Get matched with top sewer cleaners in Chugiak, AK

It’ll take 20 to 30 minutes to unclog a sewer line using a drain snake or drain cleaner. If you hire a professional, you should expect them to be on-site for three hours or less. In addition to clearing the clog, they’ll do other routine inspections, which adds to the overall time (and cost) required.

In most areas, drain cleaning professionals don’t technically need a license, as they aren’t altering your plumbing system in any way. However, we recommend hiring a drain cleaning professional with a plumbing license and certification. Certified plumbers are more likely to provide professional solutions to drain clogs without damaging your system. They’ll also have the diagnostic tools and experience necessary to remove the clog entirely rather than providing a temporary solution, as a handyperson might. Use Angi’s state licensing tool to check your plumber’s professional licenses before hiring.

A two-way cleanout can help if there’s already a clog, but the best strategy to prevent one is by not rinsing grease, oil, or fat down your drains, not flushing or rinsing coffee grounds or egg shells down your drains, flushing only human waste and toilet paper (so no diapers, period products, bathroom wipes, or paper towels), and using drain guards on all of your drains.

You should not attempt to snake your sewer yourself. Accessing and snaking your sewer requires heavy-duty equipment, and while renting is possible, misusing it can damage your sewer main and leave you with very expensive repair costs, not to mention potential environmental issues and severe water damage. Accessing your sewer also exposes you to hazardous sewer gasses, and failing to seal the sewer properly after work can be very dangerous. It’s always best to hire a professional sewer cleaner near you to handle this type of work.