Drain Cleaning Columbus OH: $140 to $350 + Floor Drains

Columbus rows are local; national rows are labeled.

Do this now: a backup at the floor drain

1. Stop running water and flushing if more than one drain is backing up.
2. Sewage in the basement: report it right away to the city's 24-hour Sewer Maintenance Operations Center, 614-645-7102, and keep the service request number. Project Dry Basement requires it.
3. Keep children and pets away from sewage water.
4. Skip chemical drain openers. MedlinePlus lists drain openers as a poisoning risk.
5. Photograph the backup for your insurer before cleanup.

Is it urgent? Floor drain water: storm or sewage

A backup of sewage is urgent; one slow sink is not. Columbus separates basement water into two kinds: stormwater seeping in through walls or floors, and sanitary sewer backup coming up the floor drain, the city's flooding page explains. Sewage at the floor drain means the lateral or the public sewer is blocked, so call the city line first, then a plumber if the city says the main is clear.

Project Dry Basement: a backwater valve at no device cost

Since July 2004, Columbus's Project Dry Basement has installed an approved backwater valve at no device cost for single- and two-family homes in the city that had sewer backups caused by the public sewer surcharging or blockages. You must report the backup to the Sewer Maintenance Operations Center (614-645-7102) first and keep the service request number. The owner cleans the valve monthly. Program line: 614-645-8404.

Roots, clay and Columbus laterals

Root-filled sewer laterals are among the costliest recurring Columbus plumbing problems, ConsumerAffairs says, and clay soil shifts under buried lines. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining their laterals, the city's Blueprint Columbus brochure says. If the same line clogs every few months, ask for a camera inspection before another snaking; repairs are covered on sewer line repair in Columbus. Snake vs jet prices are on the national drain cleaning guide.

Local rules, programs and data for Columbus, from the official, Census, NOAA and trade pages listed under Sources.

Questions to ask before the drain is cleaned

1. Is the price per drain or per hour, and is the service call included?
2. Will you snake or jet, and why?
3. Can you run a camera and give me the video?
4. Are you state licensed and registered with the City of Columbus?

More Columbus plumbing help

All plumbing: plumber in Columbus. Sewage on the basement floor: water damage restoration in Columbus and sewage cleanup. Compare drain cleaning in Indianapolis and drain cleaning in Nashville. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).