Signs your main line is plugged
- More than one drain is slow or backing up at the same time
- The basement floor drain fills when the washer drains or someone showers upstairs
- Toilets gurgle when other fixtures drain
- A sewage smell in the basement
What to do right now
Stop running water in the house until the line is cleared. Every flush or load of laundry adds to the backup. Skip chemical drain cleaners; they rarely reach a main line clog.
How main line snaking works
I open the cleanout, usually a capped fitting in the basement near the floor drain, and run a powered drain cable through the main line to break up the blockage. Once it's flowing, I run water to confirm it drains properly and clean up the area.
Main sewer line snaking is $249 from an accessible cleanout. No cleanout, or needing to pull a toilet for access, can add to the cost.
Tree roots and repeat clogs
Roots are a common cause of main line clogs, especially in older neighbourhoods with mature trees. Snaking cuts roots back, but they can grow again. A sewer camera inspection shows what's causing the clog, and snaking plus camera together is $399.
For heavy buildup, hydro-jetting a main line starts from $499. If the camera shows a broken or collapsed pipe, I'll show you the footage so a licensed plumber can quote the repair.
What to send for a quote
- A photo of your cleanout, or of the basement area around the floor drain
- Which drains are slow or backing up
- Whether it's happened before
- Your neighbourhood or town
Serving Edmonton and area
YEG Drain serves Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Leduc, Beaumont and Fort Saskatchewan, plus neighbourhoods across Edmonton like Mill Woods, Windermere, Terwillegar, Castle Downs, Clareview, Summerside and Old Strathcona.
✉ Email [email protected] for a free quote