Bob Oates and general manager John Peterson posing with Poopy the Plunger mascot in front of Bob Oates service vans

Toilet Talk with Bob!

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Serving the Greater Seattle Area

Bob Oates shares his years of expertise with you!

Bob has been in the plumbing, drain cleaning, and sewer and rooter game for decades. In these fun, useful self-help videos, Bob shares his wisdom on how to solve common plumbing issues — and, importantly, how to prevent them in the first place.

As you scroll through and watch, you'll learn what to do, what not to do, how to save some money by avoiding a service call, and have a few laughs along the way. Enjoy!

Toilet Talk With Bob | Plunging 101

Toilet Talk With Bob | Toilet Paper Troubles

Toilet Talk with Bob | Meet The Drain Thingy

Toilet Talk With Bob | Tree Roots

Toilet Talk With Bob | Disposal Tips

Toilet Talk With Bob | Winter Pipes

Toilet Talk With Bob | Washing Machine Tips

About the Team at Bob Oates

For more than 30 years, Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter has been Seattle’s trusted choice for complete plumbing, sewer repair, and drain cleaning services.

We’re proud to live by our core values — Integrity (“The Pride’s Inside”), Teamwork (“Together, We Achieve Success”), and Commitment to Excellence (“Dedicated to Our Customers, Our Employees, and the Future”).

With continuous training, advanced tech, and a focus on doing the job right the first time, our skilled technicians deliver fast, reliable service backed by the best warranties in the business.

Whether it’s a quick fix or a major project, you can count on Bob Oates to set the standard for exceptional service. Call or book online today and experience a true home-run service for yourself!

Proud Member of BOMA

Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter trucks parked at a residential service call in Seattle

Side Sewer Contractor: Everything You Need To Know

By Bob Oates | August 28, 2026 |

Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter is a registered side sewer contractor serving the City of Seattle and all surrounding areas. For 35+ years, we have provided comprehensive, cost-effective sewer repair solutions for our friends and neighbors in the community. In this post, we’ll answer questions about exactly what a side sewer is. And we’ll…

Sewer technician working on sewer line inside of dug out trench

The Importance of Regular Sewer Inspections

By Bob Oates | August 18, 2026 |

Your home’s sewer line does an important job every day, but because most of the system is underground, it can be easy to forget about it until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, sewer line problems don’t always appear suddenly. Tree roots can work their way into small openings, debris and buildup can restrict flow, and aging…

Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter Pipe Lining Division trailer with Poopy the Plunger mascot in Seattle

What Causes Recurring Drain Clogs?

By Bob Oates | August 13, 2026 |

A clogged drain every once in a while isn’t unusual. But if the same drain keeps clogging, or you’re regularly dealing with slow drains and backups throughout your home, there may be more going on inside your plumbing system. Recurring drain clogs often mean that the original blockage wasn’t completely removed — or that another…

Large sewer pipe section with long. crack showing tree roots inside pipe

How to Tackle Roots in Pipes

By Bob Oates | August 6, 2026 |

The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place in which to live and raise a family. However, two of the things that make it beautiful are the trees and rainfall. Unfortunately, these two aspects combined can wreak havoc on your sewer system with the infiltration of tree roots. When you see all the leaves and greenery…

Bob Oates Plumbing Truck in Downtown Seattle near Pike Place Market

5 Tips to Avoid a Major Sewer Repair Bill in The Future

By Bob Oates | July 31, 2026 |

A major sewer line problem can be one of the more disruptive repairs a homeowner encounters. While not every sewer issue can be prevented — aging pipes, shifting soil, tree root invasion, and other conditions can develop regardless of how carefully you maintain your plumbing — good everyday habits can make a real difference. Many…

Worried young man calling plumber while leaking water is falling into bucket at home

Plumbing Emergency: 5 Things to Do When You Hit a Water Line

By Bob Oates | July 22, 2026 |

Whether you’re installing a fence, planting a tree, replacing a faucet, or tackling another home improvement project, accidentally damaging a water line can quickly turn into a plumbing emergency. In some cases, a broken water line can release hundreds of gallons of water in a short amount of time, leading to costly damage if it…

Man holding plunger and unsure what to do next

DIY Drain Cleaning Tips to Try Before Calling a Plumber

By Bob Oates | July 17, 2026 |

A slow-draining sink or backed-up shower is one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face. Fortunately, not every clogged drain requires an immediate service call. Many minor drain clogs can be improved with a few safe, do-it-yourself techniques using items you may already have at home. The key is knowing which DIY drain cleaning…

Group photo of of Bob Oates technicians standing in front of company trucks

Important Questions to Ask Your Drain Cleaning Company

By Bob Oates | July 6, 2026

You can never go wrong with hiring professionals for any job, especially when it comes to drain cleaning. If you’re considering hiring professionals to clean your drains, there are a few questions that you should always ask before hiring a drain cleaning company. Our team here at Bob Oates Sewer & Rooter is proud to…

Bob Oates plumbing team after completing a successful sewer service job

Is Pipe Lining a Long-Term Answer to Sewer Damage?

By Bob Oates | June 24, 2026

When homeowners learn about trenchless sewer repair, one of the first questions they often ask is whether sewer pipe lining is truly a long-term solution or simply a temporary fix. Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter is here with the answer: Modern sewer pipe lining provides results that are comparable to traditional sewer replacement while…

Bob Oates van and equipment at residential sewer job, Bellevue, WA

Why We Often Recommend Trenchless Sewer Repair

By Bob Oates | June 23, 2026

A damaged sewer line can quickly become one of the most disruptive problems a homeowner faces. Recurring drain backups, sewer odors, slow drains, and soggy areas in the yard may all indicate an issue beneath the surface. Traditionally, repairing a sewer line often meant extensive excavation across lawns, driveways, patios, and landscaping. Today, modern trenchless…

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   Santi Allende 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They are super easygoing, extremely knowledgable, and not sales-y at all. It's difficult to come by honest and reasonably priced plumbers these days, and so I was really happy to work with them. Also supporting a small family business! They did a solid diagnostic assessment before proposing any work to fix the water pressure in our house. Would highly recommend!
  
 
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   Alyson Mosher 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an emergency clog that turned into a big time sewer line repair job, and the Bob Oates team was timely, thorough, and helpful throughout. Prescott was a great project manager and kept us updated and informed the entire process. We're so glad we contacted them first!
  
 
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   Heather Jay Gee 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had Bob Oates come for an estimate and they far and away beat every estimate. Konrad did  the work and I was very impressed with the work, communication, and professionalism. I will be use Bob Oates from now on.
  
 
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   Klodian Muca 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’d be happy to recommend this plumbing company to anyone. They responded to my call quickly, showed up on time, and did an outstanding job on the plumbing work in my home, including my sinks and other maintenance. Their workmanship was excellent, everything was done professionally, and they stand behind their work with a 100% warranty, which gave me great peace of mind. It’s hard to find a company that is this reliable, honest, and responsive. This has been the best plumbing service I’ve ever experienced. I will definitely use them again and recommend them to all my friends and family. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  
 
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   jamie lawler 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Had the pleasure of being helped by Autumn today. She was friendly, professional, and very knowledgeable about the services this company offers. I wasn’t quite sure what would be right for me, as I’ve never dealt with major plumbing issues before, but she was able to help me choose the services that would best suit my needs. I appreciate her answering all of my silly questions in a way that I could understand. I will definitely be recommending Bob Oates to my friends and family. Thank you, Autumn!
  
 
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   Jason Voiss 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I just had Henry and Jesse come over to my condo to help me out with a leaking dishwasher... these guys were rockstars! They gave me a courtesy call and were here on time to the minute! Total professionals as soon as they entered the door, asking about my shoe policy and just pleasant people! As I fumbled around to find my dishwasher literature, they already had it pulled up and were running an initial cycle to troubleshoot the problem. Within minutes Henry diagnosed the problem, the two excused themselves to grab a few tools and were back in moments... it couldn't have been more than 10 minutes and they had resolved the problem and were running a cycle to verify their work. They gave me some additional feedback on what may have caused the issue, how to avoid it in the future, and then proceeded to humor me by answering a few unrelated questions I had about my washer. Great guys and great experience! This is now my second time dealing with the Bob Oates team and both times have been a great experience... Local, first rate service, and family owned; I'd recommend them to anyone! Whether you're a GC or a homeowner, having a great plumber in your Rolodex is a must; Bob Oates is my go to and should be yours as well!
  
 
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   Erin Anderson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Bob Oates Plumbing came recommended by our neighborhood, well-known real estate agent. We have used them a few times-once for a clogged kitchen sink situation and also for kitchen faucet installation. They have been timely, honest, knowledgeable and nice guys who make sure the job is done right. They can also order fixtures/products for you and they will install. Highly recommend!