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Never pour used motor oil down the drain. Doing so can have serious environmental consequences, including contaminating groundwater, endangering animals, and killing vegetation. It can also clog your pipes, causing backups in your plumbing or the wastewater treatment plant. In most places, pouring motor oil down the drain is illegal, whether you do it in your home or a storm drain.

The cost to unclog a drain varies based on the location and severity of the clog. For simple clogs within your home, such as in a sink, toilet, or shower, hiring a plumber typically costs between $110 and $350, with an average of around $200. Snaking a toilet or sink usually costs between $110 and $275, while a bathtub or shower clog costs about $225.

For a more serious clog in the main sewer line, the cost is higher. Clearing a main line clog generally costs between $200 and $600, with an average of about $380. However, prices can range from as low as $100 for snaking a minor clog to over $1,600, particularly if advanced methods like video inspection and hydrojetting are needed for a large or hard-to-reach blockage. Some severe main line clogs can cost upwards of $1,000 to clear depending on factors like the cause of the clog, its distance from an accessible cleanout, and whether the pipe is located beneath an occupied space (e.g., in an apartment building). You may be able to save money on minor clogs by using a drain snake or bladder yourself.

Yes—your local septic company can clean your septic leach lines with a sewer jetter, a device that pumps high-pressure water through the lines to blast out any clogs and scum buildup. Unless there’s a clog or blockage in the lines, however, you do not need to perform this maintenance regularly. Do not attempt to clean your own leach lines, as you could easily damage them, leading to very costly repairs.

If you have a sink stopper, it can feel more challenging to clean the drain without removing it, but here are a few simple steps:

• Pour ½ cup baking soda into the drain using a funnel

• Pour 1 ½ cups vinegar into the drain

• Close the sink stopper for 15–20 minutes

• Open the drain

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water down the drain (be cautious as boiling water can damage some types of pipes)

If the drain isn’t unclogged, repeat the process.