Drain Cleaning in Toronto from $225
Updated August 18, 2026
City Rooter clears clogged sinks, tubs, toilets, and main drains in Toronto with snaking, hydro jetting, and camera inspections. Starting rates: shower or tub $225, hand sink $250, kitchen sink $350, main drain via cleanout $325, main drain via toilet flange $450. Same-day emergency service available.
- Slow draining in one or more fixtures
- Gurgling noises from sinks, tubs, or toilets
- Foul odour from bathtub, sink, or floor drain
Licensed & WSIB · Written estimates · 24/7 Mon–Sat · Sun 9 AM–5 PM
Drain cleaning in Toronto
A clogged drain is one of the most common calls we take. Hair, grease, wipes, and tree roots stop water from leaving the house. Chemical cleaners often sit on the clog and damage the pipe without clearing it.
City Rooter clears sinks, tubs, showers, toilets, and main drains with snaking, line cleaning, or hydro jetting. You get a written price for the work we can see, and we tell you before we pull a toilet or open a cleanout. Starting rates are published: shower or tub $225, hand sink $250, kitchen sink $350, main drain via cleanout $325, main drain via toilet flange $450.
We are an in-house licensed crew, not a call centre that sends a subcontractor. That matters when the same drain has already been snaked once and the backup came back. The second visit should diagnose the line, not repeat the first visit.
Signs of a clogged drain or sewer line
One slow fixture is often a local clog near the trap. Every drain backing up at once is usually the main line — not four separate problems. A toilet that gurgles when the washing machine drains is a classic main-line warning.
Basement floor drains are the first place sewage shows up when the main is blocked. If you smell sewage or see water coming up there, stop using sinks and toilets and call. Running more water makes the backup worse.
- Water drains slowly or stands in the fixture
- Gurgling from a sink, tub, or toilet
- Foul odour from a floor drain or bathtub
- A toilet that gurgles when a nearby sink runs
- Sewage coming up in a basement floor drain
- Several fixtures slow at the same time
What clogs Toronto drains
Kitchen lines clog from grease and food that cools on the pipe wall. Bathroom lines clog from hair, soap, and wipes that do not break down. Older clay and cast-iron mains pick up tree roots at joints. Hard-water scale narrows the pipe over years and makes the next clog stick sooner.
A foreign object — a toy, a wipe, dental floss, or a bottle cap — can catch everything behind it. That is why a plunger sometimes moves water for a day and then the backup returns. The object is still in the line.
- Hair and soap in showers and tubs
- Grease and food in kitchen sinks
- Wipes and hygiene products in toilets
- Tree roots in older underground lines
- Scale, offset joints, or a belly that holds waste
Snaking, line cleaning, or hydro jetting
Snaking punches through a localized clog and is the right first step for many sinks and tubs. The cable reaches the blockage, breaks it, and lets water move again. If someone already snaked the line and the clog came back, the blockage was often pushed farther down or the pipe wall is still coated with grease.
Line cleaning is a fuller pass on a drain that is slow from buildup, not a single wad of hair. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scrub the pipe wall. We camera the line first so we do not jet a pipe that is already cracked. That is how you avoid paying twice for the same backup.
Chemical drain openers are not a method we recommend. They sit on the clog, can burn skin, and make the job more hazardous when a technician has to open the line. If you already poured a cleaner, tell us before we start.
How a drain cleaning visit works
We ask where the backup started and which fixtures are affected. That tells us whether we are looking at a fixture drain or the main. We check access: a cleanout is faster and cheaper than pulling a toilet. If there is no cleanout, we explain the extra step and the price before we lift the bowl.
When the clog history is messy — repeat backups, sewage smell, or a previous snake that failed — we recommend a camera. The video shows whether the problem is grease, roots, or a broken pipe. Cleaning a collapsed line will not last. Repair will.
After the line is clear, we run water and confirm fixtures drain. If we used a camera, you can see the result. We leave the area clean. You should not need a second visit for the same hairball or grease plug.
Drain cleaning rates (2026 starting prices)
Homeowners often get quoted $150 on the phone and $600 on site. We publish starting rates so you can compare before we arrive. These prices assume typical access. If we need to pull a toilet, cut a cleanout, or camera a long main, we tell you before that work starts.
- Shower or tub snake: $225
- Residential hand sink: $250
- Kitchen sink snake: $350
- Main drain through an accessible cleanout: $325
- Main drain via toilet flange, toilet reinstalled: $450
When cleaning is not enough
If the same drain clogs every few weeks, the pipe may be cracked, offset, or full of roots. A camera inspection is the next step, not another snake. We will show you the finding and quote a repair or replacement if that is what the line needs.
A wet strip of lawn, a dip over the drain path, or sewage in the yard is not a cleaning job. That is a broken line. See drain repair and drain replacement if the camera shows damage.
How to prevent the next clog
Use a drain screen in showers. Keep grease out of the kitchen sink — wipe pans and bin the fat. Do not flush wipes, even the ones labelled flushable. They do not break down in a Toronto sewer the way toilet paper does.
A yearly camera check is worth it on an older clay or cast-iron main, especially if trees sit over the line. Catching roots early is cheaper than a basement backup. For an active clog, skip the chemical and call (647) 534-6875. We answer live and can often come the same day.
Need drain cleaning in Toronto?
Licensed, insured, WSIB-covered technicians. We answer live and typically reply to quotes in 5–10 minutes.
Our process
Step 1
Evaluation
We discuss when the issue started and inspect the drainage system.
Step 2
Examination
A waterproof drain camera identifies food waste, roots, or foreign objects.
Step 3
Selection
We choose snaking, line cleaning, or hydro jetting based on the clog.
Step 4
Elimination
The obstruction is removed without extra damage to the pipes.
Step 5
Completion
A flush and final camera pass confirm the line is clear.
Starting rates (2026)
Average starting prices. See the plumber cost guide for hourly rates. Call (647) 534-6875 for a written estimate before work starts.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Unclogging hand sinks (residential) | $250 |
| Unclogging shower drain with snake | $225 |
| Unclogging tub with snake | $225 |
| Unclogging kitchen sink with snake | $350 |
| Main drain through accessible cleanout | $325 |
| Main drain via toilet flange (toilet reinstalled) | $450 |
Reviews
Only 5-star reviews from GTA homeowners
★★★★★
Alex and his team replaced our main drain and broken pipes. He provided great service and workmanship, at reasonable prices. Highly recommend.
★★★★★
City Rooter installed a new waterline from the edge of the property into my basement. Alex worked with me to get the best solution possible, gave a very good price, and left everything neat and tidy.
★★★★★
They saved us from a major plumbing disaster. Tree roots clogged the drain. The team snaked the line, excavated, replaced the damaged pipe, and installed a cleanout. Professional, efficient, and fair.
Frequently asked questions
How much does drain cleaning cost in Toronto?
City Rooter starting rates are $225 for a shower or tub, $250 for a hand sink, $350 for a kitchen sink, $325 for a main drain through a cleanout, and $450 for a main drain via the toilet flange with the toilet reinstalled. Extra work such as a camera inspection or a new cleanout is priced before it starts.
Is professional drain cleaning worth it?
Yes when a plunger or store chemical has already failed, more than one fixture is slow, or sewage is coming up a floor drain. A licensed crew can tell a local clog from a damaged main and clear the line without guessing. Chemical cleaners often sit on the clog and can damage the pipe.
What happens if you leave a clogged drain?
A clog that sits can turn into a sewage backup, a flooded basement, or a cracked pipe. Odour and slow drainage usually get worse, not better. Call before water comes up through a floor drain.
How is hydro jetting different from drain snaking?
Snaking uses a cable to punch through a localized clog. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scrub grease and sludge off the pipe wall. Jetting is the better choice when a snake already failed or the camera shows coating inside the line. We inspect first so we do not jet a cracked pipe.
Related services
Need a plumber now?
Licensed, insured, WSIB-covered technicians. We answer live and typically reply to quotes in 5–10 minutes.