Sewer Repair
Tree roots, cracked clay pipe and repeat backups in the line from your house to the street.
Serving Chicagoland Since 1993
Drain Cleaning in Northbrook, IL
A kitchen sink that won't drain, a shower that floods your ankles or a basement floor drain that gurgles. We find what's causing it, clear it and tell you how to keep it from coming back, with a flat price before we start. J. Blanton is headquartered on Techny Road, 24/7.
Know the Signs
When to Call for Drain Cleaning
Call a plumber when plunging doesn't work, when the same drain clogs again within a few weeks, or when you smell sewage near a drain. Pay attention to where the clog shows up. One slow sink is a local clog. A floor drain that gurgles when the washer runs, or a tub that fills when you flush, means the main line is involved and needs sewer rodding.
Clogged Drain Repair in Northbrook
Most clogged drains have an ordinary cause: hair and soap in a bathroom, grease and food in the kitchen, lint and sediment in a laundry or floor drain. We clear the clog with a cable sized for the pipe, then tell you what we pulled out and why it built up.
In Northbrook, the age of the house often explains a stubborn clog. About a third of homes here were built between 1940 and 1969, with cast iron and galvanized drains that roughen inside. If a clog keeps coming back, a quick camera look tells us if it's buildup on the pipe wall that needs hydro jetting.
Kitchen Sink Drain Unclogging
Kitchen sinks clog slowly. Grease, starch and coffee grounds coat the pipe a little more every day until water stops moving. Many Northbrook kitchens have been remodeled, but the drain behind the new cabinets is often the original one.
If water backs up into the other bowl, or the dishwasher drains into the sink, the clog is past the trap and needs a cable. We clear it, check the line to the stack and show you what was in it. If the disposal is part of the problem, see garbage disposal repair.
Why Drains Clog in Northbrook Homes
The median Northbrook home was built in 1976. Most homes here fall into two groups: postwar ranches and split-levels, and the larger homes of the 1970s and 1980s. Their drains clog for different reasons.
Cast Iron and Galvanized in Postwar Homes
Older drains get rough on the inside as they age. Rough pipe catches hair, soap and grease, so clogs return faster. Chemical drain cleaners speed up the wear.
Long Drain Runs in Bigger Homes
Two-story homes with bathrooms on every floor have long drain runs and more turns. Every turn is a place for a clog to start, and a kitchen at the far end of the house often clogs first.
Lower-Level Laundry
In many split-levels, the washer drains into a floor drain or laundry tub on the lower level. Lint from years of laundry builds up there and in the line below it.
Sewer Drain Clearing
When every drain slows down at once, or water comes up through the basement floor drain, the blockage is in the main sewer drain. Clearing it takes a machine that can reach the whole line from the cleanout, not a handheld snake.
We clear the main line, then camera it so you can see what caused the blockage: roots, grease, a sag or a broken joint. If it's a one-time clog, you're done. If it's the third time this year, we'll walk you through sewer rodding schedules, hydro jetting or a sewer repair.
The J. Blanton Difference773-724-9272
Why Choose J. Blanton for Drain Cleaning?
Every technician is licensed in Illinois and carries the cables and camera to clear a drain in one visit.
1. Weekend and Night Dispatch
A drain backup doesn't wait for business hours. Neither do we.
2. Upfront Pricing
Your technician will explain your options and provide a flat rate before any money changes hands.
3. We Find the Cause
We clear the drain and tell you what caused it, so you're not calling us back for the same clog next month.
Customer Stories
Drain Cleaning Reviews
4.7 stars from 5,669+ Google reviews across all J. Blanton locations.
★★★★★
"Ray was awesome! My kitchen sink was backed up and he took care of things courteously, neatly and thoroughly. Ray explained the mechanics of why my issue may have happened and how to prevent it from happening again. I recommend Ray and JVS to anyone looking for a plumber!"
★★★★★
"My plumber from now on! J Blanton was so easy and pleasant to schedule. Stephen W. arrived on time, super professional and kind. He was very clean and a great communicator. He new everything. I’ll call them again if I have an issue."
★★★★★
"J Blanton came in in short notice to complete a job that needed to be done right away. The technician was thorough, answered all of my questions, and recommended some preventative steps we could take going forward. Job well done!"
Got Questions?
Drain Cleaning Questions From Northbrook Homeowners
It depends on where the clog is and what's causing it. You get a flat price before any work begins.
It depends on where the clog is, how far down the line it sits and what's causing it. A kitchen sink is a different job than a main line backup. We give you a flat price before any work begins.
The main line is partly blocked, so water from the washer has nowhere to go. It needs main line clearing.
When the washer empties, it sends a lot of water down at once. If the main line is partly blocked, that water backs up into the lowest opening, usually the floor drain. It's a main line problem, and it needs sewer drain clearing, not a plunger.
Yes. Our line is open 24/7 and our headquarters is in Northbrook.
Yes. Our phone line is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays, and our headquarters is right here on Techny Road. Call us when the drain backs up, not the next business day.
They only work on grease and soap, and they can wear down older cast iron and clay pipes.
Because they only work on grease and soap buildup. They won't touch roots, lint or pipe scale, and in older cast iron and galvanized drains, like the ones in many postwar Northbrook homes, the chemicals can speed up corrosion. A drain that seems cleared often clogs again within days because the real blockage is still there.
Yes, when the clog keeps coming back. It gets to the actual cause instead of masking it.
If the clog comes back within days, or you're dealing with slow drains in multiple fixtures, store-bought solutions are masking the problem, not fixing it. Professional drain cleaning gets to the actual cause, which is almost always cheaper than letting it go and dealing with a backup or pipe damage later.
Annual Protection Plan
Join the No Drip Club
Most plumbing problems start small. The No Drip Club brings a J. Blanton plumber to your home for regular maintenance, so small issues get caught before they turn into big repairs.
- Two Free Professional Maintenance Visits per Year
- 10% Discount on All General Plumbing & Sewer Services
- 5-Year Parts and Labor Warranty on Approved Projects
- VIP Priority Scheduling Status (Skip the Queue)
What We Fix
Plumbing Services in Northbrook
Learn More
Water Heaters
Repair and replacement for tank and tankless water heaters that leak, make noise or run out of hot water too fast.
Faucets & Fixtures
Leaky faucets, worn-out shut-off valves and new kitchen and bathroom fixture installs.
Sump Pumps
Sump pump repair, replacement and battery backups for heavy rain and spring snowmelt.
Gas Lines & Fireplaces
Gas line repair, leak detection and gas fireplace service.
Emergency Plumbing
Burst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water, any time of day or night.
Local Office, 24/7 Phone
Ready to Stop Thinking About Your Drains?
Our Northbrook office is at 1945 Techny Road, Suite 11, and our phone line is open 24/7.
We also serve Glenview, Northfield, Deerfield, Wheeling, Prospect Heights, Lincolnshire, Winnetka and more.
Need a Plumber?Call our Northbrook Office
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