how much does it cost to buy a drain snake

Full Answer

How much does a snake for the drain cost?

How much does it cost for a plumber to snake a drain? According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to have a drain professionally snaked is $220, with a range of $136 to $305.

Can I snake my own drain?

For smaller clogs, snaking your own drain is possible. Routine, minor sink clogs from hairballs or food remnants are typically located in the U-shaped trap directly below the sink or only a few feet deeper in the drainpipe. They may be cleared by using a light-gauge, hand-operated auger.

How much does a plumber cost to unclog a drain?

Nationwide, the average cost to clean a clogged drain is $130-$180. This covers both the cost to find the clog and clear the drain. Most plumbing companies will charge a flat rate of $50 - $150 to come out, which also covers the first hour of work.

How long of a drain snake should I buy?

Because they are designed for the toughest of clogs, the cable should be no smaller than 5/8 inch in size, with a minimum length of 75 to 100 feet in length. This snake is designed to clean out drains that are 3 inches or larger, which typically includes clean outs to the street.

Is it worth it to buy a drain snake?

First of all, a drain snake is a good item to keep handy in a home. A basic hand-crank drain snake (a.k.a. a drain auger) is a much better option for getting rid of a minor clog than resorting to chemical drain cleaners. In fact, you should never use these chemicals on your drains!

Is it worth buying a drain snake?

Manual drain snakes are very easy to find in most home improvement stores. They usually have a small hand crank to advance or retract the cable and can be one of the most effective methods for clearing small clogs in the toilet, tub, kitchen sink, or bathroom sink.

Can snaking a drain make it worse?

While drain snakes can be very effective in clearing certain clogs, sometimes they can actually exacerbate a problem. For example, if your pipes are old and corroded, sticking a drain snake down there can scrape off chunks of metal, making the clog much worse and damaging your pipe.

How much does Roto Rooter cost to snake a drain?

Roto-Rooter sewer main line unclog service prices may range from $350 to $450.

How do you unclog a drain if a snake doesn't work?

If the auger still doesn`t work, call a plumber. If you can`t remove an obstruction in a sink drain by using an auger inserted into the drain, tackle the clog through the U-shaped trap under the sink.

What's the strongest thing to unclog a drain?

Best Overall: Drano Max Gel Clog Remover This popular drain cleaner works effectively on different drains and disposals—whether in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, or garage. This highly concentrated formula works in about seven minutes and can remove even the toughest grime buildup from your drains.

What can I use instead of a drain snake?

If you don't have a drain snake at your home, you can use a pipe cleaner, a straightened clothes hanger, or make this simple tool out of a plastic bottle: Start with an empty 2-liter plastic bottle.

What kind of snake do plumbers use?

A standard household drain snake, sometimes called a drum snake or top snake, is the smallest of the drain-clearing augers. It is primarily used for clogs in tubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and sometimes kitchens sinks. Most have a 25- or 50-foot cable with a corkscrew tip for snagging debris.

Can snaking a drain make it worse?

While drain snakes can be very effective in clearing certain clogs, sometimes they can actually exacerbate a problem. For example, if your pipes are old and corroded, sticking a drain snake down there can scrape off chunks of metal, making the clog much worse and damaging your pipe.

Can you snake a sink drain?

With the trap and trap arm removed, you can access the drain pipe to snake the bathroom sink drain. To run the drain snake, position yourself with the snake close to the opening of the drain pipe. For a bathroom sink drain, you should be fine using a top snake unless it is a particularly tough clog.

How do you snake a drain without a snake?

Natural drain cleanerFirst, mix 1 cup of baking soda with a pinch or two of salt.Pour the dry mixture down the clogged drain.Pour a cup of vinegar into the drain.Wait 20 minutes.Flush drain with boiling water.

How do you snake past a 90 degree turn?

The proper way to use a snake is to insert the head into the drain and push very slowly without cranking. If you try to force it, it can bend back on itself and actually come out of the drain. Push gently and slowly, and if the auger is the right one for the job, it should slide smoothly through the pipe.

How much does it cost to snake a drain?

The average plumber cost to snake a drain is $100 to $275 for a toilet, sink, tub, shower, or laundry drain. The average cost to snake a main line is $150 to $500. Roto-Rooter prices are $225 to $500 on average to snake a drain. Drain snake rental costs $30 to $80 per day.

How much does it cost to rent a drain snake?

Drain snake rental costs $30 to $80 per day, between $125 and $300 per week, or from $300 to $1,000 per month, depending on the machine auger size. Handheld plumbing snake rental costs $10 to $15 per day. Plumbing snakes are available for rent at Home Depot and Lowe's.

How Much Is A Plumbing Snake?

A handheld or drill-activated plumbing snake costs $15 to $100 and reaches up to 25 feet for minor clogs near the sink basin or toilet. A machine-powered plumbing snake costs $250 to $1,000 on average and reaches 50 to 75 feet for most residential blockages.

How much does a plumber charge for a clogged drain?

Some plumbers charge a $50 to $200 minimum service fee. Signs of a clogged drain include gurgling sounds, water backing up or pooling, water draining slowly, toilet not flushing, or bad odors. Plumbers take about five minutes to snake a drain for clogs located near the tub, toilet, or sink. Main sewer line clogs impact all ...

How much does it cost to unclog a kitchen sink?

The average cost to unclog a kitchen sink is $100 to $220. When unblocking a sink with a garbage disposal, the plumber first confirms the unit is not the problem. Then, the drain trap fitting and drain arm are removed to snake the pipes. If the sink is still clogged after snaking, garbage disposal replacement costs $185 to $379 on average.

What to do when a drain snake fails?

When a drain snake fails to remove a clog or if the main line is clogged, call a professional plumber.

How big is a drain snake?

Drain snakes range from 25' to 100'. A 25' snake unclogs showers, tubs, and bathroom sinks. A 50' to 75' plumbing snake clears washing machines, bathroom and kitchen sinks, and roof vents. A 75' to 100' snake unblocks drains 3" or larger. A toilet auger is specifically made for toilets.

How much does it cost to drain snake?

That said, the national average cost of drain snaking is around $225, but we’ll include some more specific per-project costs below.

How much does it cost to snake a sewer line?

If you’re unlucky enough to have a clog in the main sewer line, you’ll likely pay between $500 and $1,000 for professional snaking.

What Are The Different Ways to Snake a Drain?

There are several different methods and augers you can use to snake your clogged drain, depending on the experience level of the person performing the service and the fixture to which the drain is attached.

What Do You Need To Know About Snaking Drains?

Many homeowners believe that drain snaking is a simple process that can fix any clogged drain.

How Much Does Snaking a Drain Cost?

Ok, now that we’ve covered the basics of snaking drains, let’s talk about the typical costs involved for hiring a professional plumber to snake a drain.

What Should You Look For In A Drain Cleaning Specialist?

When you’re choosing a professional to snake your drain, you should always opt for one with years of experience, extensive training, and proper plumbing certification. Handymen and general contractors can snake drains for you, but they’re far less proficient than a master plumber would be.

Why do you snake your drain?

Snaking helps clear drains because the coil naturally catches material stuck in your clogged pipes and pulls it outward as you spin the handle. In bathroom sinks and showers that typically get clogged because of hair, the hair gets snagged on the coil and can easily be pulled out of the piping.

How much does it cost to snake a drain?

The average cost to snake a drain is at $200, with most homeowners paying between $120 and $280. If you prefer to DIY, the cost decreases to $10 to $75. A standard drain snake usually costs $8 to $40 while industrial-grade snakes can be rented for around $29 to $70. Here are average overall estimates for a typical drain snaking:

What to consider when choosing a drain snake?

Before you start choosing a drain snake, the first thing to consider is the size of the drain. When used in the wrong drain, even the most powerful drain snake will not work properly. Incorrect application could also damage the machine and the drain itself. But how do you know which cable is used for what drain?

How much does a toilet auger cost?

They have a curved design and can clean without scratching the porcelain. Toilet augers are usually sold for $30 to $50.

How much does a flat tape snake cost?

Some flat tape snakes also have a spear-shaped tip for pushing obstructions through the pipe instead of pulling it out. Flat tape snakes normally cost about $20 and $60.

What is a small drain line?

Now, for the drain sizes. Small drain lines are anything that measures less than 2 inches because a 2” drain is already medium-sized. Meanwhile, 3” drains are regarded as large while 4” to 5” drains are counted as extra-large.

How much does a plumber charge per hour?

If you live in a small town, expect to pay around $45 to $75 per hour. On the other hand, plumbing fees in big cities may cost up to $75 to $150 per hour. On the average, most people pay about $170 for a simple drain clog repair regardless of location.

What can affect the labor cost of a plumber?

The level of difficulty and materials required can also have an impact on the overall labor cost. For example, if the clog is caused by tree roots, a motorized power auger or a Roto-Rooter will be required. If it’s due to corroded pipes, the plumber may have to remove and replace them. This will add to the overall labor and materials cost.

How Much Does A Drain Snake Cost?

The cost of a drain snake depends on its design, type and size. However, the average cost of a drain snake goes for between $250-$1500.

How Efficient Is A Drain Snake?

The drain snake is used when the clogging is bigger than what a plunger can handle. It is designed as a 20-50ft long, flexible wire cable which uncoils to remove the clogging in the plumbing no matter the distance.

Does Home Depot rent drain snakes?

Home Depot offers tool rental for drain snakes. You can rent a 100′ X 5/8″ Drain Cleaner, a 75′ X 1/2″ Drain Cleaner, mini sewer drain snakes, and many others. Contained in its inventory for drain snakes, are reliable and high quality drain snakes for dislodging clogs.

How much does it cost to snake a drain?

According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost for a plumber to snake a drain in the United States is $218, with a typical range of between $135 to $302. The cost of snaking your drain depends on the type of drain, how large it is, how long the job is expected to take, and a few other factors.

How long is a snake?

As the name suggests, a plumbing “snake” is a long, flexible piece of metal tubing. Models for home use may be only 25 feet in length, while professional models can be 100 feet in length or longer.

What is a drain auger?

In contrast, drain augers have a larger, thicker design with a bigger and more aggressive tip. They are intended to be used on tough clogs in larger pipes that are up to 3” in diameter but are often too large to fit into sink drains. They’re best for cleaning out blockages in toilets and showers, which usually have larger pipes. Clogs that build up in these pipes can be difficult to clear with a smaller plumbing snake, and are best addressed with a drain auger.

What to do if your shower drain is clogged?

If your sink, toilet, or shower is clogged, you may need to hire a plumber to clean the drain and remove the obstruction. Most often, they’ll use a tool called a “snake,” which is a flexible length of cable that can be run through the pipe to remove the obstruction and clear the drain.

How long does it take to remove a clogged drain?

The entire process is usually quite fast and takes only a few minutes, and the vast majority of clogs can be eliminated with a snake – particularly when used in combination with chemical drain cleaners like Drano.

Is it worth waiting to schedule an appointment for a clogged shower drain?

If you’d like to save a bit of cash and your clogged drain isn’ t causing any damage to your home, it may be worth waiting to schedule an appointment during normal work hours. Use your best judgment, though – a clogged shower drain is not a huge deal, but a toilet that’s overflowing and could be leaking water into the floor may be worth dealing with right away.

Can drain snakes clear clogs?

You could purchase a drain snake and try to use it, and find that it won’t clear your drain at all.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Drain Snake?

The weekly and monthly rate greatly decreases the daily cost, so choose one of those options if your project will take more than a day. If you go this route, your handheld drain snake rental will cost around $130 a week or up to $275 a month.

How much does a plumbing snake cost?

Basic handheld, manually or drill-activated plumbing snakes typically cost around $25, but they only reach up to 25 feet. These work best for minor blockages that are located fairly close to the basin or toilet. If you need to resolve this type of clog, you can pick up this style plumbing snake at the hardware store.

How much does a plumber charge for a drain clearing job?

If any problems arise, they switch to an hourly rate. When your plumber offers a flat fee, you will likely pay under $530 for the job.

How much does it cost to clear a sink?

Hiring a plumber to clear a sink blockage costs a flat fee of $110 to $215. If problems arise, your repair bills could start climbing, however, as charges for minimum labor amounts and call-out fees are standard. Therefore, it is often far cheaper to attempt to clear a simple drain blockage yourself.

How much does it cost to hire a plumber?

The longer you wait to clear the blockage, the worse the problem becomes. Eventually, you may have to hire a plumber at an hourly rate of up to $200. The total price varies based on the amount of work involved, but expect to pay around $200, as project costs tend to run between $135 and $295. Small jobs can cost as little as $85, but clearing a severe blockage costs as much as $530.

How much does an auger cost?

For tougher clogs deep in the pipes, you will need a machine auger, which runs from $250 all the way up to $3,250 for the professional models. This innovative plumbing tool uses up to 100 feet of wire cable to clear blockages. The purchase price of this specialty machinery tends to exceed the cost of hiring a pro, but you can lower your DIY expenses by renting the equipment instead.

How much does a plumber charge per hour?

These experts typically set their hourly labor rate between $70 and $120, though some charge as much as $200 per hour.