Why does the same drain keep clogging?

Because clearing and fixing are different jobs. Grease on the pipe wall, root intrusion, or a settled section of line all come back until the cause is addressed. A camera inspection shows which one you have.

Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?

We advise against them, especially in older homes. They rarely clear the true blockage and they corrode aging pipes. Mechanical cleaning removes the clog without eating your plumbing.

What is the difference between cabling and hydro jetting?

Cabling punches through a blockage and gets the drain running. Hydro jetting scours the pipe wall, so grease and scale come off rather than rebuilding in the same spot. Which one fits depends on what the line looks like inside.

Can you clear a drain at night or on a weekend?

Yes. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so a backed up main does not have to wait for Monday.

Drain Cleaning

Professional drain cleaning across South Orange County.

About Drain Cleaning

A clogged or slow drain is the kitchen sink that takes all night to empty, the shower standing in water, the laundry line backing up onto the floor. Clearing it is the easy part. Anyone can punch a hole through a clog and get water moving for a few weeks. What matters is why the drain keeps failing, because a kitchen line that clogs every few months has a cause, usually grease hardened along the pipe wall, and clearing it repeatedly just rents you a working drain. Much of the housing stock here dates to the 1960s and 70s, and hard water leaves scale that narrows an aging line. We cable or hydro jet the blockage out, and when a line has backed up more than once we recommend a camera inspection so you can see the cause and fix it once. Hummel Plumbing is family owned, based in San Juan Capistrano, clearing residential and commercial drains across South Orange County since 2013 and open 24 hours.

Key Benefits

Diagnosis of the cause, not just the symptom

Camera inspection available for recurring problems

Hydro jetting for grease and root buildup a cable cannot remove

Available 24 hours for backups that cannot wait

Frequently Asked Questions

Stop running water into that drain, and hold off on flushing if a toilet is involved, since anything you add has nowhere to go and can push a backup onto the floor. Clear out the cabinet under the sink, or move whatever is stacked around a floor drain, so we can reach the trap. If you have an outside cleanout, pull the cover or at least point us to it. It also helps to know which other fixtures are draining slowly, because that tells us early whether we are dealing with one line or the main.

Need Drain Cleaning?

Call or send a request. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call (949) 505-9828

What Customers Say

5.0 stars across 140+ Google reviews.

Joey B.

August 30, 2026

Jon was personable and knew exactly what to do to pull a new waterline for our refrigerator up from our crawl space. He was also very informative about differing water pressure throughout our house. It was obvious he took pride in his work. Communication from Sally was excellent. Stellar family team in the neighborhood. Nice to know we can trust them for our plumbing needs.

Cathy L.

July 24, 2026

Jon Hummel is always a pleasure to work with. He is knowledgeable and very trustworthy. Will always use him for any plumbing needs.

Jodie F.

April 3, 2026

Jon always does an amazing job! We've used his services for years. He's on time, his prices are fair and his work is reliable. We needed a full house repipe after a pipe burst. I knew exactly who I would call for this big job and who I could trust-Hummel plumbing!

Larry A.

April 3, 2025

As a retired plumbing contractor, I'd like to think that I can tell a good plumber, hard worker, and honest man after watching him work. I'm getting a little long in the tooth (and sore in the back) to do much of my own plumbing anymore and I call Jon when I need plumbing help. I have also referred him to my neighbors, who report that they have been very happy with him.

Alexandria G., San Clemente

May 5, 2026

We've used Jon with Hummel Plumbing a few times now here in San Clemente, and he's been great every single time. He previously installed our tankless water heater, and most recently fixed our outdoor shower and handled a few other items for us. Everything has always been done correctly the first time—no shortcuts. He's friendly, thorough, and clearly takes pride in doing things the right way. He was also able to come out quickly, which we really appreciated. It's honestly such a relief to have a plumber we trust. Highly recommend Jon and Hummel Plumbing!

Jamie

July 1, 2026

Super happy with Jon @ Hummel Plumbing, we will be definitely using their services again and recommending them to friends and neighbors, work was completed in a timely, professional clean manner. Truly a hard worker who knows his stuff, thanks again Jon. Talk soon

Joanne P.

March 18, 2026

Showed up earlier than expected, which was clearly communicated and great news. Polite and great work. Pricing up front.

Brad K.

February 20, 2026

Jon and his assistant were prompt, courteous, knowledgeable and fast. I will personally recommend Hummel to my friends and neighbors! Excellent company to deal with in today's world!

Related Services

Work that often comes up alongside drain cleaning.

Water HeatersDiagnosis, repair, maintenance, and replacement of tank water heaters for homes and businesses.Tankless Water HeatersInstallation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of tankless water heating systems.Sewer Cleaning & RepairDiagnosis, cleaning, repair, and replacement of damaged or obstructed sewer lines.Sewer Camera InspectionsVideo inspection of sewer and drain lines to identify blockages, damage, root intrusion, and pipe condition.Leak Detection & RepairLocating and repairing plumbing leaks, including hidden leaks in walls, ceilings, floors, and under slabs.Water Line Repair & ReplacementRepair and replacement of damaged, leaking, or deteriorated water lines, from single lines to full distribution systems.

Guides we have written on drain cleaning.

Hydro Jetting vs Cabling, Which Drain Cleaning Method Your Line Actually NeedsHydro jetting scours grease and roots from drain lines while cabling punches a path through. Here is how to tell which one your pipe actually needs.

Drain Cleaning by City

Local pages for the questions we hear most.

24 Hour Plumber in San ClementeOpen all night, every night, for San Clemente homes and businesses.Commercial Plumbing in San ClementeRestaurants, offices, retail, and multi unit property. Open 24 hours, because backups do not keep business hours.Drain Cleaning in Dana PointClogged kitchen sinks, slow showers, and backed up main lines, cleared 24 hours a day.Hydro Jetting in Laguna NiguelRoots back in the line again? We clear them properly and show you where they are getting in.

Drain Cleaning Near You

We cover drain cleaning across South Orange County.

San Juan Capistrano Dana Point San Clemente Capistrano Beach Rancho Mission Viejo Ladera Ranch Laguna Niguel Aliso Viejo