Drain cleaning services in Burlingame, CA

Drain conditions in Burlingame

Burlingame's prewar blocks hold many homes from the early twentieth century, often raised, with lateral lines that are commonly clay and sometimes patched with plastic. The streets roll gently toward the bay, giving usable fall in most places, though a flat stretch near the street can slow solids. Old street trees stand over many of these lines, and winter rain keeps roots active near clay joints.

Where a house has been remodeled or enlarged, mention it, since extra baths and kitchens may feed an old lateral that was sized for less. Cleanouts are commonly near the front of the house, at a side wall, or in a crawlspace, and hillside lots may add steps or a pump for a lower room. Describe which fixtures are slow and when. If a clog returns after a cable pass, ask for a camera look. Work here often links to San Mateo, Millbrae, San Bruno and Belmont.

Prewar blocks and old pipe

Prewar homes on raised floors have clay and iron laterals repaired many times, with joints between different materials.

Also see raised-foundation drain clogs and clay sewer lateral clogs. More detail for your Burlingame situation.

Old street trees

Large old street trees send roots toward any joint that leaks, and a mat forms in the pipe.

A camera shows where. See tree root removal.

Hillside lots

Lots above downtown climb, so a lateral drops fast and flattens near the street.

Note which fixture overflows first. See sewer camera inspection. It helps to know roughly when your Burlingame home was built.

Winter rain

Wet winters keep soil damp and roots active, and rain enters old joints.

Jot the date and recent weather. See main sewer line clogs. Your Burlingame lot and its trees may change the picture.

Remodels, additions and old laterals

Older homes here are often remodeled or enlarged. New bathrooms, a second kitchen or a finished attic add fixtures to a lateral sized for the original house, and the new branches can tie in at an angle or run shallow.

Tell the call-taker what was added and when the first clog came. A camera shows the connection and any step or sag, and the footage helps decide on a repair.

Broadway, Burlingame Avenue and the shops

Burlingame has two busy shopping streets with restaurants, salons and small offices whose floor drains share mains with nearby homes. When grease builds in a main under the commercial blocks, houses on the first side streets can slow down first, and the cause is outside the house.

If neighbors on your block have had trouble, say so on the call. A camera at the connection to the main shows whether the blockage is shared, and the technician can tell you whether to call the city or the building manager next.

What to say when you call from Burlingame

• Say whether a tree stands between the house and the street, and how large it is.
• Note which fixture slowed first. On a long old run, the first slow drain points to the stretch of line that is failing.
• Give the build decade if you know it. Homes from before the war are more likely to have clay in the lateral.

Common questions