A clogged drain is annoying. Not knowing what clearing it will cost is worse. So here is a straight, 2026 answer for Durham Region homeowners, real pricing, what changes it, and which method you actually need.
Every job we quote is flat-rate. You get the price before we start, so there is no meter running and no surprise at the end.
Drain cleaning cost at a glance
- Basic snaking (sink, tub, single fixture): from $99
- Most drain jobs: $250 to $350
- Main sewer line clearing: higher, depending on access and severity
- Hydro-jetting (heavy grease, roots, scale): more than snaking, because it scours the whole pipe
- Camera inspection (for repeat clogs): quoted with the job
The $99 covers a straightforward single-fixture clog. The bigger numbers come when the clog is deeper, in the main line, or needs jetting instead of a simple snake.
What changes the price
1. Where the clog is
A slow bathroom sink is a quick snake. A blockage in the main sewer line, the pipe carrying everything out of your house, is a bigger job with more access and equipment.
2. The method the clog needs
- Snaking breaks through most soft clogs and is the cheapest option.
- Hydro-jetting blasts the pipe walls clean with high-pressure water. It costs more but is the real fix for grease buildup, scale, and tree roots, common in older Durham homes with clay or cast-iron lines. A snake just pokes a hole through that; jetting clears it.
3. How bad it is
A single slow drain is cheaper than multiple drains backing up at once (which usually means a main-line problem). Repeat clogs often need a camera inspection to find the real cause instead of clearing the same clog over and over.
When basic snaking is enough (and when it is not)
Snaking handles the everyday stuff: hair, soap, a kitchen sink that drains slow. If your clog keeps coming back, or more than one fixture backs up together, snaking is a temporary fix. That points to grease, roots, or a main-line issue, where hydro-jetting or a camera earns its cost by solving it for good. We explain the recurring-clog problem in why your drain keeps clogging, and the kitchen-specific version in kitchen sink won’t drain.
How to keep drain costs down
- Never pour grease down the kitchen sink. It is the #1 cause of paid callbacks.
- Use drain screens to catch hair and food.
- Clear a slow drain early, before it becomes a full block that needs jetting.
- For repeat clogs, pay once for a camera inspection to find the cause instead of paying to snake it every few months.
Get a flat quote
We clear drains across Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Pickering, and all of Durham Region, usually same day. You get a flat price before we start, and no mess left behind.
Call us at (647) 560-2817 or request a free estimate. See our drain cleaning page for details, and if a backup is flooding your home right now, our 24/7 emergency plumbers can help. For the full pricing picture across services, see our Durham Region plumbing cost guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to snake a drain in Durham Region?
Basic snaking of a single fixture starts at $99. Most drain jobs run $250 to $350 depending on the clog. Main-line clogs and hydro-jetting cost more because of the equipment and access involved. You get a flat quote before any work starts.
What is the difference between snaking and hydro-jetting?
Snaking breaks through soft clogs and is the cheaper option. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the entire pipe wall clean, and it is the real fix for grease, scale, and tree roots. Snaking pokes a hole through that buildup; jetting removes it, so the clog does not come right back.
Why does my drain keep clogging even after cleaning?
Repeat clogs usually mean grease buildup, tree roots invading the line, or a deeper main-line issue that snaking only clears temporarily. A camera inspection finds the real cause so it can be fixed once, rather than paying to snake the same drain every few months.
Can you clear a drain the same day?
Most days, yes. We cover all of Durham Region and book same-day drain cleaning when possible. Call early in the day for the best chance, and you will get a flat price before we start.