Butler Drain Services has been handling plumbing work in Salem and the surrounding Roanoke Valley since 1994. Thirty-two years in, we still show up for the same kinds of calls we always have: a leaking pipe under the kitchen sink, a water heater that quit overnight, a main line that backed up without warning. Same-day plumbing service available means you are not sitting with a problem waiting days for a callback. Work on every job is performed by licensed plumbers who know this area and take the work seriously. Residential plumbing. Commercial plumbing. One number for both. Call (540) 619-5623 for a quote.
We plumb homes and businesses every day, and we're good at it, from a straightforward faucet swap to a full fixture overhaul on a commercial property. Homeowners, landlords, property managers, and business owners all call us for the same reason: they need the work done correctly and on a reasonable schedule. We handle drain cleaning and clog removal, faucet and fixture installation, toilet repair and replacement, leak detection and repair, garbage disposal installation and repair, water pressure diagnostics, and shutoff valve replacement. Trusted by local homeowners and property managers for their plumbing, we work across single-family homes, rental units, office buildings, and multi-family properties throughout the valley. Call today and we'll get the water back where it belongs.
A slow drain or a full blockage can stop a kitchen or bathroom cold. We clear kitchen drains, bathroom drains, floor drains, and main line clogs using the right tool for the job. Stubborn or recurring clogs often respond best to hydro jetting, which flushes the line clean rather than just punching through the blockage. If your drain keeps backing up, we will find out why.
A pipe leak can cause serious water damage before it becomes visible. We locate hidden leaks, repair or replace damaged sections, and handle water line repair and replacement when a line has failed or deteriorated past patching. Burst pipe repair is one of the calls we take most urgently. Getting the leak stopped fast protects the structure and keeps a manageable problem from becoming a major one. We'll find the leak and fix it right.
A running toilet wastes water and money. A dripping faucet does the same. We handle toilet repair and replacement, faucet repair and installation, and fixture installation across kitchens and bathrooms. If you are remodeling and need a plumber to rough in or connect new fixtures, we do that work too. We keep it straightforward and get the job done cleanly.
We've handled everything from a dripping faucet to a full repipe, and a failed water heater ranks among the most disruptive calls we get. No hot water affects everyone in the building immediately. We service and repair tank water heaters, replace units that have reached the end of their life, and install tankless water heaters for households or businesses looking for on-demand hot water. When the water heater goes out, we treat it as urgent. The plumbing done right the first time means you are not calling us back for the same repair twice. Call today and we'll lock in your appointment.
The sooner you call, the sooner the water is back on, and a sewer backup is not a situation where waiting helps. We handle sewer line repair, sewer line replacement, main line cleaning, and sewer backup service for homes and commercial properties. Where conditions allow, we use trenchless sewer repair methods to minimize disruption to landscaping and hardscaping. The work stays on the line that runs from the building out to the connection point. If your drains are slow across the whole house or sewage is backing up into a fixture, call us. Call today and we'll get the water back where it belongs.
Salem sits in the Roanoke Valley with older housing stock, clay-heavy soils that stress underground lines, seasonal rainfall that pushes groundwater into basements and crawl spaces, and a regional water supply that carries moderate hardness. Those local conditions drive three services we handle regularly across the area.
Seasonal storms and wet periods push groundwater into basements and crawl spaces throughout the valley. A properly installed sump pump is the first line of defense against a flooded basement. We install sump pumps sized for the space, and we also service or replace existing units that have worn out or failed at the wrong moment. If you have had water intrusion before, or if you are finishing a basement and want protection built in from the start, call us to talk through the right setup.
Salem's older neighborhoods have mature tree canopies, and the root systems that come with those trees find their way into aging clay or cast-iron sewer laterals over time. Root intrusion is one of the more common reasons for a slow main line or a recurring backup in these neighborhoods. We clear root intrusion, inspect the line to assess the damage, and repair or replace sections where roots have caused structural problems. Trenchless methods are often an option for line repair or replacement, depending on the condition and depth of the pipe.
The Roanoke Valley's water supply carries enough hardness to shorten the life of fixtures, water heaters, and pipes over time. Scale buildup inside supply lines and on fixture components adds up quietly until something fails ahead of schedule. We install water softeners to address hardness at the point of entry, which protects the whole system downstream. If your fixtures are scaling up or your water heater is working harder than it should, a softener is worth considering.
We know schedules shift, so we keep booking flexible, and repiping is exactly the kind of project that benefits from a crew that can work around your timeline. Older homes in Salem and across the valley often still carry galvanized steel or polybutylene pipe. Both materials degrade over time, and when they do, the symptoms show up as low water pressure, discolored water, or a pattern of small leaks that keeps repeating. A whole-home repipe replaces aging lines with modern materials that hold pressure reliably and do not corrode. The result is better water pressure, fewer leaks, and a system that does not need constant attention. We're a small local team, and every customer matters to us. Call today and we'll lock in your appointment.
The sooner you call, the sooner the water is back on, and some plumbing problems cannot wait until next week. We take emergency calls for burst pipes, major leaks, sewer backups, failed water heaters, and any situation where water is going somewhere it should not. Prompt response, even for last-minute plumbing calls, is something we take seriously because we know what a water emergency costs if it sits. We offer same-day plumbing service and are available after hours and on weekends for urgent situations. Arrives fast. Fixes it right. Priced fair. Call (540) 619-5623 now.
We are based in Salem and work throughout the Roanoke Valley and the communities around it. Our regular service area includes Roanoke, Vinton, Hollins, Cave Spring, Daleville, and Troutville, along with the neighborhoods and rural properties in between. If you are in Roanoke County or the broader valley region and need a plumber, we are close by and ready to schedule.
We work for homeowners, renters, landlords, and commercial property owners across the area. Local means we know the roads, the neighborhoods, and the kinds of plumbing problems that come up in the housing stock here. Call (540) 619-5623 and we will get someone out to you.
We know schedules shift, so we keep booking flexible, and that goes for pricing conversations too. When you call for a quote, you get a clear estimate before work begins. No surprises on the invoice. We work with homeowners who need a single repair and with property managers coordinating plumbing service across multiple units or buildings. For commercial accounts and multi-family properties, we can work around tenant schedules and building access requirements to keep disruption low. Same-day plumbing service available means you are not always waiting days to get on the calendar. Call today and we'll lock in your appointment.
Someone with access to the property and knowledge of where the problem is should be present, especially for the initial visit. For repeat service at a property you manage, we can work out access arrangements in advance. Call us and we will figure out the right setup for your situation.
Common signs include water stains on ceilings or walls, a mildew or musty smell without an obvious source, flooring that has warped or softened, and a water bill that has gone up without a clear explanation. If you are noticing any of these, call us. We use leak detection methods to locate the source before any work begins.
We use a systematic diagnostic approach and leak detection tools to trace water back to its source, whether that is inside a wall, under a slab, or buried underground. Locating the leak accurately before opening anything up keeps the repair targeted and avoids unnecessary damage to your home or building.
Watch for inconsistent hot water, water that takes much longer than usual to heat up, discoloration or a metallic taste in the hot water, visible rust or corrosion on the tank, or water pooling around the base of the unit. A water heater that is more than ten to fifteen years old and showing any of these signs is often a better candidate for replacement than repeated repair.
A traditional tank water heater stores a set volume of hot water and keeps it heated continuously. A tankless unit heats water on demand as it flows through the system, which eliminates standby heat loss. We install and service both types. If you are considering an upgrade, we will walk you through the tradeoffs for your household size and usage before recommending one over the other.
Roots follow moisture and will find their way into aging clay or cast-iron sewer laterals through small cracks or loose joints over time. Once inside, they expand and eventually block the line or cause structural damage to the pipe wall. The early signs are slow drains across the whole house or recurring backups. We clear the root intrusion and assess whether the line needs repair or replacement to keep the problem from returning.
Galvanized steel corrodes from the inside over decades, which reduces water pressure and eventually leads to leaks and discolored water. Polybutylene, a plastic pipe used in some homes built between the 1970s and 1990s, degrades and becomes brittle over time, making it prone to cracking and failure. Both materials are worth replacing when they start causing repeated problems, and whole-house repiping is usually the most reliable long-term solution.
A targeted repair is the right call when the pipe or fixture involved is otherwise in good condition and the problem is isolated. If the same section of pipe has failed more than once, or if the surrounding materials show signs of age or corrosion, a more complete repair or replacement is usually the better investment. We will give you an honest assessment of which approach makes sense for your situation.
Cutting corners on materials or skipping a proper diagnosis often means the underlying problem is not actually fixed. The same issue comes back, sometimes worse, and the second repair ends up costing more than doing it right the first time would have. We focus on getting to the actual cause of the problem rather than applying a surface fix that buys a few months.
We run the affected fixtures, check for leaks at every connection point, and verify that water pressure and flow are correct before we consider the job complete. For water heater work, we confirm the unit is heating properly and that there are no leaks at the supply connections. We do not leave until we are confident the repair is holding.
We are available every day from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM, including weekends. If you are calling about an urgent situation, mention that when you call and we will be upfront about any pricing difference that applies. We give you a clear picture before we dispatch so there are no surprises.
For work that requires a permit or inspection under local codes, we will let you know before starting and factor that into the process. We do not skip steps that are required for the work to be done correctly and to code.
Cold winters can make ground conditions harder to work in, and saturated soil after heavy rainfall can complicate excavation for sewer or water line repair. We account for local conditions when scoping outdoor work and will let you know if timing matters for the job at hand. Most underground plumbing work can proceed year-round with the right approach.
Butler Drain Services has been the local call for plumbing work in Salem since 1994. Whether you need a quick repair or a full system overhaul, we handle it all with the same attention to detail. Residential plumbing. Commercial plumbing. One number for both. Call (540) 619-5623 to schedule service or request a quote. Call today and we'll get the water back where it belongs.
We handle the full range of residential and commercial plumbing in Salem and across the Roanoke Valley, from a dripping faucet to a failed sump pump to a full repipe. The table below gives you a quick look at what each service covers, who it is a good fit for, and a practical note to help you plan. Call us at (540) 619-5623 if you want to talk through your situation before you schedule.
| Service | What's Included | When to Call | Things to Keep in Mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Well Pump Service | well pump repair and replacement, pressure tank assessment, loss-of-water troubleshooting, supply line inspection | Rural and semi-rural property owners in the Roanoke Valley area who rely on a private well for water supply | A loss of water pressure or no water at all on a well system often points to the pump or pressure tank. We assess the full supply side before recommending a fix. |
| Whole-Home Repiping | full pipe replacement for aging or corroded systems, material assessment and honest recommendation, clear estimate before work begins, minimally invasive approach where possible | Owners of older Salem homes with recurring leaks, corroded pipes, or failing pipe materials | Repiping is a significant job, but it stops the cycle of repeated repairs and is a long-term fix that holds. |
| Drain Cleaning and Clog Removal | sink, shower, and tub drains, floor and main drains, hydro jetting for stubborn buildup, recurring sewer line clogs | Homeowners, landlords, and commercial properties with slow or backed-up drains | Hydro jetting clears the pipe wall to wall rather than just punching through the clog, making it a better long-term fix for grease-heavy or root-affected lines. |
| Sump Pump Installation | new sump pump installation, failed pump replacement, discharge line routing, basin and pit assessment | Salem homeowners with basements at risk of groundwater intrusion during heavy rainfall or seasonal storms | Salem sits in a valley, and runoff from seasonal storms can push water into basements quickly. A properly installed pump with a well-routed discharge line is the most reliable protection. |
| Faucet and Fixture Installation | dripping and leaking faucet repair, kitchen and bathroom faucet replacement, fixture installation of all types, supply line replacement | Anyone upgrading fixtures or dealing with a faucet that drips, leaks, or no longer functions properly | We leave the job site clean when we finish, and we test everything before we pack up. |
| Leak Detection and Repair | visible pipe and supply line leaks, hidden wall and under-slab leaks, burst pipe repair, systematic diagnostic before any work begins | Anyone noticing unexplained water damage, a rising water bill, or wet spots with no obvious source | Locating the source before opening walls keeps the repair targeted and avoids unnecessary damage to your home. |
| Water Heater Repair and Replacement | tank water heater repair and replacement, tankless water heater installation and service, same-day service when schedule allows, clear options explained before work begins | Homeowners and property managers dealing with no hot water, a leaking unit, or an aging water heater | Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. If yours is near that range and showing problems, replacement often makes more sense than repeated repairs. |
| Water Softener Installation | water hardness assessment, softener system recommendation, full installation, connection to existing plumbing | Salem homeowners dealing with scale buildup on fixtures, reduced water heater efficiency, or visible hard water deposits | Hard water puts wear on pipes, fixtures, and water heaters over time. A softener installed at the point of entry protects the plumbing you already have in place. |
| Emergency Plumbing | burst pipe response, major leak control, no-hot-water calls, weekend and after-hours availability | Any situation where waiting until the next business day would cause significant water damage or leave a property without essential plumbing | Same-day plumbing service is available for urgent calls. When you call, we give you a realistic arrival window on the spot. |
| Sewer and Main Line Service | main line clog clearing, sewer backup response, sewer line repair and replacement, trenchless repair where conditions allow | Homeowners and commercial properties with slow drains throughout the building or a full sewer backup | A sewer backup does not resolve on its own. The sooner we can assess the line, the more options you have for repair. |
| Water Pressure and Shutoff Valve Repair | low water pressure diagnosis, pressure regulator repair or replacement, shutoff valve repair and replacement, main valve service | Homeowners noticing pressure that has gradually dropped or a shutoff valve that leaks when operated | A leaking shutoff valve is worth fixing promptly. If it fails when you need it most, the consequences are much larger. |
| Garbage Disposal Service | disposal repair and reset, full disposal replacement, jam clearing, electrical and drain connection check | Kitchen users dealing with a disposal that hums, will not spin, or has stopped working entirely | Many disposal problems are fixable without replacement. We assess the unit first and give you an honest recommendation. |
| Toilet Repair and Installation | running and leaking toilet repair, full toilet replacement, wax ring and flapper replacement, new toilet installation | Homeowners and landlords with a toilet that runs, leaks, or needs to be replaced | A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons a month. Most repairs are straightforward and completed in a single visit. |
| Tree-Root Sewer Line Service | root intrusion clearing, sewer line inspection, line repair or replacement after root damage, recurring backup assessment | Homeowners in established Salem neighborhoods with mature trees near the sewer line | Roots follow water and find their way in through joints and small cracks over time. Catching the problem early makes a significant difference in what the repair involves. |
| Slab Leak Detection and Repair | under-slab leak location, targeted repair with minimal disruption, pipe rerouting where appropriate, assessment before any work begins | Homeowners noticing warm spots on floors, unexplained water bill increases, or moisture near the foundation | Slab leaks are not always visible at the surface. A systematic diagnostic approach locates the source before any concrete is disturbed. |
How do I know if my water heater needs to be repaired or replaced?
Age is the first thing we look at. Most tank water heaters last 8 to 12 years. If yours is in that range and showing problems such as inconsistent hot water, visible corrosion, or a leak at the base, replacement is usually the more practical choice. Younger units with specific component failures, like a bad heating element or thermostat, are often worth repairing. When you call, we will walk you through both options and give you a clear estimate for each so you can decide.
What causes drains to slow down or back up?
The most common causes are grease and soap buildup in kitchen and bathroom lines, hair accumulation in shower and tub drains, and root intrusion in older sewer lines. In Salem's established neighborhoods, mature trees are a frequent contributor to recurring sewer line problems. A single slow drain usually points to a localized clog. If multiple fixtures are draining slowly at the same time, the problem is likely in the main line.
How do you find a leak that is not visible?
We work through the plumbing systematically to narrow down where the water is going. For leaks inside walls or under slabs, we use diagnostic methods that let us locate the source without opening everything up at once. The goal is to find exactly where the problem is before any repair work begins, which keeps the job targeted and avoids unnecessary damage to your home.
Same-Day and Emergency Availability
We offer same-day plumbing service for situations that cannot wait, and we are available for urgent calls on weekends and after regular business hours. When you call, you get a real arrival window, not a vague promise.
What is the difference between snaking a drain and hydro jetting?
Snaking punches through a clog and restores flow, but it does not always clear the pipe wall to wall. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to flush the full interior of the pipe, removing grease, scale, and root debris from the walls rather than just opening a channel through the blockage. For recurring clogs or heavily built-up lines, jetting tends to produce a longer-lasting result.
How do I know if the problem is in one fixture or the main sewer line?
If one fixture is slow or backed up and everything else drains normally, the clog is almost certainly local to that fixture or its branch line. If you are seeing slow drains in multiple rooms, water backing up into a tub when you flush a toilet, or gurgling sounds from floor drains, the main line is the more likely source. We can assess the situation on the call and give you a sense of what we expect to find before we arrive.
How does tree-root damage happen, and what are the early signs?
Tree roots follow moisture, and a sewer line is a reliable water source. Roots work their way in through joints and small cracks, then grow inside the pipe over time. The early signs are recurring slow drains, backups that keep coming back after clearing, and sometimes a sewer odor. In Salem, where many neighborhoods have mature trees and older sewer lines, we see this regularly. Catching it early gives you more repair options and a lower overall cost.
Upfront Quotes With No Surprise Fees
Before any work begins, we give you a clear estimate and explain what drives the cost. What we quote is what you pay, with no line items added after the fact.
What causes low water pressure, and when should I call a plumber?
Low pressure can come from a failing pressure regulator, a partially closed shutoff valve, buildup inside older pipes, or a problem at the main. If the pressure drop is gradual and affecting the whole house, it is worth having us take a look. A pressure regulator that is going out is a straightforward fix, but leaving it can lead to pressure swings that stress your fixtures and appliances. If pressure has dropped suddenly, call us the same day.
Do I need to be home when the plumber arrives?
For most jobs, yes. We need access to the affected area and, in many cases, the main shutoff valve. If you are a property manager coordinating access for a tenant, that works too. Just let us know the arrangement when you call so we can plan accordingly. We will give you a realistic arrival window so you are not waiting around longer than necessary.
Work Performed by Licensed Plumbers
Every job we take on is handled by licensed plumbers who treat your property with care and stand behind the work when it is done.
How does your pricing and estimate process work?
We give you a clear estimate before any work begins. When we arrive, the plumber assesses the situation, identifies the source of the problem, and explains what needs to be done. You get a straight answer on the cost before we start. There are no surprise line items added at the end. If the scope of the job changes once we open things up, we talk to you before proceeding.
When does it make sense to repipe rather than keep repairing?
When the same sections of pipe keep failing, when corrosion is widespread, or when the pipe material itself has reached the end of its useful life, continued repairs become a losing proposition. Older Salem homes with original galvanized or polybutylene pipe often reach this point. We assess the situation honestly and give you a clear picture of what repiping involves, including cost and timeline, before you commit to anything.
Is same-day or emergency plumbing service available?
Yes. We offer same-day plumbing service for situations that cannot wait, and we are available for urgent calls on weekends and after regular business hours. When you call, we will give you a realistic arrival window right away. For burst pipes, major leaks, or a complete loss of hot water, do not wait. Call us and we will get someone moving toward you.
Call (540) 619-5623 and we will talk through your situation, give you a straight answer, and get you on the schedule.
(540) 619-5623