Main Sewer Line Clog Repair Cost Guide

The average cost to repair a clog in your main sewer line in Texas is between $425-$800. The average main sewer line clog repair cost is 7-20% higher for Texas residents than in other parts of the country.

Our plumbing service data indicates that Tarrant County homeowners spend $300-$400 for drain snaking services. Severe main line clogs require advanced services like sewer camera inspection and residential hydro jetting — these repair calls can cost $700 and up.

We used 3 years of proprietary data from plumbing service calls in the Fort Worth area to determine the cost of main line clog and blockage clearing. We also referred to customer success reports to evaluate the best methods of clearing and repairing sewer clogs.

• The primary cost driver of main line cleaning is labor. Labor accounts for 60-70% of overall sewer line repair and cleaning costs in Tarrant County.
• Trenchless repairs are less expensive and less invasive. Consider trenchless repairs if you don’t have severe pipe blockages — they’ll save 1-2 days of labor costs over traditional sewer repair.
• Always request a sewer camera inspection. This footage assists in finding clogs and leaks. It’s also incredibly valuable when dealing with insurance companies and applying for water use reimbursement.
• Main line warranties are your best friend. A full sewer repipe isn’t ideal — but our warranty is. We offer a 20 year warranty on full repipe service that covers parts and labor for Tarrant County residents. All main line repairs come with a 6 year warranty.

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What Does Main Sewer Line Clog Repair Cost?

Expect to spend between $425-$800 to clear main line clogs and blockages. 

Simpler clog removal methods like drain snaking fall near or below the low end of this cost average. Hydro jetting and excavation services cost $700+ for most Texas residents.

3 Main Sewer Line Clog Repair Cost Drivers in Texas

Like most plumbing repairs, the primary cost driver for main line clog repair work is labor. Labor accounts for 60-70% of overall costs in Texas sewer repair projects.

Average labor costs in Tarrant County are 5-10% higher than most of Texas, due to increased work demands and higher cost of living. 

The other primary factors in the cost of sewer line cleaning are project duration (time) and trench vs trenchless repair. The longer your project takes, and the more complex the blockage, the more your repairs will cost.

Trench vs trenchless sewer repair costs

A PVC Line being drawn through old quest line in pipe bursting

The average cost of trench sewer clog repair in Texas is $50-$225 per linear foot. Trenchless clog repairs cost $75-$250 per linear foot. However, the minimal excavation and reduced labor hours associated with trenchless repairs greatly reduce overall project costs.

Traditional sewer repair takes 1-2 days longer than trenchless sewer clog repairs to complete, due to excavation labor. This adds $500-$1,600 to the average cost of trench clog repairs.

If your severe clog requires excavation, we’ve got you covered — you’ll get a $200 landscaping credit to help refurbish your yard.‍

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Learn more about no dig sewer repair and replacement.

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5 Most Common Types of Sewer Line Service in Texas

Our plumbing service data shows that most Tarrant County homeowners request the following 5 main line cleaning and sewer clog repair services:

1. Sewer camera inspection. The best first step in diagnosing your main line clog. Sewer camera inspections offer valuable footage to spot leaks and clogs, as well as assist with homeowner’s insurance claims.
2. Drain snaking. Less severe clogs are tackled with drain snaking.
3. Hydro jetting. A powerful pressurized water solution against the toughest main line clogs and blockages.
4. Tree root removal. Live oaks are beautiful, but their root systems can penetrate pipes and cause deep blockages. 
5. Main line drain cleaner. As consumer education grows, homeowners value grease eating drain cleaners for long-lasting clog and blockage solutions. We do not suggest using Drano® or chemical cleaners for main line clogs.

Start with a sewer camera inspection

A small camera is inserted into your main line with a flexible cord. It easily identifies any potential clogs or blockages in your pipe system leading to the city sewer.

This footage isn’t just helpful in diagnosing clogs! It’s also useful when submitting claims for homeowner’s insurance or attempting to obtain water use reimbursement from the city.

We keep sewer camera photos and video footage on file for future repair projects and use at our customers’ request.

Drain snaking service for main line blockages

Expert plumbers insert a drain snake (also called an auger) into the access point of your sewer line. This is usually a main drain or cleanout. The auger has a long, flexible cable that rotates as it reaches the clog or problem area.

The rotating line breaks up the clog to restore proper water flow through your sewer pipe. This method is effective for small to medium-sized clogs that create slow drainage in multiple drains in your home, or a foul smell coming from your drains.

If you have an extremely deep, severe or large clog, a drain snake may not adequately clear the blockage from your pipe. If this occurs, hydro jetting is a better option.

Hydro jetting for severe sewer line clogs and blockages

Hydro jetting involves sending a stream of highly pressurized water through your main line. This method uses your cleanout as an access point, and uses the water jet to target tough clogs.

Consider hydro jetting if you have large blockages involving grease, tree roots, mineral deposits, and items that shouldn’t be flushed.

Tell your plumber if your pipes are old, corroded or damaged. Hydro jetting old pipes can result in greater damage or a potential burst pipe.

Removal of tree root intrusions

Most homeowners don’t think of tree roots as “pipe clogs”, but an intrusive root system can cause blockages in your main line. 

Hydro jetting is the best non-invasive method to clear tree root intrusions from your sewer pipe. In severe cases, some excavation may be necessary to remove the tree root blockage and repair sections of your pipe.

Non-chemical main line drain cleaner offers long-lasting protection

Many drain and main line cleaning products contain caustic chemicals like lye. These chemicals corrode metal pipes and eat away at PVC and other newer materials.

Recent advances in pipe cleaning technology suggest bacterial drain cleaners are the most effective at providing long-lasting solutions for clogs and blockages. Endure pipe cleaner uses Bacillus bacteria, which converts organic clogs into carbon dioxide gas that passes harmlessly through your main line.‍

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Read more about why we think Endure is the best grease eating drain cleaner on the market.

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Sewer Repair Warranty: Your Secret Cost-Saving Weapon

The best protection against high prices for sewer line cleaning and repairs is an exceptional warranty offer. A great warranty ensures you only pay for sewer repairs once, and guarantees that your plumbing company stands behind its work.

We offer the best warranties for sewer line repair, water line breaks and drain clearing in Tarrant County:

• Sewer line repiping: 20 year warranty on parts and labor for full repiping projects
• Water line breaks: 6 year “bumper to bumper” warranty on parts and labor
• Drain cleaning: 120-day warranty on all clog removal services

These main line and drain cleaning warranty offers are built into our service costs — we believe peace of mind shouldn’t have any hidden fees.

Main Line Clogs and Blockages: Popular FAQs

Here are some of the most popular questions that Texas homeowners ask about main line clog and repair service.

Is a clogged main line an emergency?

Yes — main line clogs and blockages can cause sewage backup into your home, structural damage, foundation slab leaks, wastewater leaks in your yard and burst pipes.

What are the symptoms of a sewer line clog?

Homeowners with clogged sewer lines often notice an unpleasant odor in their yard, wastewater backup in their drains, slow drainage, poor toilet flushing and unusually damp spots in the yard.

What drains are affected by a clogged main line?

You may notice wastewater backup in any drain that connects to your city’s sewer system. These include your tub, shower, sinks, toilets, garbage disposal and washing machine.

Why does water back up in my sink when I flush the toilet?

This is a classic symptom of a main line clog — backups from one wastewater drain into another. This often happens in the bathroom between your toilet, shower and sink.

Why don’t you recommend Drano® for sewer clogs?

Drano® isn’t ideal for main line clogs because it contains lye, a corrosive chemical that damages your sewer line and corrodes older metal pipes.

Are chemical drain cleaners bad for main line clogs?

Yes, many drain cleaners contain corrosive chemicals that eat away at your pipes, causing cracks and leaks. We prefer Endure, a bacterial drain cleaner that is non-corrosive and converts organic waste into carbon dioxide gas.

Do home remedies like baking soda and vinegar work on main line clogs?

If your drain clog clears with a baking soda and vinegar combination, then the clog wasn’t deep in your main line. Deeper, more severe clogs don’t normally respond to this solution.

Main Line Clog Repair in Tarrant County, TX

Reduce the cost of main line clogs by selecting a plumbing company with an outstanding warranty and multiple repair options. Our Tarrant County plumbers offer trench and trenchless repair options, as well as multiple solutions for main drain and sewer line clogs:

• Non-chemical pipe cleaners like Endure
• Drain snaking and augering
• Hydro jetting
• Sewer camera inspections
• Electronic and acoustic leak detection
• Hydrostatic testing
• Infrared thermography

All this, plus the best bumper to bumper warranty offers in Tarrant County — parts and labor included. 

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