With holiday gatherings, extra guests, and the generally busy nature of the holidays, your pipes have gotten quite a workout. And if you live in a cold section of the nation, freezing could be a serious concern going forward. Right now is a good time to keep an eye on your pipes. Drain cleaning is an essential part of preventive maintenance. Drain cleaning makes your system more efficient, and can potentially avoid bigger plumbing problems down the line.
If you hear gurgling sounds, notice foul odors, experience recurrent clogs or see slow drainage, consider hiring a licensed plumber or drain cleaner to take a look. In some cases, you might be able to solve the problem yourself with a simple drain snake purchased at a big-box store. But more complex clogs will require the attention of a pro; running complicated equipment down your pipes is a delicate and complicated task that shouldn’t be treated as a DIY task.
Your outside sewer lines are often prone to clogging, especially if you have a lot of trees and roots. Even if you don’t notice specific problems, pros suggest cleaning your sewer drain once every two years, in order to clear out built-up debris and prevent major blockages from happening. The average preventative sewer drain cleaning costs about $235.
The overall cost of a drain cleaning job depends on how far down the clog can be found, and where it originates. Snaking a toilet or kitchen sink tends to be the least expensive, starting around $110. Bathtubs and showers cost a bit more, usually starting around $225, and a sewer main line is the most expensive, especially if there are a lot of roots blocking it up. This cleaning can cost up to $800 if your pro needs to use particularly specialized equipment or if it takes a long time.
