Clogged Drain Cleaning in Chicago, IL

1. Kitchen sink

   $150 to $375 to snake

   What clogs it

   Cooking grease and oil that cool and harden on the pipe wall, plus food scraps, coffee grounds and soap scum that stick to it. A garbage disposal sends more solids down, not fewer.

   How it gets cleared

   The plumber pulls the trap or opens the cleanout under the sink and runs a cable auger into the branch line. Lines packed with grease along their whole length get hydro jetted.

   Watch for

   A clog that comes back within weeks usually means grease lining the whole branch, not one plug. If the dishwasher backs into the sink, the clog is past the point where the two meet.

2. Bathroom sink

   $100 to $275 to snake

   What clogs it

   Hair mixed with soap, toothpaste and shaving residue, caught on the pop-up stopper or in the trap. Small items dropped down the drain add to it.

   How it gets cleared

   Most get cleared at the stopper and the trap with a hand auger. A clog further down the wall line takes a small drum machine.

   Watch for

   Water that drains slowly from the sink and the tub at the same time points to a shared line, not the sink alone.

3. Tub or shower

   $120 to $325 to snake

   What clogs it

   Hair is the main cause, bound together with soap scum and conditioner. Older tubs with a trip lever drain collect it in the overflow and the drum trap.

   How it gets cleared

   The plumber clears the stopper and runs a cable through the overflow opening or the drain. Old drum traps under the floor sometimes have to be opened.

   Watch for

   Water rising in the tub when the toilet flushes means the blockage is in the main line, not the tub drain.

4. Toilet

   $120 to $325 to snake

   What clogs it

   Too much paper at once, wipes labeled flushable, paper towels, cotton swabs, dental floss and toys. Low-flow toilets from before about 2005 clog more often.

   How it gets cleared

   A toilet auger clears most clogs from the bowl without taking anything apart. A stubborn one means the toilet comes off the floor so the plumber can reach the line below.

   Watch for

   If more than one toilet or a floor drain gurgles or backs up, the main sewer line is the problem.

5. Floor or laundry drain

   $150 to $425 to snake

   What clogs it

   Lint from the washing machine, sand and grit, soap, and in basements the silt that washes in. A dry trap lets sewer gas up as well.

   How it gets cleared

   The plumber snakes the drain from the grate or a nearby cleanout. Basement floor drains tied into the main line are often cleared from the main cleanout instead.

   Watch for

   Water coming up through a basement floor drain is usually a main line backup. Stop running water in the house until it is cleared.

6. Main sewer line

   $190 to $600 to snake

   What clogs it

   Tree roots coming in at joints in clay and cast iron pipe, grease built up from years of kitchen use, wipes, and pipe that has sagged or cracked.

   How it gets cleared

   A large cable machine with a root cutter goes in through the outdoor or basement cleanout. Heavy buildup and roots get hydro jetted, and a camera shows what caused the clog.

   Watch for

   Backups in the lowest drains, gurgling toilets and several slow drains at once. A line that needs clearing every year may need repair, and the camera footage tells you.

7. Outdoor or yard drain

   $180 to $475 to snake

   What clogs it

   Leaves, dirt, sand and roots in yard drains, area drains, driveway trench drains and the pipes that carry downspout water away.

   How it gets cleared

   Snaking or jetting from the drain opening or the outlet. Long runs and buried pipe often need a jetter to wash the silt out.

   Watch for

   Water pooling around the house after rain, or a downspout pipe that overflows at the top, means the line is blocked or crushed.

• Water drains slowly. A sink or tub that takes minutes to empty is narrowing inside. It usually gets worse until it stops.
• Drains gurgle. Bubbling or gurgling when water runs elsewhere means air is being pulled through a partly blocked line.
• Water backs up in another fixture. Water rising in the tub when the toilet flushes, or in the sink when the washer drains, points to a shared or main line clog.
• A sewer smell hangs around. Standing water and buildup in the pipe start to smell. So does a dry trap or a cracked line.
• The same drain keeps clogging. If the plunger comes out every few weeks, the cause is further down the line than the plunger reaches.
• Water comes up through a floor drain. A basement floor drain that pushes water up is the classic sign of a main sewer line backup.

From Essex, Near West Side and The Island out to the city limits, this page covers all of Chicago.

Still have water sitting in the sink or tub? Call 888-681-1687 and tell the plumber which drain is stopped, how long it has been slow and whether other drains are acting up. The call goes to a local plumber who works in Chicago, and you decide whether to book after you hear the price. In the meantime, a plunger is fine on a sink or toilet. Avoid the chemical drain cleaner, because it can damage old pipe and makes the job riskier for whoever clears the line.