Owner-operated drain & sewer service in Ballard, Seattle
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Phones 8 AM – 8 PM daily · Online booking 24/7
5608 17th Ave NW, Suite 2025, Seattle, WA 98107 · WA #DRAINDA756MA

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Drain Cleaning in Seattle, WA: Flat Price, Same Day When We Can

Kitchen sinks, tubs, toilets, laundry standpipes and basement floor drains, cleared through their full length and flow-tested. The owner answers 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days, and the price is the same on a Saturday night as on a Tuesday morning.

Call (206) 590-1455 Book online, any hour

Phones answered 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days · Online booking 24/7

The Drain Authority pink and black drain cleaning van with its mascot and service list, parked at the curb outside a Seattle-area home
Owner-operated · The van that shows up

The short answer

Drain cleaning clears a blocked or slow drain by running a cable or water jet through the pipe from the nearest access point. In Seattle ours runs $200–$600 flat for a kitchen, bath, laundry or floor drain, with no trip fee and the same rate evenings and weekends. The owner answers 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days, and same-day service is available when the schedule allows.

$200–$600

Flat price, set before work starts

Same day

When the schedule allows

$0 trip fee

No evening or weekend surcharge

5.0

Google rating from 100+ reviews

Is it an emergency? Sort it in ten seconds

Where the water shows up tells you how urgent it is. Use this to decide whether to call now, call today or book online.

Call now

Sewage is coming up

The main line is blocked and every flush makes it worse.

  • Water rising in a floor drain, tub or shower
  • Several fixtures backing up at once
  • Toilet overflows when the washer drains
  • A restaurant or apartment line is down
Call (206) 590-1455

Call today

One fixture is out

The rest of the house still drains, so it can wait a few hours, not a week.

  • The only toilet will not flush
  • Kitchen sink full and not draining
  • Gurgling when another fixture drains
  • A clog we cleared before is back
Call (206) 590-1455

Book online

It is slow, not stopped

Pick a slot that suits you, any hour; the price is the same.

  • One sink or tub draining slowly
  • Yearly jetting for roots or grease
  • A sewer camera inspection before you buy
  • A second opinion on a quote
Book online

What Seattle drain cleaning includes, and what it costs

One flat price for the whole job, quoted after we see the line and before any work starts.

We clear the drain from the access point that reaches the whole blockage, not just the part you can see, then run water to prove it flows. On a main line, the visit ends with a camera pass.

Most single-fixture clogs are cleared with a cable in under an hour. When the cable comes back coated in grease or root hair, that tells us the line needs hydro jetting to stay open, and we will say so before you pay for a second visit.

Price
$200–$600 flat; jetting $500–$700
Clears
Kitchen, bath, tub, toilet, laundry and floor drains, plus yard drains
Method
Cable first; jetter for grease, scale and roots
Trip fee
None, and no evening or weekend surcharge
Hours
Phones 8 AM to 8 PM daily; online booking any hour
Registered
Washington contractor #DRAINDA756MA

Why Seattle drains clog

Four causes account for most of what we pull out of drains in this city. Each one is backed by a public source you can check.

Bathroom sink with its brass trap removed over a bucket during a drain cleaning
Field photo · Trap off, bucket under, before the cable goes in

  1. 01

    Roots in older side sewers

    Seattle Public Utilities says roots are a common problem in side sewers, and older concrete and clay pipe built without watertight joints is especially at risk.

    Source: SPU, Side Sewer Defects & Issues

  2. 02

    Cooking oil that hardens in the pipe

    SPU calls it a myth that liquid oils will not clog pipes. Many cooking oils, like olive and coconut oil, harden in cooler pipes and cause blockages.

    Source: SPU, Fats, Oils, and Grease

  3. 03

    A small pipe to the street

    Bellevue Utilities notes the drain connecting a home to the sewer is only about four inches wide, which is why grease, wipes and food scraps add up fast.

    Source: City of Bellevue

  4. 04

    Chemicals that weaken old pipe

    An N.C. Cooperative Extension urban forester notes that highly caustic drain cleaners can damage older sewer pipes, creating openings roots can use.

    Source: N.C. Cooperative Extension

Which drain, which clog, which fix

The fixture tells us most of what we need before the truck leaves. This is how we read it.

What you notice Usual cause The fix Seattle price
Kitchen sink slow, everything else fine Usual causeGrease and food past the trap The fixCable the kitchen branch; jet if it keeps returning Seattle price$200–$600
Bathroom sink or tub draining slowly Usual causeHair and soap in the trap and branch The fixCable the branch, flow-test Seattle price$200–$600
Toilet will not flush or clears slowly Usual causeWipes, paper or an object in the trapway The fixToilet auger, then check the line past it Seattle price$200–$600
Laundry standpipe overflows Usual causeLint and soap in the standpipe and branch The fixCable the laundry line Seattle price$200–$600
Basement floor drain backs up Usual causeMain line blocked downstream The fixMain sewer line cleaning and camera Seattle price$200–$600
Several fixtures slow at once Usual causeBuilding drain or side sewer The fixMain line cleaning; jetting if roots or grease Seattle price$200–$700

Flat Seattle prices for standard service, no trip fee, same rate evenings and weekends. Not sure which you have? Try the free drain diagnostic.

The first ten minutes, before the truck arrives

What you do now decides how much there is to clean up later. Most of this comes straight from Seattle Public Utilities’ sewer backup guidance.

  1. 01

    Stop using water everywhere

    No flushing, no washer, no dishwasher, no showers upstairs. Every gallon you send goes to the lowest drain in the house.

  2. 02

    Protect people and power

    Keep children and pets away from sewage. SPU says to turn off power to a flooded area and not to stand in water near electrical equipment.

  3. 03

    Do not plug a rising floor drain

    SPU advises against trying to stop sewage coming up through a floor drain. It will find the next lowest opening.

  4. 04

    Call, and say what is backing up

    Tell us which fixtures are affected and whether anything gurgles. That usually tells us branch line or main before the truck moves.

  5. 05

    Before anyone snakes the main, call PSE

    SPU’s guidance: call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773 before clearing a side sewer blockage, to avoid damaging a gas line.

  6. 06

    Document the damage

    Photos and receipts matter for insurance. If the city’s sewer caused it, SPU explains how to file a damage claim with the City.

What happens when you call

Most drain calls are cleared in one visit. A single fixture is usually under an hour; a root-blocked main line can take three.

  1. 3–5 min

    The phone call

    Which fixtures are affected, whether anything gurgles, where your cleanout is. That points to branch line or main.

  2. Same day

    Your arrival window

    A window, not a whole day. Morning calls generally go out the same afternoon; late calls get the first slot next morning.

  3. ~10 min

    A flat price first

    Floors are covered before equipment comes in. You approve one flat price before any work begins.

  4. 45 min–3 hrs

    Clearing the line

    We work from the access point nearest the blockage, with cable, cutter or jetter as the pipe needs.

  5. ~15 min

    Prove it and clean up

    Water runs to prove flow; main lines get a camera pass. The area goes back the way we found it.

Water still rising? Call. Not urgent? Book any hour.

The same flat prices apply evenings and weekends, and there is never a trip fee. Online booking runs through the same calendar the truck works from.

Book online, any hour

Sewage coming up now? Call (206) 590-1455

What actually comes out of Seattle drains

Every clog has a cause, and you get to see it. These are from real calls.

Cable first for most clogs

A mechanical cable with the right cutting head opens most branch and main line blockages the same visit.

Jetter when grease or roots return

4,000 PSI water scours the pipe wall clean, and older clay and cast iron get a camera pass before any jetting.

Camera to show the cause

Main line calls end with a camera pass, so you see what caused it, how far out it sits, and that it is gone.

Hair clog pulled from a bathroom drain laid out on a towel
Hair pulled from a bathroom drain
Drain cable pulled from a tub drain with a clump of hair on its tip
Hair and soap on the cable tip
Hand holding two drain cable cutting heads before clearing a drain
Cutting heads matched to the blockage
Gloved hands removing a sink trap to reach a clog in the drain line
Trap off to reach the branch line

Questions to ask any drain company before they come out

An urgent call is when surprise fees happen. Ask these first, wherever you book; here are our answers.

What to check Why it matters Our answer
Is there a trip or dispatch fee? Some prices are only quoted after the truck arrives $0 trip fee
Do evenings or weekends cost more? After-hours rates add to the bill Same flat rate 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days
Will I get a price before work starts? An hourly meter leaves the total open One flat price you approve first
Who answers the phone? The person on the phone should know drains The owner, Shane Caldwell
Can you prove the main line is clear? A cleared line can still hide the cause Camera pass on main lines, footage yours
Are you registered in Washington? Check before anyone touches your pipes WA contractor #DRAINDA756MA

Not a 24-hour company. Here is who to call after 8 PM.

We would rather tell you now than at midnight. These are the right numbers for each situation, day or night.

Situation Who to call When
Your own drain or sewer line is blocked Who to callThe Drain Authority, (206) 590-1455, or book online WhenPhones 8 AM to 8 PM daily; online booking any hour
Sewage or flooding from the street, a manhole or a public drain Who to callSeattle Public Utilities, (206) 386-1800 When24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Your contractor suspects the public main or the city connection Who to callSeattle Public Utilities, (206) 386-1800 When24/7; SPU may check the public main
Gas smell, or clearing a side sewer near a gas line Who to callPuget Sound Energy, 1-888-225-5773 WhenBefore any side sewer clearing
Anything life-threatening Who to call911 WhenImmediately

Numbers from SPU Emergencies and SPU Side Sewer Backups. Outside Seattle, call your own city’s utility for public sewer problems.

Seattle drain cleaning prices

One flat number, quoted before work starts. Here is what it covers and how it compares.

Our flat price

$200–$600

Per drain, cleared through its full length

  • Cable sized to the line
  • Flow test before we leave
  • Camera pass on main lines
  • Same price evenings and weekends

Drain cleaning with The Drain Authority costs $200 to $600 in Seattle, as one flat price you approve before any work starts. It covers clearing the drain through its full length and a flow test. If the line is coated in grease or scale, hydro jetting runs $500 to $700.

Seattle average
Angi’s 2026 Seattle data puts drain cleaning at $210–$536, averaging $373. Angi: Seattle drain cleaning cost
Never added
A trip fee, an hourly meter, or an evening or weekend surcharge
Price is set
After we see the access point and the line, and before any work starts. You approve it first.
Full breakdown
Every method and what it costs, in our Seattle drain cleaning cost guide.

Other drain and sewer services, flat Seattle prices

When a drain cleaning turns up something bigger, this is what comes next and what it costs.

Seattle rules worth knowing before you call anyone

Who owns which pipe, who to call for the public sewer, and the one call to make before anyone runs a cable down a side sewer.

  • The side sewer is yours to the main

    Seattle Public Utilities: if you own the building, you own the side sewer until it connects to the public main, including the run under the sidewalk and street. SPU: Your Side Sewer

  • No permit for routine cleaning

    SPU’s homeowner guide says no City permit is required for routine cleaning of a side sewer, and that cleaning generally costs less than $1,500. SPU homeowner guide (PDF)

  • Call PSE before clearing a side sewer

    SPU advises calling Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773 before clearing a side sewer blockage, to avoid damaging a gas line. PSE: Blocked sewer

  • Clean up safely

    SPU says to clean and sanitize hard surfaces, never mix bleach and ammonia, and consider a professional cleaning company. King County has its own sewage spill guidance.

Drain cleaning near you

Same flat prices across Seattle, the north end and the Eastside. See all service areas.

Seattle drain cleaning FAQ

Price, speed, hours and when to call someone else. More in the Seattle drain & sewer FAQ, or read about the $99 drain cleaning scam.

Still have a question?

Shane answers the phone himself, 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.

Call (206) 590-1455 Send a question

How much does drain cleaning cost in Seattle?

Drain cleaning with us runs $200–$600, flat, for a kitchen, bath, laundry or floor drain. Hydro jetting runs $500–$700 when grease or roots keep coming back. There is no trip fee, and evenings and weekends cost the same as a weekday. Seattle Public Utilities’ homeowner guide says side sewer cleaning generally costs less than $1,500.

Do you offer 24-hour emergency drain cleaning in Seattle?

No. The Drain Authority answers the phone 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week, and takes online bookings around the clock. For an overflowing public sewer or sewage coming from the street at any hour, Seattle Public Utilities runs a 24/7 line at (206) 386-1800.

How fast can you get here?

Same day when the schedule allows. Morning calls generally go out the same afternoon, and late-day calls get the first slot the next morning. Calling instead of booking online is the fastest way to learn the earliest arrival time.

What should I do while I wait for the drain cleaner?

Stop using water everywhere in the house, keep people and pets away from any sewage, and turn off power to a flooded area. Seattle Public Utilities says not to try to stop sewage coming up through a floor drain, and to document any damage for insurance.

Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use first?

Not in older pipes. An N.C. Cooperative Extension urban forester notes that highly caustic drain cleaners can damage older sewer pipes and create openings roots can use. Chemicals also sit in a full line and end up in the way of whoever clears it.

How do I know if it is one drain or the main line?

One slow fixture with everything else draining normally is a branch line. Several fixtures slowing together, a toilet that gurgles when the washer drains, or water coming up the lowest drain in the house points to the main line, which is a main sewer line cleaning instead.

Can I snake my own sewer line?

A single sink or tub, often yes. For the main line, Seattle Public Utilities advises calling Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773 before clearing a side sewer blockage so a gas line is not damaged, and a cleared main line should get a camera pass to show the cause.

Do you replace sewer lines?

No. We clean drains and sewer lines, jet them, descale cast iron and run cameras. We do not dig up or replace sewer pipe, so we have nothing to gain by recommending a replacement you do not need.

Sources and Seattle references

Phone numbers, safety steps and outside cost ranges on this page come from these public sources. Our hours and flat prices are current Seattle rates, reviewed October 2026.

Not sure if it can wait? Send a photo.

Describe what is happening and attach a photo through the contact form. You will get a straight answer on what it likely is and how urgent it is.

  • Which fixtures are backing up
  • Whether anything gurgles or smells
  • Where your cleanout is, if you know
  • A photo of any standing water
Book online Call (206) 590-1455

The Drain Authority

5608 17th Ave NW, Suite 2025
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone
(206) 590-1455
Email
info@drainauthority.pro
Hours
Daily, 8 AM to 8 PM
Booking
Online, 24/7
License
WA contractor #DRAINDA756MA
Google profile & directions Free drain diagnostic