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Learning Center · Cost Guides

What Drain, Sewer & Plumbing Work Costs in Columbus

Starting prices and defined project examples for 12 services, straight from the owner, each with what it assumes and what changes it. 4 more are scoped on site — we explain what we look at.

How to read these

Real Numbers, Fully Qualified

A price is only useful if you know what it covers. Here is how every guide on this page is built.

  • Only numbers the owner supplied

    Every figure on this page came from DrainMaster's owner, not from an industry average. Where most normal jobs finish at the starting price, we say how often — instead of inventing an upper range.

  • Starting price + what it assumes + what changes it

    A number without its scope is a teaser. Each guide says what the baseline covers, what “reasonable access” means for that specific service, and what would move the price.

  • No one diagnoses a pipe from a website

    Concealed conditions are real. If the technician finds something different from what the baseline assumes, we explain the change and get your approval before any added work proceeds.

Cost guides

Drains & Sewers

See all drain and sewer services

Starting price

Small drain cleaning

A drain cable fed into a tiled shower drain

Starting at $285

one readily accessible small drain

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Drain cleaning service Request service

What the price assumes

  • Covers sinks, tubs and showers, floor drains, utility and mop sinks, urinals and similar small drains, plus a toilet auger when the toilet does not have to be removed.
  • Standard diagnostic and drain-cleaning work on one readily accessible drain.
  • Clearing the blockage under normal conditions and verifying the drain is flowing again.
  • Explaining the likely cause when it can be identified — food or debris, for example, or a pipe that is materially restricted.

What can change it

  • Difficult access to the drain or its trap.
  • More than one drain.
  • Pulling and resetting a toilet.
  • Piping that has to be cut rather than disassembled.
  • Repair work, additional labor, or a larger main-line problem behind the small drain.

What "reasonable access" means here

For a small drain, readily accessible means one drain the blockage can be reached through without difficult access, without pulling the toilet, and without cutting pipe that cannot be disassembled. Any of those moves the job off the starting price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Starting price

Main sewer snaking / cabling

A large mass of hair and root debris pulled out of a drain line beside an open flange

Starting at $365

main line, normal access

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Main sewer line cleaning Request service

What the price assumes

  • Snaking or cabling the main sewer line under normal access.
  • Clearing the stoppage and verifying flow.

What can change it

  • Additional time or scope.
  • Difficult access to the line.
  • Conditions that suggest roots, foreign material or a structural problem.
  • A line that needs hydro jetting or repair rather than cabling.

What "reasonable access" means here

For the main sewer, normal access means the cable can be run into the line through an existing access point without added work to get to it. Difficult access is one of the things that changes the price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: A camera inspection is not included in this price. If conditions suggest an underlying problem, we may recommend one so we can advise you on long-term options and on whether warranty coverage applies.

Standard price

Residential sewer & drain camera inspection

A sewer inspection camera reel and monitor set up at an exterior cleanout

$300

standard residential line

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Sewer camera inspection Request service

What the price assumes

  • A standard residential line inspection under readily accessible conditions.
  • For a home buyer during an inspection period, we may include a complimentary visual inspection of accessible, exposed plumbing alongside the camera work.

What can change it

  • Additional inspection time.
  • Difficult access to the line.
  • Commercial scope — commercial camera work is generally $300 per hour and may take several hours.

What "reasonable access" means here

For a camera inspection, readily accessible conditions mean a residential line the camera can be run into directly. Difficult access, extra inspection time or commercial scope change the price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: The home-buyer visual check is a look at accessible, exposed plumbing. It is not a code-compliance inspection or a full-home inspection, and concealed or inaccessible systems are outside its scope.

Starting price

Residential hydro jetting

A technician in gloves feeding a jetting hose into a commercial concrete floor drain

Starting at $1,150

standard residential line

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Hydro jetting service Request service

What the price assumes

  • Standard residential hydro jetting with normal access.
  • Camera use during the work to target the cleaning and verify the result.

What can change it

  • Severe roots, sludge or scale.
  • Structural defects in the line.
  • Access limitations.
  • Longer or additional work, or repair needs found during the job.

What "reasonable access" means here

For hydro jetting, normal access means the jetter can be run into the line without first creating an access point. Access limitations are one of the things that change the price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: Hydro jetting and descaling are intended to remove debris, buildup, and root masses and restore as much usable inside diameter and flow as reasonably possible. Results depend on the condition of the existing piping, and 100% removal or restoration is not guaranteed.

Note: The one-year clog-free guarantee applies specifically to qualifying tree-root intrusion after successful root removal. It does not cover foreign material, structural defects, or unrelated causes. Breaks, bellies, significant offsets, yard traps and foreign material (wipes, paper towels, hygiene products, items marketed as flushable) can make a line ineligible.

Starting price

Cast-iron descaling

Starting at $2,100

up to approximately 4 hours

Under normal conditions we can often descale about 40 ft of line in that period. Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Cast iron pipe descaling Request service

What the price assumes

  • Carbide-chain descaling with a sanding and finishing step.
  • Jetter and camera used as part of the process.
  • A readily accessible line.

What can change it

  • Heavy scale or foreign objects.
  • Offsets, breaks, trench rot or other pipe deterioration.
  • Access problems, or added cleanout and access work.
  • Additional time beyond the baseline period.

What "reasonable access" means here

For descaling, a readily accessible line means one the chain, jetter and camera can be run into as it sits. Access problems and any added cleanout or access work are additional.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: Hydro jetting and descaling are intended to remove debris, buildup, and root masses and restore as much usable inside diameter and flow as reasonably possible. Results depend on the condition of the existing piping, and 100% removal or restoration is not guaranteed.

Note: No clog-free warranty is offered on descaling. Older cast iron can remain porous or carry defects that still contribute to future stoppages.

Starting price

Sewer spot repair

A residential front yard marked out along the buried sewer line before excavation

Starting at $3,800

up to a 5-ft repair

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Sewer line repair Request service

What the price assumes

  • A localized sewer repair of up to 5 feet, identified by camera inspection.
  • Final scope is confirmed after evaluation of the line.

What can change it

  • Length and depth of the repair.
  • Pipe condition and what the camera finds.
  • Permits and concealed conditions.

What "reasonable access" means here

Starting prices assume straightforward equipment and excavation access. Fences, landscaping, sidewalks, pavement, utilities, right-of-way issues, depth, site accessibility, and other site conditions may require additional work and affect final pricing. Restoration of disturbed surfaces is not included unless specifically stated.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Assessment-based

Sewer line replacement / large sewer repair

A technician working at the bottom of an open excavation over a sewer line

No public starting price. The scope depends on what the site assessment finds, so a number in advance would be a guess — here is what we look at instead.

Sewer line replacement Request service

What we look at

  • We evaluate the actual line — usually with a camera — and the repair method that fits it before any price is set.

What drives the scope

  • Length and depth of the run.
  • Pipe condition and where the line connects.
  • Installation method — open excavation or directional boring, decided after diagnosis.
  • Permits and site constraints.

What "reasonable access" means here

Starting prices assume straightforward equipment and excavation access. Fences, landscaping, sidewalks, pavement, utilities, right-of-way issues, depth, site accessibility, and other site conditions may require additional work and affect final pricing. Restoration of disturbed surfaces is not included unless specifically stated.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Starting price

Trenchless sewer lining

Starting at $12,600

35-ft lining example in 4–6 in. pipe

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Trenchless sewer repair Request service

What the price assumes

  • Lining of a qualifying pipe when the line is a suitable candidate and usable access exists.

What can change it

  • Cleaning and reinstatements, which are additional to the lining figure.
  • Additional access, if required, is quoted separately.
  • A collapse or spot repair, or other prep the line needs before it can be lined.

What "reasonable access" means here

For lining, usable access means an existing access point the liner can be installed through. Additional access, if required, is quoted separately.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: Not every pipe is a lining candidate. The camera inspection decides that.

Starting price

Push-in-place / point patch

Starting at $2,800

up to a 5-ft patch with reasonable access and suitable pipe conditions

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Sewer pipe patching Request service

What the price assumes

  • A localized patch recommended after a camera inspection identifies a specific damaged section that can appropriately be repaired without replacing or lining the entire sewer.

What can change it

  • Cleaning and camera preparation may be additional.
  • Access excavation or a new cleanout.
  • Structural conditions or other repair needed before the patch can go in.

What "reasonable access" means here

For a point patch, reasonable access means an existing opening the patch can be placed through to the defect. Access excavation or a new cleanout is additional.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Cost guides

Plumbing

See all plumbing services

Starting price

Standard 40-gallon atmospheric gas water-heater replacement

A new gas water heater with new venting and water connections in the same basement

Starting at $1,985

readily accessible standard non-power-vent installation

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Water heater repair and replacement Request service

What the price assumes

  • Drain the old heater, disconnect, remove and dispose of it.
  • Reconnect to the existing water lines and shutoff, with a normal gas reconnection.
  • Install the new heater and verify it is operating.

What can change it

  • Abnormal sediment that prevents the old heater from draining normally.
  • A drain pan or drain work, or an expansion tank.
  • Gas-line rework, or flue and vent corrections.
  • Missing or required code items.
  • Difficult access, power-vent equipment, or other non-standard scope.

What "reasonable access" means here

For a water heater, readily accessible means the existing heater can be drained, removed and the new one set and reconnected to the existing lines and shutoff without difficult-access work. Difficult access changes the price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: We install and recommend Ruud, Rheem, State Water Heaters and Bradford White. Our installation carries one year of labor and workmanship coverage; manufacturer defects are handled under the manufacturer's own warranty, and the customer registers the product when registration is required.

Assessment-based

Tankless water-heater installation

A new gas water heater with new venting and water connections in the same basement

No public starting price. The scope depends on what the site assessment finds, so a number in advance would be a guess — here is what we look at instead.

Tankless water heater installation Request service

What we look at

  • A site assessment of the existing infrastructure decides the scope — there is no meaningful starting price without it.

What drives the scope

  • Gas-line sizing.
  • Venting.
  • Electrical requirements.
  • Condensate handling.
  • Location and other installation changes.

What "reasonable access" means here

Access is only one of several things we look at for tankless; the gas, venting and electrical the house already has matter more than where the unit hangs.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Starting price

Standard sump-pump replacement

Starting at $785

standard 1/3-hp sump pump

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Sump pump repair and replacement Request service

What the price assumes

  • A typical accessible basement sump.
  • Remove the accessible lid, disconnect power and the old pump.
  • Replace the sump pump and the check valve, reconnect to the existing discharge, plug in, test operation and replace the lid.

What can change it

  • A battery-backup system.
  • Disconnecting and reconnecting a radon system.
  • A screwed or sealed lid.
  • Drywall, confined-space or other access issues.
  • Discharge changes or other added work.

What "reasonable access" means here

For a sump pump, an accessible basement sump means a pit whose lid can be removed. A screwed or sealed lid, drywall, a confined space, or a radon system that has to be disconnected and reconnected are access issues that change the price.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: Zoeller is our preferred sump-pump brand.

Assessment-based

Gas-line repair, replacement and testing

No public starting price. The scope depends on what the site assessment finds, so a number in advance would be a guess — here is what we look at instead.

Gas line repair and testing Request service

What we look at

  • Scope is determined by the line's condition, pressure testing and code requirements.

What drives the scope

  • Pipe size and length.
  • Access.
  • Testing.
  • Permits and inspection.
  • The source of the leak and the rework it requires.

What "reasonable access" means here

Gas work is scoped on site after testing; how much of the run is exposed versus inside walls is one of the things that decides it.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Assessment-based

Repiping / plumbing stack work

No public starting price. The scope depends on what the site assessment finds, so a number in advance would be a guess — here is what we look at instead.

Whole-home repiping Request service

What we look at

  • Site-specific. We look at the whole system before quoting any part of it.

What drives the scope

  • Length of the runs and the material used.
  • Number of fixtures and branches.
  • Wall and floor access.
  • Permits and restoration.

What "reasonable access" means here

For repiping, the access question is how much wall and floor has to be opened to reach the runs, and what it takes to put it back.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Cost guides

Water Lines

See all water line services

Starting price

Main water-line spot repair

The DrainMaster crew working a narrow excavation at the curb with a service truck behind

Starting at $2,500

up to 5 ft, where a repair is permitted

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Main water line repair Request service

What the price assumes

  • A localized repair of up to 5 feet where the jurisdiction permits a repair.

What can change it

  • Depth and material.
  • Permit and site conditions.

What "reasonable access" means here

Starting prices assume straightforward equipment and excavation access. Fences, landscaping, sidewalks, pavement, utilities, right-of-way issues, depth, site accessibility, and other site conditions may require additional work and affect final pricing. Restoration of disturbed surfaces is not included unless specifically stated.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

Note: City of Columbus Water & Power states that lead and galvanized water service lines cannot be repaired and must be fully replaced — see Permits & Codes.

Starting price

Standard residential water-line replacement

Water pooling along a curb and sidewalk from a leaking water service

Starting at $4,500

standard installation — 3/4-in. residential line under 100 ft

Many standard jobs fall near this starting point, but final pricing depends on job conditions, access, and scope.

Main water line replacement Request service

What the price assumes

  • A typical 3/4-inch residential line under 100 ft long.
  • Installed by conventional excavation with normal access.
  • Water services are replaced using materials approved by applicable local codes and municipalities.

What can change it

  • A larger line size or added length.
  • Difficult curb-box access.
  • Directional boring or another installation method, when recommended after diagnosis.

What "reasonable access" means here

Starting prices assume straightforward equipment and excavation access. Fences, landscaping, sidewalks, pavement, utilities, right-of-way issues, depth, site accessibility, and other site conditions may require additional work and affect final pricing. Restoration of disturbed surfaces is not included unless specifically stated.

If we find something this baseline didn’t assume, we explain it and you approve any added work before it starts.

The one promise we make on price

Explanation and Approval, Not Fiction

Nobody can see inside a buried pipe from a web page, and we won't pretend to. What we can promise is this: if the technician finds a condition the baseline didn't assume, we explain what changed and what it means, and you approve any added work before it starts. That is the whole pricing policy.

Permits & Codes

Why a permit shows up in "what can change it", and the Columbus service-line rule.

Glossary

Cleanout, cabling, descaling, lining, point patch — every term used above, defined.

Financing

Qualifying invoices can be financed through Wisetack, right from Housecall Pro.

When your plumbing is a disaster, call the Master

Want a Number for Your House? Call the Master.

Describe what you're seeing and we'll tell you which guide applies and what it usually takes. Phones are answered after hours.

Request Service (614) 276-1510
The DrainMaster Promise
  • We explain what we find in plain English
  • You approve the price before any work starts
  • Licensed & insured Ohio plumbers