What causes slow drains in commercial buildings?
Grease accumulation, soap scum, hair, or root intrusion in the lateral line. Hydro-jetting clears all four; chemical drain openers work on hair but not grease or roots.
Why it happens
Slow drains often start inside the building’s plumbing. Kitchen lines accumulate fats, oils, and grease, while other drains build up soap and organic films. This biofilm coating gradually reduces the pipe's internal diameter, slowing flow and creating a habitat for drain flies and odor-causing bacteria. The problem is typically progressive, not sudden.
What to check
Observe where slowdowns occur to determine if they are localized or building-wide. In kitchens, review staff procedures for scraping plates and disposing of oil. For general drains, check for odors indicating biofilm buildup in traps and overflows. Ensure floor drain traps remain wet, especially in basements, to block sewer gas. Using a bioaugmentation product can help digest buildup.
When to call a professional
If slowdowns are widespread, recur quickly after clearing, or come with sewer odors, it indicates a systemic problem. A persistent rotten-egg smell is an urgent issue requiring immediate diagnosis. Odors from ejector pits, lift stations, or grease traps also signal a need for specialized service, as these systems require specific treatment methods to function properly and safely.
How Luften handles it
Luften addresses slow drains at the source. We combine hydro-jetting with bioaugmentation programs to manage grease in kitchen lines. We use foam treatments to eliminate biofilm in drains, which also removes the breeding ground for flies. Our programs can include downstream systems like grease traps and ejector pits, consolidating drain, odor, and waste system maintenance under a single contract for a complete solution.
Backups and slow drains program