What drain snaking costs in Los Angeles

Snaking a drain costs about $100 to $300 in Los Angeles for one fixture, and $250 to $500 for the main sewer line. Published Los Angeles price lists give $100 to $250 as the standard price for a single drain, and $175 to $275 for a sink or tub, with the toilet and main higher.

A drain snake, also called an auger, is the machine most plumbers carry. It is the first tool for most clogs, and the right one for a simple blockage. For how it works and when to use it, see our page on snaking and augers. This page covers the price.

How much do plumbers usually charge to snake a drain?

Most charge between $100 and $300 for one fixture, and a flat price is normal for a simple job. Los Angeles businesses publish $100 to $250 for a standard single drain, and $175 to $275 for a bathtub or sink. A main line costs more because the cable is longer and the access is harder.

Behind the flat price sits an hourly rate. Published rates in Los Angeles run from about $95 to $200 per hour, which is among the highest in the country. That is why a simple clog price is higher here than the national averages you may have seen. Ask if your quote is flat or hourly, and what the stopping point is.

What does it cost to snake each type of drain?

Price depends on which drain it is, because depth, length and access differ. A bathroom sink is short and cheap, a toilet needs care, and a main line is a long run of cable through a pipe you cannot see.

Your own home may sit outside these numbers. They are what the businesses publish, not what a quote will say. For kitchen-specific prices, see our kitchen drain cleaning cost guide.

What is the difference between a hand auger and a machine snake, and does it change the price?

A hand auger is a short cable with a crank that reaches a trap or the first stretch of a fixture drain. A machine snake is a motor-driven cable on a drum that goes much further, which is what clears the main line and branch lines. Hand work is cheaper and quicker. Machine work costs more.

A plumber chooses by distance and by the blockage. Hair in a tub drain is often within hand reach. A clog beyond the trap, or in the main, needs the machine and the footage. "Rooter" is a common trade word for this machine-and-cable work, so a quote for rooter service generally means a machine snake. Whichever the name, ask what tool, how many feet of cable, and whether the price changes if more is needed.

What pushes the price of drain snaking up or down?

Access, length and the cause. A clean outdoor cleanout keeps a main line job near the low end, while a vent entry or a toilet that must come off adds time. Grease and roots take more effort than hair. Hillside lots and older cast iron or clay can make the cable harder to run. After-hours calls cost more.

Hard water and old cast iron are factors in many Los Angeles homes: a line that has scaled inside traps debris and clogs again soon after a snake. If the same drain needed snaking more than once in a few months, the snake probably cleared a channel and left the buildup. That is a signal to ask about a camera or a jet, and our jetting versus snaking guide shows when each is right.

Why is my drain still clogged after snaking, and will I pay again?

A snake clears a path, not the pipe wall. If the clog was a mass of grease or roots, it may re-form quickly. Or the blockage may be further along or in a different line. You may pay again, so ask before you book whether a return visit within a short period is covered. Our page on clogs that persist after snaking goes through causes.

A fair plumber tells you when a snake is a stopgap. A cheap snaking that has to be repeated can end up costing more than a jetting you did the first time. Ask for the footage if a camera was used.

How do you avoid extras and surprise charges on a snaking job?

Ask for the total, in writing, before the work starts. Ask what is included: the cable length, access fees, a run of water to test, and a camera if needed. Some bargain snaking offers grow once the cable is in, with charges for access, extra length or equipment.

Be especially careful with after-hours calls, which often carry a flat extra. If the plumber finds something that changes the job, such as a broken pipe, the price should be agreed before they carry on. We set up the call-out, and the written price reaches you first. Use the price request form and say which drain is slow. The home page lists the other drain work we arrange.

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Questions people ask

How much should snaking a drain cost?

About $100 to $300 for a single sink, tub, shower or toilet in Los Angeles, and $250 to $500 for a main sewer line. A flat price for a simple clog is normal. If a quote is far above or below that, ask what is included.

Is drain snaking cheaper than hydro jetting?

Yes. Snaking costs about $100 to $500 depending on the drain. Hydro jetting costs $350 to $900, and up to $1,100 for heavy jobs. Snaking is the right first step for a simple clog. Jetting costs more but cleans the wall of the pipe, which suits grease, scale and roots. See what hydro jetting costs.

Can I snake a drain myself to save money?

For a short blockage in a sink or tub, a hand auger can work. The risk is scratching a fixture, pushing a clog deeper, or missing the cause. For a main line, damage to old pipe is possible. If one try does not work, a plumber will have a longer cable and can see what is wrong.

Does snaking damage pipes?

A correctly sized cable used by someone who knows the pipe rarely does. The risk is higher in fragile Orangeburg or cracked clay and with the wrong head on old cast iron. A plumber who suspects fragile pipe may recommend a camera first. That is a good sign, not an upsell.

Is a plumber visit fee included in the snaking price?

It depends on the business. Many Los Angeles shops quote a flat price that includes the trip and the first stretch of work. Some charge a separate service call fee. Ask whether the price you are given is the total, and whether the visit fee is part of it.