How Much Does It Cost to Unblock a Drain?

Why drain-unblocking prices vary

• access to a suitable chamber or rodding point
• whether rods are enough or jetting is required
• how far along the system the obstruction lies
• whether heavy grease, roots or scale need specialist cleaning
• whether CCTV is needed after clearance
• out-of-hours attendance where genuinely required

Check whether the price is for clearing only

A contractor who rods out a simple blockage and leaves may charge for little more than attendance and clearing. If the same drain keeps failing, the job may also include jetting, CCTV, tracing and a written report, so compare like with like.

Be wary of neat national averages

Before comparing prices, ask exactly what each figure buys. One quote may cover a call-out and ten minutes of rodding; another may include jetting the run, putting a camera through afterwards and giving you the footage or report. Those are not equivalent jobs.

Ask what the price covers if the blockage is harder to clear

Ask whether the quoted call-out includes jetting if rods fail, and whether there is a time limit before extra labour is charged. That avoids discovering halfway through the visit that the advertised price covered only the first attempt.

For recurring blockages, a slightly higher price that includes proper cleaning and camera investigation may be better value than another basic clearance that leaves the reason unexplained.