Q. Besides using drain cleaning products for slow drains, is there anything else I can do?

A. Use drain-guards in your shower to catch hair, and clean drain guards and sink stops from time to time. Another consideration - and a more long-lasting solution - is high-pressure water jetting. This method removes backup-causing debris from pipe walls - that's the stuff that castches organic wastes like food, grease, and hair, and causes clogs. In regards to drain cleaning products, Winters employs and recommends Bio-Clean. This fast-acting, non-poisonous blend of natural bacteria and enzymes is effective without harm to people, plumbing, or environment.

Q. What is high pressure jetting exactly?

A. High pressure jetting technology is used to treat clogs that are both hard to reach and stubborn. By using water at a tremendous pressure, a hose is repeatedly propelled through the line and pulled back, which results in high-powered water jets and the removal of buildup on pipe walls. This method is safe and also works to prevent future clogs.

Q. When would you use cable snaking?

A. If the appropriate location of the clog is known, cable snaking may prove to be the quickest and easiest remedy. But for hard to reach clogs - or ones that are difficult to locate - we suggest video inspection to effectively identify the location and extent.

Q. When I have a kitchen sink backup, or any backup for that matter, should I contact a professional immediately?

A. Not necessarily. First, turn off the faucet water at the location of the backup. Use a drain cleaning product, as instructed, to clear the clog. And if the water level shows no sign of subsiding, you might try a plunger. But if neither of these works, contact a professional.