Drain Cleaning FAQ
How much does it cost to clean drains?
The ranges below are typical national figures, useful for working out whether a quote is sane. They are not our price list, because the number depends on things nobody can see from a phone call.
Short answer
Across the country, a straightforward single-fixture drain clearing typically runs somewhere around 150 to 400 dollars, a main sewer line cleared through an existing cleanout more like 250 to 800, and hydro jetting 400 to 1,200 depending on line length and what is in it. A camera inspection is often 200 to 500 on its own and is frequently bundled with jetting. Four things move the number: which line it is, whether there is an accessible cleanout, whether the cause is soft debris or tree roots, and whether it is after hours. The one figure to ask about directly is access. A job that needs a cleanout installed or a toilet pulled to reach the line costs noticeably more than one that does not.
Typical Ranges by Job Type
| Job | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single fixture, branch line | $150–$400 | Cabling a sink, tub, shower or laundry line from the fixture or a nearby cleanout |
| Main sewer line, existing cleanout | $250–$800 | Larger machine, longer cable, whole-house line restored |
| Hydro jetting | $400–$1,200 | Scouring the pipe wall rather than boring through the blockage |
| Camera inspection | $200–$500 | Often discounted or included when bundled with jetting |
| Cleanout installation | $600–$2,000+ | Only when there is no accessible access point |
Those are industry-typical figures rather than a quote from us. For an actual number on your house, the drain cleaning service page sets out the scope we work to and we quote flat before starting, or call (970) 499-0516 and describe what the drain is doing.
The Four Things That Move the Price
- Which line it is. A bathroom sink is a short run with a small machine. A main lateral is a long run with a large one, and a failed attempt there costs more than a success at the sink.
- Access. This is the big one and the one homeowners never ask about. A job reached through an existing cleanout is straightforward. A job that needs a toilet pulled, or an access point cut into the line, can double. Find out where your cleanout is before you need it.
- What the blockage is made of. Soft debris clears quickly. Tree roots need cutting and will come back without follow-up. Mineral scale needs jetting rather than cabling, and Fort Collins water deposits it readily.
- Timing. An after-hours or weekend call-out carries a premium everywhere. If the drain is slow rather than stopped, booking in normal hours is the cheapest decision available to you.
Four Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
Price comparison on drain work is unusually hard because the same words describe different jobs. These four cut through most of it:
- Is the quote flat or hourly? An hourly quote on a job of unknown duration is an open cheque.
- Does it cover clearing the line, or attempting to? Policies differ substantially on what happens when a cable will not pass.
- Is a camera inspection included, and what happens if it finds a broken pipe? That answer tells you whether you are talking to someone who will keep cabling a failing line.
- What is the warranty? On a recurring clog this matters more than the headline price.
If the camera does find a structural fault, the conversation moves from cleaning to sewer line repair, where trenchless methods are usually cheaper than they sound. Our Loveland drain cleaning page and the main Fort Collins drain cleaning page both list what is included.
How much does a plumber charge for a clogged sink?
A single clogged sink is the least expensive drain call there is, generally around 150 to 350 dollars in most markets, and many companies handle it on a flat rate rather than hourly because the work is predictable. That price normally covers cabling the branch line from the fixture or from a nearby cleanout, and testing the flow afterwards. It rises if the trap arm has to be opened up, if the blockage turns out to be in the main rather than the branch, or if the visit is an evening or weekend call-out. It is worth asking two questions before booking: whether the quote is flat or hourly, and whether it includes clearing the line as opposed to just attempting it.
One note specific to a clogged sink: check whether the blockage is in the trap before booking anything. Opening a P-trap takes ten minutes, needs no tools beyond a bucket, and a meaningful share of kitchen sink calls turn out to have been a trap full of grease and debris. If the trap is clean and the drain still will not run, the blockage is in the branch and the call is justified. There is a walkthrough in the best thing to clean out drains.
Talk to a Licensed Colorado Plumber
Still Draining Slowly? Let Us Look Inside the Pipe
We scope before we quote. A camera inspection shows whether you have grease, mineral scale, tree roots, a sagging section or a cracked pipe, and that is what decides between cabling, jetting and a repair.
Flat pricing, no caustic chemicals, and service across Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, Berthoud, Laporte, Greeley and Estes Park.
Visit our Drain Cleaning & Hydro Jetting page to review the full scope of work and request service.