Unclogging a drain with minimal disruption the real-world playbook

It always happens when you’re busy. You’re mid-cook, or the washing machine has just started, and suddenly there’s a gurgle, a slow-rising pool in the sink, and that tell-tale drain smell spreading through the room. Pouring pellets or gel down the pipe feels like action, but it usually narrows the line and pushes the clog deeper. We take a calmer route: look first, treat once, leave things cleaner than we found them afvoer verstopt.

What’s actually going on in the pipe

In modern PVC, clogs start as a thin greasy film fat + soap + food fines clinging to a cool wall. Every rinse adds a bit more until the passage shrinks. In older steel or cast iron, rust roughens the surface so buildup accelerates. By the time you notice a real slowdown, you may be running at ~10% of normal flow. At that point a kettle of hot water won’t save the day; you need a proper clean that removes the film and the “grip” it left behind.

Why we skip harsh chemicals

Oven-cleaner-style gels (strong caustics or acids) do melt organic muck and they heat up while doing it. That heat can soften plastics and dry out seals. Granules often cake before the actual blockage, creating a hard dam farther along. You end up with a hotter, weaker pipe and the same problem. We prefer controlled mechanical and thermal methods that clear the line without hurting it.

Step one is always: look

Before we touch a hose, we run an HD endoscope and check flow/pressure. That tells us exactly what is in the way (fat, scale, a foreign object), where it sits, and whether other fixtures are affected. You get the clip saved to your job file, so you can see the pipe’s condition yourself useful if fall/slope is off or a joint is tired. A clear picture up front is why we can finish most jobs in one visit, no tiles lifted.

The kit that keeps mess to a minimum

Our workhorse is a compact jetting unit with a rotating head. Warmed water at up to 160 bar emulsifies fat and lifts soap film; the rotating pattern polishes the wall so debris has nothing to grab next week. Tight runs (< Ø32 mm) get micro-nozzles that sneak past sharp bends and compression fittings without drama. If the camera shows mineral scale, we switch tactics (different head, different angle) to shave the deposits cleanly instead of blasting blindly.

What it costs and why it’s usually cheaper than waiting

• Standard kitchen line, including camera + enzyme finish: €189
• With stack or main line included: about €290

Compare that to one overflow: laminate ~€1,200, ceiling ~€600, deep clean ~€250. We also include a 12-month comeback guarantee on the same spot if it returns there, we fix it free.

DIY or call us?

By all means, pop the trap and clean it if you’re handy. Use a rubber plunger to break an air plug. If several fixtures slow at once, or you hear a mournful “howl” in the stack, stop guessing. Working blind with a snake can puncture a bend and turn a one-hour job into a replacement. That’s exactly what our camera is for.

Habits that quietly prevent clogs

• Bin fats, don’t drain them. Let oil set in a container and take it to recycling.
• Strainers everywhere. Sink and shower strainers catch hair, food bits and soap flakes.
• Hot-water flush, monthly. A kettle of hot (not boiling) water with a spoon of washing soda keeps lines low-fat.
• Annual look-see. In homes 25+ years old, a quick camera check spots early scale or a sagging section before it becomes an emergency.

Questions we hear all the time

“Won’t high pressure damage pipes?” Not when you match pressure and temperature to the pipe’s diameter and material. We test nozzles on your setup first.
“Should I pour a chemical gel after the clean, just in case?” No. The wall’s clean; caustics at that point only attack gaskets and trap rubbers.
“How long does the enzyme rinse help?” Typically up to six months, depending on how much fat you send down and your water temperature.
“Bad smell = blockage, right?” Sometimes. It can also be a dry trap or a leaky collar. Our camera + smoke test tells you which in minutes.

The bottom line

Unclogging a drain without noise, mess, or déjà-vu is very doable if you start with a proper diagnosis and pick the least risky method. Riool Centrale Nederland combines camera inspection, warm-water jetting, and a biological after-treatment into one tidy visit. You get your sink/shower back within hours, plus peace of mind. Don’t wait for the waterline to kiss the rimcall at the  first signs and keep the system flowing, clean, and quiet.