Drain cleaning cost calculator
Clogged Drain Cleaning in San Francisco, CA
See what clearing a clogged drain costs in San Francisco, then talk with a plumber who works there.
On this page
- Plumbers working in San Francisco
- One call, no form
- See the price range first
01
How Much Does Clogged Drain Cleaning Cost in San Francisco?
Cleaning a clogged kitchen sink in San Francisco typically falls in a rough range of $170 to $425. A main sewer line clog takes a bigger machine and in some cases a camera inspection, so it runs higher, around $210 to $675. Roots in the line or a cleanout that is hard to get to can push the price up. The calculator below starts from national drain cleaning costs and adjusts them for prices around San Francisco. The result is a rough range, not a quote.
Estimated cost in San Francisco
$170 to $425
Snaking, one visit
A rough range, not a quote
- Local prices
- About 16% above the U.S. average
The range covers clearing the clog on one visit. Pipe repairs, replacing a broken section and digging are priced separately. The plumber sees the drain and gives you the real price before starting.
02
Drain Cleaning Prices in San Francisco by Drain
Prices in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area run about 16% above the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024). The calculator and the table adjust national drain cleaning prices by that much, so the numbers fit San Francisco.
| Drain | Snake or auger | Hydro jetting |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen sink | $170 to $425 | $340 to $700 |
| Bathroom sink | $110 to $300 | $280 to $600 |
| Tub or shower | $140 to $350 | $280 to $650 |
| Toilet | $140 to $350 | Not used |
| Floor or laundry drain | $170 to $475 | $340 to $775 |
| Main sewer line | $210 to $675 | $400 to $1,050 |
| Outdoor or yard drain | $200 to $525 | $340 to $875 |
03
Clogged Drain Cleaning in San Francisco
A clogged drain in San Francisco rarely happens all at once. Grease and food scraps coat the kitchen line, and hair and soap scum collect in the bathroom P-trap, until one day the water just sits there. If only one sink is slow, the clog is usually close to that fixture. Several drains backing up at once, or water rising in the tub when the toilet flushes, points to the main sewer line.
When you call 888-681-1687, the call goes to a local plumber or drain cleaning company that works in San Francisco. Say which drain is stopped, whether water is showing up anywhere else and what you have already tried. That plumber is an independent business in California, separate from this site, and sets the price and the schedule. Ask for the price before any work begins.
04
Which Drain Is Clogged in Your San Francisco Home?
Each drain clogs for its own reasons and gets cleared its own way. Find yours to see what usually causes it and what clearing it costs.
Kitchen sink
$170 to $425 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.
Bathroom sink
$110 to $300 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.
Tub or shower
$140 to $350 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.
Toilet
$140 to $350 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.
Floor or laundry drain
$170 to $475 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.
Main sewer line
$210 to $675 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.
Outdoor or yard drain
$200 to $525 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.
05
What San Francisco Pipes, Trees and Weather Do to Drains
Around San Francisco, the soil itself is hard on drain lines. Clay soil swells after rain and shrinks as it dries, and over the years that can shift a sewer line, open a joint or crack old pipe. Long dry spells pull the soil away from buried pipe, then a heavy storm soaks everything at the same time. Tree roots follow the moisture to any gap they find.
Hard water causes a slower kind of trouble. Minerals can leave scale inside drain pipes, and grease and soap stick to the rough surface until the opening narrows. Plenty of older homes in California still drain through cast iron or clay pipe, and both crack more easily when the soil moves. If drains slow down after a dry summer or a big storm, a camera inspection can show what is wrong before you pay for repeat cleanings.
Drain problems in San Francisco and across California change a lot from the coast to the valleys. Much of Southern California and the Central Valley has hard water that leaves scale in pipes, while parts of the north are softer. Many homes built in the middle of the last century sit on slabs with cast iron drain lines near the end of their life, and ficus, eucalyptus and big street trees work roots into old clay sewer laterals. Long dry seasons end with winter storms that overwhelm yard drains and push grit into the line.
- Hard water in much of the south and the Central Valley
- Cast iron drain lines under older slab homes
- Roots from ficus, eucalyptus and big street trees
- Expansive clay soil in some areas
- Winter storms after a long dry season
When It Is More Than a Clog
A plunger or a hand snake can usually handle one slow sink. It is time to call a plumber when more than one drain is slow, when water comes up in a tub, shower or floor drain as something else drains, when a toilet gurgles while the washer empties, or when the same drain clogs again within weeks. Those point to the main sewer line or the pipe itself, not a single trap. Before a plumber in San Francisco starts, ask which method they will use, cable auger or hydro jetting, whether the camera inspection costs extra, and how roots or broken pipe would change the price.
06
Signs Your San Francisco Drain Needs a Plumber
Most drains give some warning before they stop completely. These are the signs to look for in a San Francisco home, including the ones that point past an easy clog to the main sewer line.
- 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.
07
What Happens When You Call
1
Call 888-681-1687
Use the number on this page. There is no form to fill out and no account to set up.
2
Talk to a local plumber
The call goes to an independent plumber or drain cleaning company that works in San Francisco. Say which drain is stopped, whether water is backing up anywhere else and what you have already tried.
3
Agree on the price first
Ask for the price or how it is worked out before anyone starts, and what happens if they find roots or broken pipe. You decide whether to go ahead.
What a Typical Drain Cleaning Visit Includes
- Questions about the drain. Which fixtures are slow, when it started and what has gone down the drain. The answers often point to the cause before any tools come out.
- Getting to the clog. For a sink that can mean taking off the P-trap. For a main sewer line it means opening a cleanout outside or in the basement, or pulling a toilet when there is no cleanout.
- Clearing the line. A hand snake or cable auger for most sink, tub and toilet clogs, a larger machine with a root cutting head for the main line, or hydro jetting for grease and scale that keep coming back.
- Testing the flow. Running water through the line afterward to make sure it drains at full speed, and checking the other fixtures on the same line.
- A camera inspection when it makes sense. If the line keeps clogging or roots came back on the cable, a camera shows the condition of the pipe. Ask whether it is part of the visit or priced separately.
08
Drain Cleaning Across San Francisco
A call to 888-681-1687 from San Francisco goes to a plumber or drain cleaning company that covers your area. The ZIP codes and nearby communities listed below show what this page covers. Plumbers set their own service areas, so if you are on the edge of San Francisco or past the city limits, mention it when you call and ask about a trip charge.
The same number works across San Francisco, in neighborhoods such as Excelsior, Parkmerced and Westwood Park.
- County
- San Francisco
- Area codes
- 341, 415, 510, 628, 650
- Local prices
- About 16% above the U.S. average
- Call
- 888-681-1687
San Francisco ZIP Codes
- 94102
- 94103
- 94104
- 94105
- 94107
- 94108
- 94109
- 94110
- 94111
- 94112
- 94114
- 94115
- 94116
- 94117
- 94118
- 94119
- 94120
- 94121
- 94122
- 94123
- 94124
- 94125
- 94126
- 94127
- 94128
- 94129
- 94130
- 94131
- 94132
- 94133
- 94134
- 94140
- 94141
- 94142
- 94143
- 94146
- 94147
- 94158
- 94159
- 94164
- 94172
- 94188
Neighborhoods in San Francisco
- Alamo Square
- Anza Vista
- Balboa Terrace
- Bayview District
- Bernal Heights
- Castro District
- Chinatown
- Civic Center
- Cole Valley
- Cow Hollow
- Crocker-Amazon
- Diamond Heights
- Dogpatch
- Duboce Triangle
- Excelsior
- Fillmore District
- Financial District
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Forest Hill
- Forest Knolls
- Glen Park
- Golden Gate Heights
- Haight-Ashbury
- Hayes Valley
- Hunters Point
- Ingleside
- Ingleside Terraces
- Inner Richmond
- Inner Sunset
- Japantown
- Jordan Park
- Laurel Heights
- Little Hollywood
- Little Saigon
- Lower Haight
- Lower Nob Hill
- Lower Pacific Heights
- Marina District
- Midtown Terrace
- Mission
- Mission Bay
- Mount Davidson Manor
- Nob Hill
- Noe Valley
- North Beach
- North of Panhandle
- Ocean View
- Outer Mission
- Outer Richmond
- Outer Sunset
- Pacific Heights
- Parkmerced
- Parkside
- Pier 70
- Polk Gulch
- Portola
- Potrero Hill
- Potrero Terrace
- Presidio Heights
- Presidio Terrace
- Richmond District
- Rincon Hill
- Russian Hill
- Saint Francis Wood
- Seacliff
- Silver Terrace
- South Beach
- South of Market
- St. Mary's Park
- Sunnyside
- Sunset District
- Telegraph Hill
- Tenderloin
- Union Square
- Visitacion Valley
- West Portal
- West SoMa
- Western Addition
- Westwood Park
09
Clogged Drain Cleaning Near San Francisco
- Brisbane, CA
- Colma, CA
- Daly City, CA
- South San Francisco, CA
- Sausalito, CA
- Tiburon, CA
- Belvedere, CA
- Emeryville, CA
- Piedmont, CA
- Alameda, CA
- San Bruno, CA
- Pacifica, CA
Find a Plumber in Your City
10
San Francisco Clogged Drain FAQ
How much does clogged drain cleaning cost in San Francisco?
Clearing a clogged kitchen sink in San Francisco usually falls in a rough range of $170 to $425. A main sewer line clog runs higher, around $210 to $675, and more if roots have to be cut or a camera inspection is added. The drain involved, how far down the clog sits and how easy the cleanout is to reach all move the number. These are rough ranges, not quotes. The plumber who takes your call sets the price, so ask for it before any work starts.
How soon can someone come out to San Francisco?
That depends on the plumber who covers your part of San Francisco and how full their schedule is. This site does not set anyone's schedule, so it cannot promise a time. When you call 888-681-1687, ask when they can get there and whether the timing changes the price. If water is rising or sewage is coming up, say so at the start of the call.
Should the drain be snaked or hydro jetted?
A drain snake, also called a cable auger, feeds a spinning cable down the pipe to break up or pull out the clog. It is the usual first step for sinks, tubs and toilets, and a larger machine does the same job on a main sewer line. Hydro jetting sprays water at high pressure to scour grease, scale and fine roots off the pipe walls, so it suits lines that keep clogging. It costs more, and old or cracked pipe may not take the pressure, so ask the plumber to check the line first, often with a camera inspection.
How do I know if it is the main sewer line?
Look at how many drains are involved. One slow sink is usually a clog in that fixture's trap or branch line. Suspect the main sewer line when several drains are slow at once, when water comes up in a tub, shower or basement floor drain as something else drains, when toilets gurgle, or when you smell sewage near a floor drain or cleanout. A main line clog is cleared from a cleanout with a longer machine, and a camera inspection shows whether roots or broken pipe caused it.
Are chemical drain cleaners a good idea?
Usually not. The strong ones work by heat and caustic or acid reactions, which can soften plastic joints, eat at old corroded pipe and harm the bacteria a septic tank depends on. They rarely clear wipes, roots or a solid grease plug, and when they fail you are left with a sink full of chemicals that the plumber has to work around. A plunger or a hand snake is a safer first try. If you have already poured something in, tell the plumber before they start.
What should I do while I wait for the plumber?
Stop sending water into the drain that is backed up. If it looks like the main line, stop using water anywhere in the house until the plumber gets there, including showers, laundry, the dishwasher and flushing. If a toilet is close to overflowing, turn the shutoff valve behind it clockwise. Move rugs and anything stored near a floor drain, keep kids and pets away from dirty water, and clear a path to the cleanout if you know where it is.
Who is the plumber I get connected to?
An independent local plumber or drain cleaning company that works in San Francisco, CA. This site is a referral line: it connects the call. It does not clear drains, send anyone out or set the price. The plumber sets their own prices and schedule, so ask about the price, the method and what happens if they find a bigger problem before any work starts.
Drain still stopped? Call 888-681-1687 and explain which drain is backed up, when it started and whether any other drain is slow. The call goes to a local plumber who works in San Francisco, and nothing is booked until you have heard the price and agreed to it. While you wait, a plunger on a sink or toilet is fine. Leave the chemical drain cleaner on the shelf. It can damage old pipe and makes the job riskier for whoever clears the line.