Video · Drains and Underground Lines
Slow Draining Sink vs. the Supply Side: Two Different Pipes
A slow draining sink is a drain problem: grease, food, hair and soap narrowing the pipe that carries water away. The work in this clip is the other side, copper supply pipe that brings water in, and knowing which is which saves a misdiagnosis.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- Drains and Underground Lines
- Length
- 0:29
- Posted
- October 12, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
The text on screen talks about grease buildup and slow drains, but the job underneath is supply plumbing. A gloved hand puts a tag on a brass valve assembly next to a red bucket. Tagging valves is how a plumber keeps track of which one controls what.
Two SwiftPro techs then carry a long length of copper pipe through a kitchen to a utility closet, and one kneels in the closet to fit it. Copper like that carries pressurized water to your fixtures. Drains are usually plastic or cast iron, and they work by gravity.
Why it matters in your house
- If one sink drains slowly, the clog is usually close, in the trap or the line right behind it. If several fixtures are slow, look further down the main drain.
- Low pressure at the faucet is a supply problem, not a drain problem. A slow-filling sink and a slow-emptying sink need different fixes.
- Grease is a kitchen sink's main enemy. Wipe greasy pans into the trash before washing them, and you'll head off most slow kitchen drains.
Why is my kitchen sink draining slowly?
Usually grease and food scraps coating the inside of the drain, catching more with each use. Start by clearing the trap, or plunge it with the other basin plugged. Skip harsh chemical cleaners, which rarely reach the clog and are hard on old pipes. If it comes right back, the buildup is deeper and needs a drain cable.
Want it done at your place? See Drains and Underground Lines at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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