Drains & sewer
Drain cleaning
Drain cleaning removes the blockage and the buildup around it, so the pipe runs at full size again. A plumber uses a cable machine for most clogs and water jetting for grease and heavy buildup. If the same drain keeps clogging, a camera inspection finds the reason.
- Emergency plumbing help
- Licensed local plumbers
- Price confirmed before work
Kitchen drains clog with grease and food, bathroom drains with hair and soap, and main lines with roots, wipes and paper. A plunger or hand snake often clears a soft clog near the fixture. A clog farther down the line, or one made of grease or roots, needs a machine.
The plumber picks the access point that reaches the clog cleanly: a trap, a cleanout or a roof vent. After the line is open they run water to confirm full flow. A drain that clogs repeatedly usually has a belly, a root entry or a rough pipe wall behind it.
Drain Cleaning at a glance
- Used for
- Sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, floor drains, main lines
- Main tools
- Cable machine, water jetter, inspection camera
- Repeat clogs
- Point to a pipe problem, not bad luck
- Avoid
- Repeated chemical drain cleaner
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What are the signs you need a plumber?
- Water draining slowly or standing in the sink or tub
- Gurgling sounds from a drain or toilet
- A bad smell from one drain
- The same drain clogging every few weeks
- More than one fixture slow at the same time
What does the plumber do?
- 1
Find the clog
The plumber asks which fixtures are affected to tell a local clog from a main-line one.
- 2
Clear the line
A cable with the right cutting head, or a jetter, removes the blockage.
- 3
Test the flow
Water is run through the fixture to confirm the pipe is fully open.
- 4
Look if it repeats
For recurring clogs a camera shows whether the pipe needs more than cleaning.
What affects the cost of drain cleaning?
It depends on the job, and a plumbing company can only give a firm price after seeing it. Prices also vary by region and by time of day. These are the factors that move a quote up or down. Ask for the price in writing before work begins.
- Which drain: a sink trap is simpler than a main line
- How far the clog is from the access point
- Whether jetting or a camera is needed
- Access: a cleanout saves time over pulling a toilet
What can you do yourself, and when should you call a plumber?
Safe to try
- Use a plunger with a good seal on sinks, tubs and toilets
- Pull hair from a shower drain with a plastic drain strip
- Clean the trap under a sink with a bucket underneath
Call a plumber when
- Don't mix or keep adding chemical drain cleaners
- Don't force a hand snake when it stops hard
- Call if sewage appears or several drains back up together
Drain Cleaning questions
Why does my drain keep clogging?
A drain that clogs again and again usually has buildup that was punched through but not removed, or a pipe defect such as a sag, a root entry or rough cast iron. A camera inspection shows which.
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
They are hard on older metal pipes and on the person who later has to open the trap. They also rarely clear a solid clog. A plunger or a cable is safer and works more often.
How do I know if it is the main line?
If more than one fixture is slow, or a toilet bubbles when the washer drains, the blockage is in the main line. A single slow sink is usually a local clog.
How long does drain cleaning take?
A single sink, tub or toilet clog is usually cleared in under an hour. A main line takes one to two hours, longer if there is no cleanout or the line needs jetting and a camera inspection.
What is the difference between snaking and hydro jetting?
Snaking pushes a rotating cable through the clog to open a path. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to wash the whole pipe wall clean. Snaking suits a simple blockage; jetting suits grease, scale and clogs that keep returning.
Can a plunger damage pipes?
No, not in normal use. A plunger moves water back and forth and is safe for sound pipes. Do not plunge a drain that has chemical drain cleaner in it, because it can splash.
Does drain cleaning come with a guarantee?
Some plumbing companies guarantee a cleared drain for a set period, often 30 to 90 days, and exclude lines with roots or damage. Ask what the guarantee covers before the work starts.
Where we connect homeowners with plumbers
Drain Cleaning requests are taken from across the United States. Local conditions change the work, so start with your city or find your state.
Related services
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting scours grease, scale and roots from drain and sewer lines with high-pressure water.
Learn moreSewer Camera Inspection
A sewer camera inspection shows roots, cracks, sags and blockages before you pay for a repair or buy a house.
Learn moreSewer Backup Repair
Sewage in a tub, floor drain or toilet means the main line is blocked.
Learn moreGarbage Disposal Repair
Disposal humming, jammed, leaking or dead? Try the reset and hex key first, then reach a local plumber for garbage disposal repair or replacement..
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Guides on this topic
Why does my drain keep clogging?
Recurring clogs have a cause: buildup left behind, a venting problem or a defect in the pipe. Learn how to tell which, and when cleaning is not enough.
Read the guideSigns of a sewer line blockage
Several slow drains, gurgling toilets and water backing up at the lowest fixture point to a blocked sewer line. Learn the signs and the next steps.
Read the guideHow to prevent drain clogs
Most drain clogs are preventable. Keep grease, hair, wipes and food out of the pipes with these habits for the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and main line.
Read the guide
Need a plumber for this?
Call and tell us what's going on. Calling is free, and the plumber confirms the price before any work starts.