Published national ranges run $110 to $275 for a toilet clog, $150 to $350 for an ordinary drain clog, and $350 to $600 for a hydro jetting pass, and they appear here only as a rough guide. Your Burbank quote hinges on how deep the blockage sits, how long it takes to reach, and whether a camera is needed. Use this page alongside the main drain cleaning and clogs guide, which explains how each method works.
How much does a plumber cost to unclog a toilet?
Across the US, a clogged toilet typically costs around $110 to $275 per clear-out. A plain clog cleared with a closet auger lands near the bottom. The high end means lifting the toilet to get at an object or trap clog, and that pull-and-reset step can add $50 to $200.
What moves the price on a toilet specifically:
- A paper or waste clog right at the bowl is quick. A child's toy or a wipe lodged in the trap takes longer.
- When every toilet and drain throughout the home is sluggish, the main line holds the clog, and the price shifts toward a line-clearing job.
- A visit outside normal hours costs more. Emergency visits for other plumbing work reach $350 an hour in one guide.
What you can try before booking is listed in our guide to a blocked toilet.
How much does it cost to unclog a toilet yourself?
Doing it yourself costs little: a flange plunger or a closet auger from a hardware store is the whole kit. A flange plunger fits the toilet outlet and works on most ordinary clogs. A closet auger reaches a few feet farther without scratching porcelain. Stop if water rises or the bowl will not drain, and shut the supply valve behind the toilet.
Bring in a plumber after plunging and augering change nothing, when another fixture gurgles, or when you suspect something solid went down, and the Lankershim Plumbing home page shows how we set that up. The DIY route is fine for paper. It is a poor bet for a hard object, since pushing it deeper can make retrieval more costly.
What is the average cost to unclog a drain?
Across the country, drain clearing averages about $186 to $549, from a low near $85 to above $1,200 for complicated work. By fixture, a kitchen sink runs $100 to $225, a bathroom sink, shower or tub $150 to $225, and snaking a drain about $195 on average. Treat these as guidance and not a quote for a Burbank home.
Drain cleaning usually falls into one of three jobs: a plunge or trap clean, a cable machine pass, or hydro jetting. The cable machine is the middle option, and jetting is the thorough one, priced separately.
For a sink clog specifically, our sink unclogging cost page breaks down the visit fee and labor.
How much does hydro jetting cost?
Hydro jetting generally costs $350 to $600, averaging close to $475, while complex work may reach about $1,000. The plumber feeds a hose fitted with a high-pressure nozzle down the line, and the water strips grease, scale and roots off the pipe wall. A camera inspection before or after costs $275 to $1,175 and shows as a separate line.
Jetting costs more than a cable because of the equipment and the time on site. It pays off for repeat clogs, greasy lines, and pipes with rough interiors. Older San Fernando Valley homes with drain lines from the 1940s to 1960s are typical candidates. A cracked or collapsed line is a bad match, and that is the reason the camera goes in first.
What is the strongest thing to unclog a toilet?
For a stubborn toilet clog, the closet auger is strongest, followed by a professional machine, with a flange plunger ahead of both. Strength matters less than matching the tool to where the clog sits. Chemical drain openers are not stronger in practice. They can pool in the bowl without reaching the clog, then splash whoever plunges next, which is why many plumbers advise against them in toilets.
An auger that fails suggests the clog sits past the trap, in the line. The next step is a professional cable machine or a jetting pass, though jetting a toilet line is unusual and mostly reserved for a fully blocked line.
What affects the price of unclogging a drain?
Clog depth, equipment, access and timing drive the price. Labor runs $45 to $200 an hour depending on the plumber's level, and a service call fee of $100 to $350 often covers the first hour. Severe clogs may need repeat visits or emergency service, turning a $150 job into a $600 one.
Other add-ons you may see on a bill:
- Tree root removal, about $100 to $600 extra.
- A sewer line camera inspection, $275 to $1,175.
- Installing a two-way cleanout so the line can be reached later, around $2,000 in one guide.
Request each as its own line item, so you can decline one without losing the rest.
What about hydro jetting equipment, rental or buying a machine?
Buying a portable hydro jetting machine for home use costs about $1,500 to $2,000, and renting depends on the supplier. We would not recommend either for a house drain. Nozzle, hose length and pressure all have to fit the pipe, and aging cast iron or clay can be damaged by too hard a pass. A plumber picks these on site.
Septic and drain field jetting is another job entirely, relevant mainly to a few hillside Valley properties off the city sewer. On septic, have the plumber confirm the work suits your system before any water runs.
Questions people ask
What is the usual time on site for clearing a drain?
Thirty minutes to two hours clears most drains, and a toilet can go faster. Jetting takes longer, with machine setup, a hose run through the line and often a camera afterward. Say early on if several fixtures are slow, because that means a longer job.
What should I ask before I hire someone to clear a drain?
Ask if the price is a flat rate or hourly, if there is a visit fee, if a camera inspection comes bundled, and what gets added when roots or a collapsed section show up. Take the contractor's California license number to the state's License Check page and confirm it. A quote in writing before the work is normal, and one can be requested on the quote page. Compare it line by line with any other quote you collect, since a low total can hide a camera or roots charge added later.
Should I stay home while the drain is cleared?
Ideally at arrival and again at the end of the job. You point out the fixture and the shutoffs, then test the drain afterward. The time between needs no supervision. Move items out from under the sink or beside the toilet beforehand so there is room to work without moving your belongings.
Is hydro jetting worth the money for a repeat clog?
Jetting earns its cost when one line clogs again after cable clearing, since it removes buildup a cable leaves behind. A first clog in a healthy line does not justify it. A camera that reveals a cracked or offset pipe rules jetting out and points to repair.
Does a plumber charge extra to clear a clogged toilet at night?
Usually yes. After-hours and weekend calls carry a premium, often visible as a higher hourly rate or a higher call-out fee. Ask for the after-hours rate by phone when you book. If the toilet is not the only one in the house and sewage is backing up, that justifies the call. If it is a slow bowl, it can wait until morning.
References
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