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If you are clearing the same drain every few months, the clog is a symptom. Something further down the line is catching material, and until that is dealt with it will keep catching.
What a snake actually does
A cable punches a hole through the blockage and gets the water moving again. That is a real fix for a real clog, and often it is all you need. What it does not do is remove what is coating the pipe wall or fix the reason material is collecting there.
The usual causes on older lines
Grease
It goes down warm and sets on the pipe wall as it cools. Over time the opening narrows until anything solid catches.
Root intrusion
Common on older clay or cast lines around Jefferson County. Roots find a joint, work in, and then act like a net.
Belly or sag in the line
A section that has settled holds standing water, and solids drop out where the flow slows. Cabling that clears it today does nothing about the low spot.
When a camera earns its keep
We do not camera every drain. It is worth it when the same line clogs repeatedly, when more than one fixture is slow at once, or when you are buying a house and want to know what you are inheriting. The camera turns a guess into a picture.
What we recommend
Clear it first so the line is usable, then decide. If it is a one off, you are done. If the camera shows roots or a belly, we will talk through the repair options and what each one actually costs.
