on the garage or utility floor drain. Slow drainage or smell is an early warning.
- Older Tulsa homes with cast iron aren't automatically in trouble. This one was in good shape.
- A clear line plus a working floor drain protects your water heater and HVAC.
You get a flat-rate price before any work starts. More on drain cleaning in Tulsa.
More about this service · Plumber in Tulsa · How our pricing works · All job stories
Straight Answers
Why is my garage floor drain backing up?
A blockage in the line can cause wastewater from your water heater and HVAC setup to push up through the garage floor drain.
What condition were the pipes in during the drain cleaning?
Our plumber inspected the line and found that the cast iron pipes were in good, smooth condition.
Do you charge extra if a job gets rescheduled?
We do not add overtime charges when a service appointment needs to be rescheduled.
How do you clean an interior floor drain?
Our crew clears interior drain lines professionally to stop messy backups quickly.
Do you offer hydro jetting?
No. We use cable machines and a flex-shaft chain cleaner.
Sewer smell in the house?
It is usually a dry trap: what to check first and when to call. Read the guide.
