Signs it's the kitchen line
- Water drains slowly from both bowls of a double sink, but bathrooms are fine.
- The dishwasher leaves water in its base, or the sink fills when it empties.
- A sour or greasy smell rises from the drain.
- The disposal runs but water stands in the bowl afterwards.
If other fixtures are also slow — especially on a lower floor — the blockage may be further down in a shared line. Main line clearing explains that difference.
Garbage disposal symptoms
Humming without turning may indicate a jam or motor problem. A disposal that will not run may have a tripped overload or another fault. Either can happen alongside a clog in the drain itself, and a disposal that spins while water stands may point to an obstruction further along. Tell our team whether it hums, turns and drains; assessment is needed.
Please don't reach into a disposal
Access questions our team may ask
- Is the space under the sink clear, or is it filled with storage or a water filter?
- Is there a cleanout on the kitchen branch in the basement or crawlspace?
- Is the sink on an island, where the line runs under the floor?
- In a multi-unit building, does the kitchen stack serve other units?
What kitchen clearing covers — and doesn't
Clearing typically means removing the trap or using a cleanout, running a cable suited to a small-diameter line, and testing flow. It does not include replacing a corroded trap, repairing a disposal, or opening walls. Heavy grease along a long run may be suitable for hydrojetting, but that is a separate method and our team should assess it first. If the same sink clogs again within months, a camera inspection can show why.