A slow or completely clogged drain is one of the most common plumbing calls we get. Whether it's a kitchen sink that won't drain, a bathtub that fills up around your ankles, or a main sewer line backup, the cost depends on how severe the clog is and what it takes to clear it. Here's what you can expect to pay in Central Texas.
Basic Drain Cleaning: $150–$350
This covers the most common drain clogs — kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, bathtubs, and showers. The plumber uses a motorized drain snake (also called an auger) to break through or pull out the blockage. Most residential drain clogs are caused by hair, soap scum, grease buildup, or a combination of all three.
A basic drain cleaning typically takes 30–60 minutes. The plumber will run the snake through the drain, break up or extract the clog, and verify the drain is flowing freely. For most homes in Taylor, Elgin, Bastrop, and our other service areas, this is all that's needed.
When basic snaking is the right call: Single fixture is slow or clogged. The problem developed gradually over weeks or months. No other drains in the house are affected.
Camera Inspection: $200–$400
A sewer camera inspection involves feeding a waterproof camera through your drain line to see exactly what's going on inside the pipe. This is useful when the plumber suspects a deeper issue — tree root intrusion, a collapsed pipe section, or a belly (low spot) in the line where debris collects.
The camera shows the condition of the pipe walls, the exact location and nature of the blockage, and any damage that might need separate repair. Many plumbers (including us) include camera inspection with certain drain cleaning services, especially for main line work.
When a camera inspection is worth it: Recurring clogs in the same drain. Multiple fixtures are backing up simultaneously. The home is older (pre-1980) and may have cast iron or clay sewer pipes. You're buying a home and want to know the condition of the sewer line before closing.
Hydro Jetting: $300–$600
Hydro jetting uses a specialized nozzle that blasts water at 3,000–4,000 PSI through your drain and sewer lines. This doesn't just punch a hole through the clog like a snake does — it scours the entire interior of the pipe, removing grease buildup, mineral scale, and even small tree root intrusions.
Think of it as the difference between poking a hole through a clogged pipe and completely cleaning the pipe back to near-new condition. After hydro jetting, your pipes flow at full capacity.
When hydro jetting is the right call: Heavy grease buildup (common in kitchen lines). The snake clears the clog but it keeps coming back within weeks. Multiple drains are slow throughout the house. Tree roots have infiltrated the sewer line (hydro jetting cuts small roots and flushes them out).
Main Sewer Line Cleaning: $250–$500
Your main sewer line is the 4-inch pipe that carries all wastewater from your home to the city sewer or septic system. When this line clogs, every drain in the house is affected — toilets, sinks, tubs, and washing machine. You might notice sewage backing up into the lowest drain in the house (usually a ground-floor bathtub or floor drain).
Main line cleaning requires a larger snake or hydro jetting equipment and is accessed through a cleanout — a capped pipe, usually located in the yard or near the foundation. If your home doesn't have a cleanout, the plumber may need to access the line through a toilet or roof vent, which adds time and cost.
DIY vs. Professional — When to Call
Try this first: A plunger handles most toilet clogs and many sink clogs. For slow drains, try removing the drain cover and pulling out any visible hair or debris. A mixture of baking soda and hot water can help with mild buildup. Avoid chemical drain cleaners like Drano — they can damage pipes (especially older ones) and rarely solve the underlying problem.
Call a plumber when: The plunger doesn't work after several attempts. Multiple drains are slow or clogged at the same time (this points to a main line issue). Water is backing up into other fixtures when you use a drain. There's a sewage smell coming from your drains. The same drain keeps clogging every few weeks.
How Kimco Prices Drain Cleaning
We use flat-rate pricing on all drain cleaning services. That means the price we quote before we start is the price you pay when we finish — regardless of how long it takes. We'll diagnose the issue, explain your options (snake, camera, hydro jet), and let you choose. No surprises, no hourly billing that penalizes you for a stubborn clog.
Preventing Future Clogs
Kitchen: Never pour grease or oil down the drain. Use a strainer to catch food particles. Run hot water for 30 seconds after each use.
Bathroom: Use drain covers to catch hair. Clean the drain cover weekly. Don't flush anything except toilet paper — no wipes (even "flushable" ones), cotton balls, or feminine products.
Whole house: Schedule a professional drain cleaning annually if you have older pipes or mature trees near your sewer line. It's cheaper to prevent a backup than to clean one up at 2 AM.
Need a drain cleared? Call Kimco at (737) 260-7255. We serve homeowners across Central Texas with same-week scheduling and flat-rate pricing on every drain cleaning service.