Beat the blockages: Calgary’s drain cleaning specialists
Do you have a slow drain in your sink due to cooking fat or hair? Or a more serious blockage in your sewer system that requires blasting with high pressure? Or perhaps you just need some drain cleaning to prevent future problems… From nasty household blockages to the most stubborn clogs in sewage systems, you can beat the blockages with Pete The Plumber.
We’ve been doing this for two decades; we know how to find the cause – and the best solution – for any type of clogged drain.
We can help you:
- Clear general drain blockages e.g. slow drains in the kitchen, bath, or toilet;
- Clear extra-stubborn clogs: using a chemical-free, jet-flush solution that clears those blockages that just won’t let go – without damaging pipes;
- Maintain your drains and sewage system with regular cleaning to prevent future problems;
- Remove tree roots that can lead to drain problems.
The latest technology for inspecting drains and diagnosing the problem allows us to get a close-up view of the drain system: this helps us recommend the best possible solution for long-term clearance.
Emergency Drain Cleaning for Calgary
If the solution involves the purchase of any new equipment, our bulk-buying purchasing power in Calgary ensures cost-savings are passed on to you, the customer.
If it’s a problem that needs urgent attention and you’re in the Calgary area, simply call us on 587-848-5962 for an emergency visit. A certified plumber will be with you ASAP.
If it’s more routine, book a convenient time online with us.
Drain & Sewer Clog Cleaning for Calgary
Pete the Plumber provides drain and sewer clog cleaning in Calgary for everything from kitchen and bathroom clogs to storm, yard, and main sewer line backups, restoring proper flow and preventing repeat blockages.
- Sewer Cleaning Services
- Storm Drain Cleaning
- Yard Drain
- Sewer Backup
- Sewer Drain Leaks
- Kitchen Sink Clog
- Vanity Sink Clog
- Shower Stalls Backed up
- Leader Drain Blocked
- Toilet Back up
- Valve Issues
- Broken Plumbing
Our Calgary Drain Cleaning Process
Diagnose the problem & confirm symptoms
We start by reviewing what you are experiencing, slow drains, gurgling, odours, or backups. Our technician asks when the issue began, whether it affects one fixture or multiple drains, and whether it is getting worse. This helps us narrow down whether the clog is local or may involve the main line.
Inspect the drain line with a camera
When needed, we use a drain camera to locate the blockage and assess pipe condition. This lets us confirm the cause, such as grease buildup, hair, soap scum, foreign objects, or tree roots, so we can fix the source of the problem, not just provide a temporary clear.
Select the right drain cleaning method
Based on what we find, we choose the most effective approach for your specific drain and pipe type. Our trucks carry professional equipment, including augers and hydro jetting tools, so we can match the solution to the clog and the line.
Clear the blockage and restore full flow
We remove the clog using the selected equipment, breaking up buildup and clearing the line thoroughly. We work carefully to protect your plumbing while ensuring the drain is properly cleaned, not just “punched through.”
Verify fix & confirm a clear drain
After cleaning, we run water to confirm drainage and proper flow. When appropriate, we complete a follow-up camera check to confirm the line is fully clear and that nothing remains that could cause a quick re-clog.
Drain and Sewer Problems Specific to Calgary Homes
Calgary drain failures are rarely just about what went down the sink. Most city-wide issues are driven by two main factors: home age, and the mature tree canopy in inner-city neighbourhoods. We’ve broken down how these factors impact your sewer line below.
What your pipes are made of, and why it changes the fix
Your sewer line’s material dictates the solution, and equipment designed for one material can severely damage another. Older Calgary neighbourhoods typically have clay tile or cast iron lines. Clay tile is prone to joint shifts, while cast iron develops internal scale buildup, a rough corrosion layer that narrows the pipe, catches debris and causes recurring clogs.
Conversely, newer Calgary homes use ABS, a smooth black plastic pipe built with continuous runs and tight joints. Because these seamless connections prevent tree roots from intruding, backups in ABS lines are rarely structural and are almost always caused by foreign objects, grease accumulation, flushable wipes, or garburator waste.
Choosing the right equipment is vital. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to blast away grease and scale, making it ideal for ABS and cast iron. However, this pressure can risk forcing loose joints apart in aging clay lines. To ensure the safest method, we always perform a camera inspection first to identify the pipe material before selecting our clearing tools.
Tree roots versus grease: why the problem differs by neighbourhood
In pre-1960 areas like Mount Royal or Hillhurst, clay or cast iron sewer lines are common. Mature elm and poplar roots easily enter these joints. Many of these homes lack easy cleanouts, requiring technicians to go through floor drains or pull toilets, which adds complexity to the repair.
Suburbs built from 1960 to 1980, like Acadia or Dalhousie, typically have cast iron pipes with decades of scale buildup. Trees here are now reaching sewer-line depth, making root intrusion common. Clearing only the immediate blockage without addressing the underlying scale or roots ensures the issue will return.
In communities built after 2000, like Auburn Bay or Sage Hill, ABS plastic pipes mean roots are rarely the problem. Backups here are usually caused by grease, wipes, or garburator waste. Understanding these community-specific trends allows our team to bring the right equipment to fix the problem efficiently.
Your home’s age is a reliable predictor of underground issues. Knowing whether a line likely has roots, scale, or a simple blockage saves time and ensures the right fix on the first visit.
Who Is Responsible for Your Sewer Line in Calgary?
Where the City’s responsibility ends and yours begins
The City of Calgary maintains the sanitary sewer main beneath the street. You are responsible for the pipe on your property, and your financial and maintenance responsibility stops at the property line.
When a backup is reported, City crews run a steel snake through your cleanout to determine whether the blockage is on private property or within the City’s system. If it is on private property, you need to contact a licensed plumber. If it is in the main, the City handles the repair.
The property line is the definitive point where your responsibility ends and the City’s begins. For details specific to your property, contact 311.
(Source: City of Calgary, Sewage backups.)
When to call 311 instead of a plumber
Call 311 first if sewage is backing up into multiple fixtures at once, or coming up through the lowest floor drain. Report it so City crews can verify the public main is flowing freely.
Call a plumber if the clog is isolated to a single fixture, such as one toilet, shower or kitchen sink. The issue is within your home’s internal plumbing.
Not every basement water problem is a sewer problem. Clear water seeping in from the floor or walls usually points to groundwater and a sump system, while sewage odours or water backing up through the lowest floor drain point to the sanitary sewer. The two have different causes and different fixes, so knowing which one you are dealing with saves a wasted service call.
Drain Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions
You likely need professional drain cleaning if drains are slow, you hear gurgling, you smell sewage-like odours, or clogs keep returning.
Common signs include:
- Slow drains in sinks, tubs, or showers
- Gurgling sounds from drains or toilets
- Recurring clogs in the same fixture
- Bad odours coming from drains
- Water backing up in a tub or shower when another fixture runs
If more than one drain is slow, or you have backups, it may be a main drain or sewer line issue.
Drain cleaning cost in Canada depends on where the clog is located, how severe it is, and the method needed to clear it. After-hours or emergency service can increase the total cost.
Pricing typically varies based on:
- Location of the blockage (fixture drain vs main line)
- Severity of the clog (light buildup vs full blockage)
- Method required (snaking, hydro jetting, camera inspection)
- Timing (regular hours vs emergency call)
A Calgary plumber can often provide a ballpark range after a few questions, then confirm once the drain is assessed.
Chemical drain cleaners are usually not recommended because they can damage pipes, create hazards during repairs, and often do not remove the underlying buildup.
Common risks include:
- Damaging older pipes or some plastic piping
- Hardening grease and buildup, making clogs worse
- Causing chemical exposure risks for anyone servicing the drain later
For a slow drain, safer first steps can include hot water and a plunger. If the issue keeps returning, professional drain cleaning is often the better fix.
Snaking clears a blockage by breaking through a clog to restore flow, while hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to clean buildup off the inside of the pipe.
- Drain snaking (augering): Best for localized blockages like hair, paper, or small obstructions.
- Hydro jetting: Best for grease, sludge, and recurring clogs because it cleans the pipe walls, not just one spot.
If clogs keep returning, hydro jetting is often more effective long-term.
Recurring clogs usually mean there is buildup in the pipe, an obstruction deeper in the line, or a main drain issue that DIY methods are not fixing.
Common causes include:
- Grease and soap buildup narrowing the pipe
- Hair accumulation in tubs and showers
- “Flushable” wipes catching in the line
- Older pipes with internal scaling or rough spots
- Improper slope or pipe issues
- Tree roots or damage in the main sewer line
If the same drain keeps clogging or multiple fixtures are affected, a plumber may recommend a camera inspection to find the cause.
Yes we can, our trucks are equipped with a ¼” cable up to 50’ to a 1 ¼’ up to 135’ and can go farther if notified.
Drain cleaning service areas in Calgary
Our trucks run out of our southeast Calgary shop on 112 Avenue SE and clear drains in every quadrant of the city, seven days a week.
Northwest Calgary
- Panorama Hills
- Tuscany
- Royal Oak
- Edgemont
- Dalhousie
- Varsity
- Brentwood
- Bowness
- Hillhurst
- Sage Hill
Northeast Calgary
- Saddle Ridge
- Taradale
- Martindale
- Coral Springs
- Whitehorn
- Rundle
- Marlborough
- Temple
- Coventry Hills
- Bridgeland/Riverside
Southwest Calgary
- Evergreen
- Aspen Woods
- Signal Hill
- Bridlewood
- Shawnessy
- Woodbine
- Oakridge
- Haysboro
- Altadore
- Killarney/Glengarry
Southeast Calgary
- Auburn Bay
- Cranston
- Mahogany
- McKenzie Towne
- Lake Bonavista
- Acadia
- Douglasdale
- Riverbend
- Midnapore
- Inglewood
Don't see your community? We cover the whole city. Call and we'll confirm your street straight away.
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