Drain and Sewer Line Cleaning Cost

Standard drain cleaning costs $150 to $300 (Fixr). Clearing a clogged main sewer line costs more: $350 to $650, with a national average of $475 (Fixr). Hydro jetting, camera inspections, tree roots and broken pipes push the price higher.

This guide explains what each method costs, how to tell a single clogged drain from a main line problem, and what to ask before you agree to a price. Every figure is a national range from the page it links to. Prices near you may differ.

First, is it safe to use your drains?

If sewage is backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain, take a few steps before anything else:

• Stop using water. Don't run sinks, toilets, the dishwasher or the washing machine until the line is cleared. Every gallon you use has to go somewhere, and it may come up the lowest drain in the house.
• Keep children and pets away from the area.
• If you have to clean up, protect yourself. Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles. Sewage carries germs.
• Stay clear of water near outlets, cords or appliances. If water has reached anything electrical, leave it for a pro.

How much does drain cleaning cost?

For a single clogged sink, tub or shower, Fixr puts standard drain cleaning at $150 to $300 (Fixr).

Other national ranges for common jobs:

• Unclogging a drain: $100 to $500 (Fixr)
• Unclogging a sink: $150 to $500 (Fixr)
• Clearing clogs or drain snaking: $100 to $500 (This Old House)
• Flat-rate drain unclog, as an example: $150 (Fixr)

Individual fixtures are generally less expensive to clear than main sewer lines, Fixr notes. That's because the clog is close to the drain opening and a hand or small powered snake can usually reach it.

How much does it cost to clean a main sewer line?

The main sewer line carries everything from your house to the city sewer or your septic tank. When it clogs, every drain in the house can be affected.

• Unclogging a main sewer line: $350 to $650, with a national average of $475 (Fixr)
• Sewer line cleaning: $200 to $600, with a national average of $250 (Fixr)
• Light-duty sewer cleaning with a snake: a low of $150 (Fixr)
• Hydro jetting a fully blocked main sewer line: a high of $1,000 (Fixr)

The price depends on how the line is cleared, what's causing the clog, and how easy the line is to reach.

What do the different cleaning methods cost?

Plumbers use a few main methods. The right one depends on the clog and the pipe.

Snaking or augering

A snake (also called an auger) is a long, flexible cable that the plumber feeds into the drain to break up or pull out the clog. It's the most common first step.

• Snaking minor to moderate clogs: $100 to $300, potentially up to $400 for main sewer lines (Fixr)
• Snaking a main sewer line: $100 to $500, depending on whether a regular snake or an auger is used (Fixr)
• Rodding a main sewer line: $150 to $600 (Fixr)
• Rodding a sewer line: $150 to $375 (Fixr)

Snaking opens a path through the clog. It doesn't always clean grease or buildup off the pipe walls, so a clog can come back.

Hydro jetting

Hydro jetting sends high-pressure water through the pipe to scour it clean. It's used for heavy grease, sludge, mineral buildup and some roots.

• Interior drains: $300 to $700 (Fixr)
• Main sewer lines: $500 to $1,800 (Fixr)
• Hydro jetting to clear a main line clog: $350 to $600 (Fixr)
• Hydro jetting a sewer line: $250 to $1,000 (Fixr)

Jetting isn't right for every pipe. Old, cracked or fragile pipes may not handle the pressure, which is one reason many plumbers look with a camera first.

Chemical treatment

• Chemical cleaning of sewer lines: $20 to $300 (Fixr)
• Chemicals for a main line clog: $75 to $300 (Fixr)

Be careful with store-bought drain cleaners. Fixr's drain cleaning guide says to avoid chemical drain cleaners, because they can corrode older pipes over time and make the problem worse. If you've already poured one in, tell the plumber before they start, since the chemicals can splash back.

How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?

A camera inspection sends a small waterproof camera through the line so the plumber can see what's causing the clog: roots, grease, a sag in the pipe, or a break.

• National averages: around $280 to $300, but it can extend to $1,730 (Fixr)
• Comprehensive service with recording and consultation: up to $999 (Fixr)
• Video inspection added to a main line job: $100 to $800 (Fixr)
• Cleaning or repair when a video inspection is required: $300 to $600 (Fixr)

A camera adds cost, but it can save money. It shows whether the line just needs cleaning or has a break that cleaning won't fix. It's also the best way to see whether a clog keeps coming back for a reason. Ask for a copy of the video.

What changes the price of drain and sewer cleaning?

These are the main factors that move the price:

• Which line is clogged. A single fixture costs less than the main line.
• Tree roots. Fixr says roots can add $200 to $500 to the total (Fixr). Another Fixr guide puts root clogs at $100 to $800 (Fixr).
• Access. Drains that are hard to reach, such as in crawl spaces, under slabs or behind walls, can add $75 to $300 (Fixr).
• A cleanout. A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives the plumber a straight path into the main line. Without one, the plumber may have to pull a toilet or go through a roof vent, which takes longer.
• Time of day. Fixr says after-hours work often costs 1.5 to 2 times the standard rate, and holiday emergency calls can increase costs by up to 125%.
• Emergency charges. Fixr's main line guide puts non-business-hours charges at $50 to $100 (Fixr).
• Method. Jetting and camera work cost more than a basic snake.
• What the camera finds. A broken or collapsed pipe needs repair, not just cleaning.

What if the sewer line is broken?

Sometimes cleaning isn't enough. Roots can crack a pipe, old pipes can collapse, and the ground can shift and leave a low spot where waste collects. These repairs cost much more than a cleaning:

• Broken main line: $1,500 to $3,000 (Fixr)
• Sewer pipe repair or replacement: $50 to $250 per linear foot (Fixr)
• Sewer line replacement: $1,000 to $20,000, depending on where the damage is, its length and the materials (Fixr)
• Drain line breakage repair: $400 to $1,500, with a national average of $600 (Fixr)
• Drain pipe under the house: $600 to $5,000 (Fixr)
• Drain pipe under a slab: $500 to $4,500 (Fixr)

What is trenchless sewer repair?

Trenchless methods fix a pipe without digging a long trench across the yard. Two common ones:

• Pipe bursting: $50 to $250 per foot (Fixr). A new pipe is pulled through the old one, breaking the old pipe apart as it goes.
• Cured-in-place lining: $80 to $250 per foot (Fixr). A liner is pushed into the old pipe and hardened in place, forming a new pipe inside it.

Not every line is a fit for trenchless repair. A pro will use a camera to check the pipe's condition and layout first.

Should you add a cleanout?

If your home doesn't have an easy-to-reach cleanout, a plumber may suggest adding one. It can make future cleanings faster.

• Installing a sewer cleanout: typically $600 to $2,000 (Fixr)
• Replacing a cleanout: typically $1,000 to $3,500 (Fixr)

How can you tell a single clog from a main line clog?

This is the most useful thing to know before you call, because the two jobs cost very different amounts.

Signs it's one drain:

• Only one sink, tub or shower is slow.
• Other fixtures drain normally.
• The clog came on after something specific, like hair in a shower drain or food in a kitchen sink.

Signs it may be the main line:

• Several drains are slow at the same time.
• Water backs up into a tub or shower when you flush a toilet or run the washing machine. Fixr says backflow from a tub or sink likely means a clog or blockage.
• A toilet gurgles when a sink drains. Fixr says strange gurgling from the toilet may point to a clogged sewer main.
• There's a sewer smell, or debris shows up in the toilet when it flushes or backs up.
• The lowest drain in the house, often a basement floor drain, is backing up.

These are likely signs, not a diagnosis. A plumber will confirm where the clog is, often with a camera.

If you'd like a quick summary of the likely cause and typical cost based on which drains are affected, answer a few short questions: Check my plumbing.

What can you safely try yourself?

For a single slow drain, a few things are worth trying:

• A plunger. Use a cup plunger for sinks and tubs, and a flange plunger for toilets.
• Clean the stopper or strainer. Hair often collects right at the drain opening.
• Clean the sink trap. The curved pipe under a sink can be unscrewed by hand on many models. Put a bucket under it first.
• Flush with hot water. Fixr suggests flushing drains with hot water regularly to help clear minor buildup.

Stop and call a pro if:

• More than one drain is affected.
• Sewage is coming up anywhere.
• You've tried a plunger and the drain still won't clear.
• You've already used a chemical cleaner, which can make hands-on work unsafe.

Renting a large powered auger for a main line can damage pipes or get stuck if you haven't used one before.

How often should a sewer line be cleaned?

Fixr says the average timing for cleaning a sewer line to prevent problems is every 18 to 22 months. Homes with many people may need it closer to every 18 months, and smaller homes with one bathroom can often wait longer. If you suspect a clog, don't wait for the schedule.

To help keep drains clear between cleanings:

• Don't pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink.
• Use a strainer in tub and shower drains to catch hair.
• Flush only toilet paper. Wipes, even ones labeled flushable, can cause clogs.
• If you have big trees near the sewer line, ask about root checks during routine cleanings.

What questions should you ask for a fair quote?

Before you agree to a price, ask:

1. Where do you think the clog is, and why?
2. Which method will you use, and why that one?
3. Will you use a camera to find what's causing the clog? Ask for a copy of the video if they do.
4. Is there a service-call fee, and does it go toward the work?
5. Is the price flat or hourly? Can I get it in writing first?
6. If the clog comes back, is the work guaranteed, and for how long? Fixr suggests asking whether the service comes with a warranty on parts or labor.
7. If you find a break, what are my repair options and their costs?
8. For after-hours calls, will a dispatcher with a truck answer, or an answering service? Fixr suggests asking this.

For anything beyond a simple cleaning, Fixr recommends getting at least three written, itemized estimates from different companies.

How does this compare with other plumbing costs?

Drain and sewer cleaning is one of the most common plumbing calls. For hourly rates, service-call fees and other common jobs, see the plumber cost guide. If the problem is a single clogged toilet, the toilet repair cost guide covers what plumbers charge to clear one.

The bottom line

Clearing a single drain usually costs $150 to $300 (Fixr), and clearing a main sewer line usually costs $350 to $650 (Fixr). Roots, hard-to-reach lines, after-hours visits and broken pipes add to the cost.

The key question is whether one drain is clogged or several. If several drains are slow or backing up into each other, stop using water, keep clear of any sewage, and ask the plumber about a camera inspection so you're paying to fix the cause, not just the symptom.