Drain cleaning services in Altadena, CA

Drain conditions in Altadena

Altadena's older homes sit on raised foundations, so the drain line runs through the crawl space under the floor. Laterals of that age are commonly clay, laid in short lengths whose joints can shift over decades. The streets climb toward the foothills, with stepped lots that put the house higher than the street, so fall can be steep in one stretch and flat in the next. Old oak, cedar and camphor trees shade many yards, and roots can reach joints over time.

Tell the call-taker which fixtures are slow and whether the house has a crawl space. The cleanout may be on a different level from the house, so say where it is. Clear the crawl-space hatch before the visit. If a hillside lot has a pump, mention it. When clearing gives only short relief, ask for a camera look to see the condition of the pipe; repair advice comes after the technician sees it. Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, San Marino and South Pasadena are close.

Raised foundations and the pipe under the floor

Many Altadena homes date from the early and middle twentieth century and stand on raised foundations with a crawlspace. The drain lines run under the floor where a technician can see them, with cast iron or galvanized pipe inside and clay laterals outside.

Typical issues are sagging runs, loosened joints, scale in iron and root entry at the lateral. Reaching the crawlspace needs a clear hatch. See raised-foundation drain clogs and cast iron drain cleaning.

Scale and the rough wall in older iron

Cast iron lasts decades but scales inside, narrowing the bore and roughening the wall. Hair, grease and paper catch on a rough wall, so a line that clears and slows again within weeks is a classic sign. Every Altadena home is a little different, so describe yours when you call.

A camera shows how much scale there is and how much wall remains, which decides whether a cable or a jet makes sense. See hydro jetting.

Foothill streets and stepped lots

Streets climb toward the foothills, and lots step up and down from the road. A lateral falls quickly on the steeper stretches and slows where the grade flattens, which is where solids settle and roots take hold.

A camera finds the low point faster than guessing from the street. Tell the call-taker whether the house sits above or below the road. Every Altadena home is a little different, so describe yours when you call.

Oak, cedar, camphor and old shade trees

Altadena is known for tall trees, including deodar cedars, oaks and camphors. Roots and pipes share the same soil, and a tree rarely harms a sound pipe, because the pipe usually has to leak at a joint first.

Where the lateral runs, how old it is and how the tree grows decide how often a line needs a look. See tree root removal and clay sewer lateral clogs.

Cleanouts on different levels

A sloped lot may have two cleanouts, one by the house and one lower on a terrace. Picking the right one saves time, and the order can matter when a line runs through several levels. Never try to open one on a backed-up line.

Tell the technician about stairs and gates. If you cannot find the cleanout, say so. See cleanout location and access.

What to say when you call from Altadena

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

Altadena drain questions