Drain Cleaning Denver: $113 to $277 + Main Line Clogs (2026)

Denver rows are Angi's local figures; national rows are labeled.

Do this now: a Denver drain backing up

1. Stop running water and do not flush. HomeGuide says several drains backing up at once is a common sign of a main line stoppage.
2. Sewage at a basement floor drain? Call the City at 303-446-3400 to rule out the public main before you pay for a plumber.
3. Skip the chemical cleaners. Angi says liquid drain cleaners are harsh chemicals that can erode pipes, and HomeGuide says they can eat through the pipe itself.
4. One slow sink? A plunger ($4 to $20) or a snake rental ($30 to $80 a day) is a fair first try, HomeGuide says.
5. Keep everyone off sewage-soaked floors and see sewage cleanup if it overflows.

Is it an emergency? When a clog needs a plumber today

A main line backup is an emergency; one slow drain is not. Call now if sewage is coming up a floor drain or tub, if every fixture is slow, or if the only toilet is blocked. Angi prices a Denver sewer main clog at $300 to $900, against $125 to $250 for a kitchen sink. After hours, Angi's Denver guide says emergency service runs 1.5 to 2 times standard prices, so a single slow sink is cheaper on a weekday. Night calls are covered on the emergency plumber in Denver page.

Why Denver drains clog: roots, old pipe and freeze-thaw

Tree roots and old pipe are the two Denver causes that show up in the record. The City of Denver says roots can eventually clog sewer lines, and Angi's Denver guide names tree root intrusion, hard water mineral buildup, freeze-thaw cycles and older plumbing in established neighborhoods. The housing stock is old: 60,867 of Denver's 359,581 housing units, or 16.9%, were built in 1939 or earlier, and 55.5% before 1980, by the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 counts. Angi's Denver plumber guide says homes from the 1920s to 1960s often have galvanized or cast-iron pipe.

A clog that keeps coming back in an older house is worth a camera look, $125 to $500 nationally, HomeGuide says. HomeGuide also warns that pipes over 40 years old or deteriorated may not be suitable for hydro jetting, and that clay or Orangeburg pipe is more vulnerable to damage. If the camera finds a broken line, see sewer line repair in Denver.

Your line or the City's?

The City and County of Denver says it is only responsible for main public sewers, so the line from your house to the main is yours to clear and repair. Call 303-446-3400 to report a backup; if the City finds the problem is in your private line, it says it is then your responsibility to contact a plumber. Ask the plumber to show you camera footage of where the clog sits.

Local rules, programs and climate for Denver, from official city, state, utility, Census and NOAA pages. Aurora, Lakewood and other metro cities set their own rules.

Questions to ask a Denver drain company

1. Is your price flat, or by the hour? Angi lists $75 to $150 an hour for Denver plumbers.
2. Will you snake or hydro jet, and is my pipe old enough that jetting is a risk?
3. Will you run a camera and show me the footage if it is the main line?
4. What is your Colorado plumbing license number?

More Denver plumbing guides

All plumbing in the city: plumber in Denver. Water heater trouble: water heater repair in Denver. Other cities: drain cleaning in Salt Lake City and drain cleaning in Phoenix. National prices by method: drain cleaning cost. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).