Don’t let a plumbing problem drain you—hire the right drain cleaner for the job
Professional drain cleaning services cost between $150 and $350 for most clogs, though you may spend up to $800 for sewer main line work.
Your drain clog indicates a blockage in your plumbing, and chemical drain cleaners can damage pipes rather than solving the underlying problem safely.
Asking friends and family for referrals helps you find trusted drain cleaning professionals who have completed similar work with positive results in your area.
Hiring a local drain cleaning professional provides reliable help with stubborn clogs and prevents future drainage problems through proper diagnosis and professional-grade tools.
A clogged drain indicates there’s some kind of blockage in your plumbing. But before you buy a chemical drain cleaning solution, rethink your strategy. Hiring a drain cleaning professional is the best way to prevent damage to your plumbing and to help avoid more clogs down the road.
In addition to unclogging your drain, you’ll find that drain cleaners near you offer a wide range of services. In fact, plumbers typically include drain cleaning services, meaning you can also expect your pro to offer:
New plumbing installation
Water heater installation and repair
Garbage disposal installation and repair
Gas line installation and repair
Water heater installation and repair
Depending on the severity of the clog, drain cleaning costs between $150 and $350. Sink and toilet clogs are the most affordable to fix, but you may spend more on a bath or tub drain. If you need to hire a local plumber to unclog a sewage main line, costs can go as high as $800.
While you may be able to DIY a minor clog with some drain cleaning solution or a plunger, you’ll want to call in a pro for larger clogs or if you want to avoid harsh chemical solutions that can damage your plumbing.
Here are some tips for hiring the best drain cleaning pro for the job:
There are plenty of contractors who unclog drains. To narrow down the list, ask friends, family, and colleagues if they’ve recently hired any local drain cleaning specialists or plumbers that they’d recommend. Referrals from someone you trust go a long way.
You can also check out online reviews for any companies you’re considering. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start, and you should ensure the drain cleaning pro has positive customer feedback on recent and related tasks.
Because drain cleaning is a fast, affordable task—and because plumbers often charge a minimum fee—it’s worth considering if you have any other plumbing problems you’ve been meaning to address.
For instance, if you have a leaky pipe or running toilet, ask the plumber if they can fix that after cleaning your drain. Bundling several plumbing tasks into one service call can help reduce labor costs.
Narrow your list down to three to five drain cleaner, then get quick quotes from each. Compare not only price but also how soon they can fix the issue.
When hiring a drain cleaning pro, ask the following questions to determine if they’re the right person for the job:
Are you a licensed and insured plumber or drain cleaning pro?
What method will you use to clean my drain, and will it pose any threats to my pipes?
How do you bill for this project: per project or hourly?
How soon can you take the job, and how long will it take?
Do you offer a guarantee of your work?
What do you recommend I do to ensure I avoid future clogs?
The number one way to choose the right drain cleaning pro is to ask what methods and solutions they use, and verify that they use professional-grade tools. You also want to make sure they explain how they’ll protect your pipes in the course of their work. Once you have quotes and information from several local drain cleaners, choose the pro with the best pricing and timeline for your needs.
Before your drain cleaning pro leaves, test their work by running water and ensuring it drains properly. Assuming it does, pay the contractor and consider leaving them a review online. Don't forget to ask if they have tips for avoiding clogged drains in the future.
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Fab Clean 614Best cleaning I've had at my property
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All Star Paving and SealingWhen we had the winter freeze, I called Quantum Waterworks Waterline & Drain Cleaning Services and within 1 hour I received an e-mail and he sent someone out the next day and he was on time, he was nice and did the job quickly and cleaned up after himself. We had a leak in our kitchen from...
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The WaterworksMary Cleaning Service is fantastic! The entire team is professional and pay a great deal of attention to detail. They do such a thorough job of cleaning my house. I would definitely recommend!
It was just fine. They did a good job. They cleaned what needed to be cleaned.
Dezired Cleaners LLCThey cleaned my very dirty basement. They were prompts, quick, thorough and their price was fair.
JDE House Cleaning LLCFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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