A slow sink is annoying; a backed-up main line is a mess you can't ignore. Ludwig Family Plumbing clears every kind of drain in Lake in the Hills and across McHenry County — kitchen and bath sinks, tubs and showers, floor drains, laundry standpipes, and main sewer lines — and we find out why it clogged so it doesn't come right back.
We match the tool to the blockage: a proper cabling for a soft clog, or hydro jetting when grease, scale, or roots have coated the pipe wall. When a drain keeps backing up, we recommend a camera inspection instead of guessing.
Signs You Need Drain Cleaning
- One or more drains draining slowly or gurgling
- Water backing up into a tub, shower, or floor drain
- Sewage smell coming from drains
- Multiple fixtures clogged at once (a main-line sign)
- Repeat clogs in the same drain
Snaking vs. hydro jetting — and when each is right
Cabling (snaking) punches through a clog and is the right first move for most single-fixture backups. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the full inside diameter of the pipe, and it's the better answer for grease-caked kitchen lines, mineral scale, and root intrusion in a main line.
One honest caveat we always share: a clean line is not proof of a sound line. Hydro jetting removes buildup, but a pipe can still have a crack, an offset joint, or a collapsed section. That's why we camera the line when the history warrants it.
Camera inspection for recurring backups
If a drain clogs again and again, the blockage is a symptom, not the disease. A sewer camera inspection lets us see root intrusion, bellied pipe, or a broken lateral on video, locate it in the yard, and recommend a targeted repair — spot repair, lining, or replacement — instead of you paying for the same clearing over and over.
What affects the price
The cost depends on the job, not a made-up flat rate. Key factors:
- Which line — a single fixture vs. the main sewer
- Access point available (cleanout vs. pulling a toilet or fixture)
- Cabling vs. hydro jetting
- Severity — soft clog vs. heavy grease, scale, or roots
- Whether a camera inspection is added to diagnose a repeat problem
Our Drain Cleaning Process
Every job follows the same clear path — so you know what happens next and there are no surprises along the way.
- 1
Confirm which line is blocked
We find out whether it's a single fixture or the main sewer by checking how many fixtures back up and where the water goes.
- 2
Access the right cleanout
We clear through a proper cleanout wherever possible to protect your fixtures and reach the blockage directly.
- 3
Match the tool to the clog
A soft clog gets cabled; grease, scale, or roots get hydro jetting that scours the full pipe wall, not just a hole through the middle.
- 4
Camera a repeat offender
If a drain has clogged before, we put a camera in the line to see roots, a belly, or a break instead of guessing.
- 5
Confirm flow and prevent the next one
We test that the line runs clear and give you honest advice on what caused it and how to keep it from coming back.
Why McHenry County Homeowners Choose Ludwig
Anyone can snake a drain; we find out why it clogged so you're not calling someone back next month.
Family-Owned & Local
A family name you can trust, serving McHenry County since 2016. You reach us, not a call center.
24/7 Emergency Service
Burst pipe or backup at 2 a.m.? We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Fully licensed Illinois plumbers — your home and your investment are protected.
68 Five-Star Reviews
Neighbors across McHenry County rate us 4.9 stars for honest, quality work.
Drain Cleaning Across McHenry County & Beyond
We clear drains and main lines across Lake in the Hills, Cary, Crystal Lake, Carpentersville, and the older Fox Valley neighborhoods where clay laterals and grease build up.
Based in Lake in the Hills, we cover the whole county and the surrounding Fox Valley. Find your town on our service-areas page, or start with Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Cary, Huntley.
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Drain Cleaning FAQs
For repeat clogs, yes. Store-bought caustic cleaners rarely clear a real blockage, can damage older pipes, and make the drain dangerous for a plumber to work on. Mechanical clearing and jetting solve the problem without harming your plumbing.
When several fixtures back up at once — a toilet gurgles when the washer drains, or the tub fills when you flush — the blockage is usually in the main sewer line, not a single fixture. That needs main-line clearing, and often a camera to find the cause.
Yes. Hydro jetting with a root-cutting head clears the intrusion, and a camera inspection shows where the roots are entering so we can plan a lasting fix rather than a temporary clearing.
Not when it's done correctly. We choose the method and pressure based on your pipe material and condition — older or fragile lines get a gentler approach, which is another reason we inspect before jetting.
Yes. A main-line backup that's putting sewage into your home is an emergency, and we clear it 24/7 across McHenry County. We'll stop the backup, then camera the line if it's a repeat problem to find the real cause.