Drain cleaning: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering drain cleaning

Drain cleaning is a common first job a customer gives a plumber. A good job finds the cause, not just the hole through the clog.

What customers ask

  • Can you clear it today, and is a camera check included?
  • Is it safe to use chemical cleaner first?
  • Why is this drain clogging again after the last time it was cleared?
  • Why does the tub drain slowly when the sink is fine?
  • Do you have to open the wall or floor to get to it?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask which fixtures back up, whether it is one drain or several, and whether chemicals were used. Those answers tell you whether to bring a cable, a water jet or a camera.
  • Bring a cable machine and a water jet to the first visit, and a camera if a second drain also backs up.
  • Quote the cleaning, the method and the camera as separate lines so the customer can choose the scope.
  • Put the likely cause in the quote in plain words, such as grease at the kitchen trap or roots at the cleanout.
  • Run water through the line after clearing and watch the flow for a few minutes before you leave.
  • Record any chemical use on the job record so the next plumber knows what is already in the trap.

What to put on your profile

  • Photo of a cable head and a before and after of a cleared line
  • Note the camera inspections you do on drain lines and what the footage shows
  • State whether you run water jets on kitchen grease lines
  • List the drain types you service, such as kitchen, bath, floor and main drains

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Suggest a strainer or a grease disposal habit for the kitchen sink, based on what you found in the trap
  • Offer a camera check of the main line if the clog came from roots or a sagging run
  • Recommend a return check on lines known to clog often, so the customer knows when to call before the drain backs up

Licenses and permits

Drain cleaning on a building drain is commonly done by licensed plumbers, and some areas require a license even for simple clearing. Confirm the rules with your state or local licensing agency before you take this work.

Questions

Do customers ask whether you can clear a drain without a camera?

Yes. Explain that a cable clears the blockage, but a camera shows whether the line has roots, a belly or a break that will bring the clog back.

How should I handle a customer who has already used caustic chemicals?

Ask what was used and how much, wear eye and skin protection, and warn the customer that standing liquid can splash. Note it on the job record before you open the trap.

When should a drain job be referred out?

When the line needs excavation, trenchless repair or a sewer scope and you are not set up for that work. Say so on the first visit and name who will do it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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