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If you try a drain snake and various DIY methods for unclogging drains to no avail, bring in a professional plumber to assess the situation. Also, if multiple drains in your home are backing up or you smell sewage, a visit from a plumber is best. You can expect your drain cleaning costs to fall around $250, and this can include an assessment of what’s caught in your plumbing and if there’s a larger, underlying problem. You should also consider calling a pro if you need to snake a toilet, as DIYing this could lead to a cracked fixture.

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.

Baking soda and vinegar aren’t just great for making a volcano for your kid’s science project. You can also pour this dynamic duo down your shower drain to dissolve hair clogs. If that doesn’t do the trick, you can step it up with a commercial liquid drain cleaner. 

Bleach is generally not recommended for your shower drains. Although diluted bleach can technically help clean your drain, it will not unclog your pipes. In fact, bleach can harm your plumbing system because it’s so powerful. The bleach can change the color of your sink and even corrode metal pipes and fittings.

Often, people reach for bleach because it's already in their house. But it's worth getting a plunger or a drain snake for the job instead. It'll be a lot less money to buy a new plunger than to pay a plumber to repair or replace damaged pipes.