24/7 · All five NYC boroughs
Stack line cleaning for NYC buildings
A stack is the vertical drain line that serves every kitchen or bathroom stacked above each other in an apartment building. When it clogs, water from upstairs backs up into the lowest apartments. We clear and jet stacks and coordinate access with the super and management.
- Answered 24/7
- Price confirmed before work starts
Starting prices. Every job is different, so the technician confirms your price on site before any work starts. Nights, weekends and holidays add $150. All prices
Signs a stack is clogged
- Water rises in a kitchen sink when nobody’s using it.
- Several apartments on the same line report slow drains.
- The lowest apartments on a line get backups first and worst.
- Gurgling in sinks when upstairs neighbors drain theirs.
How we clean a stack
- Plan access with the super. Which cleanouts, which apartments need notice, freight elevator times.
- Camera the stack to see where the buildup is worst.
- Clear or jet the line from the best access point, top-down or bottom-up depending on the building.
- Flow-test from several floors.
- Camera after and provide the footage with a short written summary.
- Recommend a schedule so the line doesn’t back up again.
Why kitchen stacks clog in NYC
Prewar and postwar buildings put dozens of kitchens on a handful of stacks. Every apartment’s grease ends up in the same pipe, and older cast iron stacks have rough walls that grab it. The lowest units take the backups. Scheduled jetting is the most reliable fix.
For boards, supers and managers
We invoice the management company, give apartments clear notice and access times, and leave footage for your records. See co-op and condo buildings and property managers.
Kitchen stacks vs. bathroom stacks
| Kitchen stack | Bathroom stack | |
|---|---|---|
| What clogs it | Grease and food from every kitchen on the line | Paper, wipes and hair |
| Who feels it first | The lowest apartments on the line | The lowest apartments, or the basement |
| Usual fix | Scheduled jetting | Clearing, plus telling tenants about wipes |
How a building stack job runs
- We plan access with the super: which cleanouts, which apartments, and freight elevator times.
- Tenants get notice of the date and time window from building management.
- We camera the stack to find where the buildup is.
- We clear or jet the line from the best access point.
- We flow-test from several floors to confirm it’s open.
- The building gets the footage and a written summary, with a recommended schedule.
What tenants can do
- Scrape plates into the trash and keep grease out of the sink.
- Use a sink strainer.
- Report slow drains to the super early, before they become backups.
- If water comes up in your sink when you aren’t using it, stop using the sink and call the super. That’s the stack, not your drain.
Where we work
What we don't do. We clear, clean and inspect drains and sewer lines. If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or separated line, you get the footage and a referral to an NYC master plumber for the fix. Why we work this way
Common questions
Why does water from upstairs come up in my sink?
Your kitchen shares a stack with the apartments above. When the stack clogs below your floor, their water has nowhere to go and comes up through the lowest connected sink.
Who pays for stack cleaning?
In most co-ops, condos and rental buildings the stack is a building line, so management arranges and pays for it. Check with your super or managing agent.
How often should kitchen stacks be jetted?
Buildings with chronic kitchen stack backups often jet every one to two years. A camera inspection after the first jetting shows how fast grease returns.
Where do you access the stack?
Through cleanouts at the base of the stack, in apartments along the line, or from the roof vent, depending on how the building is set up. We plan access with the super before the visit.
Can you provide footage for the board?
Yes. Before and after camera footage with a written summary works well for board minutes and maintenance records.
How long does stack jetting take?
It depends on the number of floors, how many access points the building has and how much buildup the camera shows. We give the super a time estimate before the visit.
Do tenants need to be home?
Only if we need access through their apartment. Building management sends notice ahead of time so tenants can plan.
Need a drain cleared?
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. A technician looks at the job and confirms your price on site before any work starts.