Home Improvement Skills & Specialties Plumbing Plumbing Problems & Repairs

2023 Roto-Rooter Prices for Unclogging and Video Inspection

Plumber working on kitchen sink

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Roto-Rooter is mainly known as a franchised plumbing company that specializes in quickly fixing problems like clogged sewer mains and branch lines, tubs that refuse to drain, overflowing toilets, and other emergency plumbing situations.

An emergency plumber is contrasted with a plumbing contractor, who deals with creating plumbing systems for home remodels and new home construction projects. The distinction between emergency and contract plumbers is important because availability and speed are drivers behind the typically higher prices found with emergency plumbers. 

In 2023, you can expect to pay Roto-Rooter between $350 and $500 for a sewer camera inspection Unclogging a branch line within the home may range from $350 to $500. Roto-Rooter's stock-in-trade, unclogging or augering a sewer line, costs from $450 to $575.

2023 Roto-Rooter Price Estimates

Sewer Main Line Unclogging: $450 to $575

Branch Line Unclogging: $350 to $500

Sewer Camera Inspection: $350 to $500


Sewer Main Line Unclogging Prices

Roto-Rooter sewer main line unclog service prices in 2023 may range from $450 to $575.

A sewer main line is a large pipe that leads from your house to the large municipal sewer line outside of your property line, usually buried under the street. If you are the sole owner of your single-family house and property (contrasted with a condominium owner), you completely own that sewer line. So, it is your responsibility to keep that line open and running and you alone must pay to service all parts of that line within your property.

Sewer lines can become clogged in either of two ways: obstructions that build up in the line from usage or obstructions that intrude on the line from outside. Over time, greases, fats, hair, and other items sent down the branch drains can build up on the walls of the sewer line and narrow its capacity. When that capacity is low enough, showers and tubs will not drain and toilets will not flush properly. Another way that a sewer line's capacity can be compromised is when elements outside of the line, namely tree roots, enter the line. Despite the strength of sewer pipe materials, tree roots' growth can be strong enough to penetrate the line.

Augering the sewer main line is Roto-Rooter's stock in trade, a service they have been providing since the 1930s. The process begins by wheeling their large root-cutting machine into your house and as close as possible to your sewer trap. Electric access is needed. The technician opens up the sewer trap and advances the auger down the sewer line.

At the end is a rotating cutting head that cuts into shreds the soft obstructions, sending them down the sewer line and to the city main line. The Roto-Rooter auger machine is even strong enough to cut through tree roots. But should the tree root prove to be too strong, it might break the auger head.

Branch Line Unclogging Prices

Prices in 2023 for Roto-Rooter to unclog a branch line within the home may range from $350 to $500.

A branch plumbing line is a line that begins at a service such as a toilet, tub or shower drain, or sink drain. The end of the branch line is at the home's sewer line. All branches lead to a single sewer line. Thus, similar to a tree, the main line is the trunk and the lines leading up to that trunk are the branches.

Clogged branch lines are typically the result of hair, grease, or rare obstructions (rings, broken plastic pieces from shampoo bottles, etc.). Tree roots never intrude on branch plumbing lines.

Similar to unclogging the sewer main, the Roto-Rooter technician will run a rotating mini-rooter auger machine, otherwise known as a drain snake, down the branch line. The auger will begin at the area of the clog, such as the shower drain, and run as far as the sewer main. Sometimes the snake only needs to extend as far as the nearby trap in order to unclog the line.

Sewer Camera Inspection Prices

Your local Roto-Rooter franchisee in 2023 may charge between $350 and $500 for a sewer video inspection.

Sewer main lines have long been mysterious places because, until the advent of video technology, it was impossible to actually see the blockage. Roto-Rooter and other emergency plumbers would run the augering rooter machine down the line and hope that it adequately chewed through the obstruction to get the waste running again.

Sewer line camera equipment now allows plumbers and homeowners to see exactly what is blocking the line. During a sewer camera inspection, the homeowner can watch over the technician's shoulder as the camera snakes its way through your sewer. After the camera finds the obstruction, it is stopped.

The video technician then goes outside with a sewer radio detection sonde device which locates the video camera underground. This area is marked with spray paint. If the sewer line later needs to be dug up and replaced, workers will know exactly where to dig. Roto-Rooter provides the video to the homeowner, either in streaming or physical format such as a disc.

About Roto-Rooter Price Estimates

As with other expedient services, you typically will pay a premium for the convenience of having a plumber show up at any time of day or night, and quickly—often within 30 minutes. In addition to emergency plumbing, your local Roto-Rooter also may do scheduled plumbing work for remodels or new-construction building. This cost premium is not an added charge. It is simply built into the cost of the plumbing work.

Variable Price Estimates

Roto-Rooter assesses its costs after an in-person visit from one of its plumbers. Each Roto-Rooter is a separate franchisee. Different franchisees may even operate within one city or metro area.

Each franchisee may have different prices, and each plumber may assess a project differently to arrive at a price. Those projected 2023 Roto-Rooter prices are derived from an on-phone consultation for speculative work.

Flat-Price Plumbing Work

Roto-Rooter always charges flat rates for its emergency work. So, if you sign a contract to auger a line for a certain price, that price will not change, despite the amount of time it takes to perform the work. Roto-Rooter franchisees generally do not charge a fee for estimates, though some may.

Incentives and Coupons

Some Roto-Rooter franchisees may include, within the cost, extra items or coupons for future work. Some franchisees offer Roto-Rooter Pipe Shield, an enzyme-based conditioner that prevents materials such as fats, grease, soaps, and detergents from building up on the walls of the pipes over the long term. All promotional items are offered at the discretion of the local franchisees.

Tip

While you can't always count on this, Roto-Rooter usually includes coupons on its main corporate site. This perennial feature of the site typically offers its lowest-value coupon for general plumbing work, its mid-value coupon for sewer camera inspections, and its highest-value coupon for sewer line work.

Plumbing Repair Prices: Cost Drivers

  • Access to drain clean-out point
  • Type of clog
  • Severity of clog
  • Number of clogs throughout the home
  • Size of home and property
  • Whether the property is residential or commercial
  • Location of property, as remote locations may incur trip fees
  • The access you provide within the home
  • Coupons or special offers

Avoiding Emergency Plumbing Repairs

Dealing with scheduled plumbing work is one thing; dealing with plumbing emergencies is a completely different experience. When the bathtub overflows with gray water coming up through the drain or the toilet completely stops working, the solution is usually expensive, invasive, and unpleasant. Do your best to avoid tackling these high-cost plumbing repairs by taking care of your plumbing system with regular maintenance.

  • Add filters to all drains to prevent hair and other debris from entering the drainage system
  • Pour all greases into containers and dispose of them separately. Never pour heavy fats into your drain.
  • Occasionally, open the P-trap on kitchen and bathroom drains and clear them out.
  • Soften the water if your area has a high mineral content in its water system.
  • Cover exterior faucets when it is expected to dip below freezing to prevent pipe breakage.
FAQ
  • How much does it cost to have Roto-Rooter snake a drain?

    Prices in 2023 for Roto-Rooter to snake a drain generally range from $350 to $500, depending on the level of complexity, how the franchisee sets the prices, and other factors.

  • Does Roto-Rooter charge to provide estimates?

    The Roto-Rooter technician will provide a fully detailed cost estimate at your home. Roto-Rooter does not give project estimates over the phone. If you decline the project, in most cases you will not have to pay Roto-Rooter for the estimate. Roto-Rooter notes that, in some cases, a franchisee may be empowered to charge trip fees or for estimates, though this is unlikely.

  • How often should Roto-Rooter snake your home's drains?

    Snaking drains is not part of a home's regular maintenance schedule. You only need to snake drains on an as-needed basis: when sink drains or toilets are backing up and refusing to drain out.