The water goes down… eventually. You brush your teeth or rinse a pan, and by the time you’ve moved on, the sink is still draining. Annoying? Definitely. But is it a full-blown clog? Maybe not.

At Golden Valley Plumbing, we’ve answered a lot of slow drain calls around Sacramento. And here’s the truth: not every sluggish sink is caused by gunk or hair. Sure, buildup happens. But more often than you’d think, the issue is deeper — and sneakier.

Not a clog? Then what is it?

Let’s say you’ve already tried the basics — hot water, a plunger, maybe even one of those plastic snakes from the hardware store. Nothing helps. That’s usually when we get the call. And what we often find are problems that store-bought solutions just can’t touch.

Here are a few of the real causes we see all the time:

• Poor pipe slope — If the drain pipe isn’t angled properly, water can’t flow fast. Even with no obstruction, the slope might be too flat (or even slightly uphill).
• Blocked vent pipe — Drainage relies on airflow. If the vent on your roof is blocked by debris or bird nests (yep, we’ve seen it), sinks can burp, gurgle, or drain slowly.
• Corroded or rough interior — Older metal drain pipes can corrode inside, narrowing the opening and slowing everything down — even without a true clog.
• DIY fixes gone sideways — We’ve found drain traps installed upside down, pipes held together with tape, or awkward angles that cause constant flow issues.

“But it’s just slow, not blocked”

That’s exactly the danger. A slow drain isn’t dramatic — but it’s often the first sign that something’s wrong. If you leave it too long, it can become a full backup. And if the problem is inside the wall or underground, you won’t know until water is coming up instead of going down.

In Sacramento, a lot of homes have older plumbing that wasn’t designed for modern sink usage — especially in kitchens where food waste, soap scum, and grease collect daily.

What we do differently

At Golden Valley Plumbing, we don’t just pour chemicals and hope for the best. We listen to what the drain is doing, inspect the layout, and figure out why the water’s moving slow.

Sometimes it’s a quick fix — like adjusting a misaligned trap or clearing out a vent. Other times, we rework part of the drain line so it actually flows like it should’ve from the start.
And when needed, we perform full sewer and drain cleaning to eliminate deeper issues that standard DIY tools can’t reach.

Bottom line:
If your sink takes forever to drain, don’t assume it’s “just a little clog.” In Sacramento homes, slow drains often mean bigger issues — and the sooner we check it, the easier it is to fix. Golden Valley Plumbing is here to figure it out and get things moving again — for real this time.