Drain cleaning cost depends on which line is blocked, how the tech can reach it, how far out the clog is, what it's made of, whether a jetter or camera is needed, and when you call. A sink line through the fixture is the smallest job. A main line full of roots, reached through a hard-to-access cleanout on a weekend night, is the biggest. Ask how the price is set before work starts.
Why the same "clogged drain" can cost very different amounts
Read any homeowner forum and you'll find people shocked at what they paid to clear a drain. Sometimes they were overcharged. Often the job was bigger than it looked from upstairs. These are the things that actually move the number.
Which line is blocked
A single fixture's branch line (one sink, one tub) is short and close. A main line or sewer service line can run a long way, out under the yard toward the street.
How the line is reached
A main cleanout in an unfinished basement with clear space around it is the easy case. If the cleanout is buried, behind a finished wall, seized shut, or there isn't one, the tech may have to pull a toilet or go in through a roof vent, which takes longer.
How far out the clog is
Grease near the kitchen sink is a few feet away. Roots at a joint near the street can be most of the length of your line.
What it's made of
Soft buildup clears quickly. Roots, hardened grease, wipes and foreign objects take longer, and may need a cutting head or a jetter.
Cable or jetter
A cable gets water moving. Hydro jetting scours the whole pipe wall and costs more, but it can mean longer between cleanings for lines that keep clogging.
Camera inspection
Running a camera adds time and is often priced separately. It's the only way to know whether the clog was a one-off or a symptom of roots, a sag or a broken pipe.
When you call
Nights, weekends and holidays usually cost more than a weekday daytime visit. If water isn't actively coming up and you can stop using the drains, waiting until morning may be an option. Ask.
Cleanup is a separate job
Clearing the line and cleaning up a flooded basement are different services. Make sure you know which one you're getting.
Want to know what you're dealing with? Describe what's happening, and a drain tech can tell you what kind of job it sounds like.
Call nowQuestions to ask before any work starts
- Is the price for clearing the line, or by the hour? Know which before the cable comes out.
- What's included? Does it include a camera run afterward, and will you get the video?
- What if it backs up again soon? Ask what happens if the same line clogs in the next few weeks.
- Can I see it? If someone says you need a repair or a new line, ask to see the camera footage and have the problem spot marked in the yard.
- Is a permit needed? Any digging to repair a sewer line, especially near the street, usually needs a city permit. A professional will tell you.
Signs you might be getting oversold
- A recommendation to replace the whole sewer line without showing you camera footage.
- Pressure to decide on the spot for anything beyond clearing the immediate clog.
- A price that changes once the work has started, without a clear reason.
A good tech explains what they found, shows you if there's something to see, and lets you decide on anything beyond getting the water moving.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Know where your cleanout is and keep it clear and accessible.
- Stop using water as soon as a backup starts, so there's less to deal with.
- Don't pour chemicals in first. Tell the tech if you have.
- If roots keep coming back, schedule cleaning before the backup rather than paying for an emergency visit.
- In Cottage Grove or South St. Paul, check with the city first if neighbors have the same problem. If it's the city main, it isn't your bill.