What causes a drain to clog?

Fats, oils, and grease washed down a sink or toilet solidify inside your plumbing and City pipes and can cause a sewer backup. The City of Ottawa says nearly half of Ottawa's sewer pipe blockages are caused by them. Wipes, even ones marked flushable, do not break down and may cause a backup in your home. Flush only pee, poo, and toilet paper.

How much does drain cleaning cost in Ottawa?

Prices listed on this page range from $150 to $425 for common jobs. Plumbing Now lists $189 to $425, Safari Plumbing lists $150 to $350, and Summit Drain & Plumbing lists $350 for main drain via clean-out and $450 via toilet flange. Prices vary by company and job.

Which Ottawa drain cleaning companies offer 24/7 emergency service?

B&W Plumbing, Summit Drain & Plumbing, and The Irish Plumber publish 24/7 emergency drain service.

Can I clean a drain myself?

The City of Ottawa does not provide instructions for clearing a drain yourself. It recommends prevention: put strainers in sink drains, never pour fats, oils, or grease down drains, never flush wipes, and only flush pee, poo, and toilet paper. Garbage disposals are prohibited in Ottawa. If water comes up from a floor drain, call 3-1-1.

Is professional drain cleaning worth it?

It is the job for a blockage in the home's own drain system, which is where the City sends you to a plumber. When water comes up through the basement floor drain, call 3-1-1 first: City staff inspect the sewer main near the house and repair it if that is the fault.

Who pays when the sewer pipe to the street is blocked?

The sanitary and storm laterals, the pipes between the house and the main, split at the property line: the City owns the street side and the owner owns the house side. Who pays for a lateral repair is decided only after City staff have reviewed the case, so report it through 3-1-1 before you pay for work on the street side.

Can a sump pump drain into the household drain in Ottawa?

Ottawa's Sewer Use By-law prohibits discharging stormwater, water from the drainage of roofs or land, or uncontaminated water to a sanitary or combined sewer, except in the circumstances the by-law sets out. A sump pump plumbed into the household drain is the common way that rule gets broken.

Drain Cleaning in Ottawa

Find Ottawa drain cleaning companies for clogged sinks, toilets, and main sewer lines. For a basement backup, call 3-1-1 first so the City can check the main line. If the issue is in your own drain, call one of the 9 companies listed here. Emergency service is available from select providers.

Need drain cleaning now? Call (613) 400-7587 or request a free quote from a local pro.

9 companies compared9 rated on GoogleLast reviewed October 24, 2026

Who does drain cleaning in Ottawa?

Plumbers do most drain cleaning in Ottawa, and a few heating and home service companies list it too. Choose by the drain that is blocked, whether a camera is needed, and a price agreed before the work starts.

The list opens with Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa (4.7 stars from 1903 Google reviews, read 19 August 2026), B&W Plumbing (5.0 stars from 209 Google reviews, read 19 August 2026), and Francis Home Environment (4.9 stars from 6840 Google reviews, read 19 August 2026).

Which drain. A sink, shower or tub is cleared through the fixture. A main drain is reached through the clean-out or by lifting the toilet, and Summit Drain & Plumbing prices those two routes differently (read 30 September 2026).
The camera. A drain camera inspection shows what is in the line. Plumbing Now and Summit Drain & Plumbing both publish it as its own line item, so ask whether it is in the quote.
The licence. Plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario (O. Reg. 876/21). Ask to see the plumber's Certificate of Qualification, which Skilled Trades Ontario's public register can confirm.
The price, in writing. Ottawa companies price drain cleaning by how the drain is reached and how bad the blockage is. Describe both when you call, and get the price before anyone starts.

How this page orders them: Listings claimed by their owner appear first; all other positions follow the published rating methodology. No business pays for a listing.

Drain cleaning

Ottawa companies that list drain cleaning

Each company below names drain work in its own list of services; the line under each name says which. Compare ratings, then contact the business directly.

Claimed
Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa
Barrhaven +8
4.7(1,903)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Locally owned and operated Ottawa franchise of the Mr. Rooter plumbing brand, serving the greater Ottawa region with residential and commercial plumbing and drain work.
View Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa
View Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning and clogged drain removal
Featured
B&W Plumbing
Kanata +7
5.0(209)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Ottawa plumbing company founded by plumbers Corey Bedell and Graham Winchester, providing residential and commercial plumbing with 24/7 emergency availability.
View B&W Plumbing
View B&W Plumbing directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning & repair
Featured
Francis Home Environment
Kanata +7
4.9(6,840)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026HVAC
Owner-led Ottawa HVAC and services company (based in the Nepean area) offering heating, cooling, indoor air quality, water heaters, duct cleaning and plumbing, with 24-hour emergency service. Carries one of the largest review bases of any HVAC firm in the city (roughly 8,000 reviews at 4.9 stars).
View Francis Home Environment
View Francis Home Environment directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning
Featured
Anchor Home Comfort
Gloucester
4.9(3,956)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026HVAC
Established Ottawa services company (based in Gloucester) covering HVAC, plumbing and electrical, including furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers and water heaters, with installation, maintenance and repair. BBB-accredited since 1994 and serving the region for over 35 years.
View Anchor Home Comfort
View Anchor Home Comfort directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning & hydro-jetting
Featured
Summit Drain & Plumbing
Kanata
5.0(127)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Basement Waterproofing
Kanata-based waterproofing and plumbing company (BBB A+) handling foundation waterproofing, weeping tile, sump pumps and drain/sewer work. Offers 24/7 emergency service.
View Summit Drain & Plumbing
View Summit Drain & Plumbing directory profile
Lists: Drain and sewer services
Featured
John The Plumber
Barrhaven +4
4.8(2,519)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Ottawa plumbing company with branch locations across Barrhaven, Kanata, Nepean, Orléans and Stittsville, offering residential plumbing and 24/7 emergency service.
View John The Plumber
View John The Plumber directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning and clog removal
The Irish Plumber
Kanata +7
4.8(800)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Locally owned Ottawa plumbing company based at 1405 Raven Ave, offering 24/7 emergency plumbing service.
View The Irish Plumber
View The Irish Plumber directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning
Plumbing Now
Nepean +3
4.8(311)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Ottawa plumbing company operating since 2005, handling both city and rural plumbing including well systems and water treatment, with 24/7 service.
View Plumbing Now
View Plumbing Now directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning and camera inspection
Safari Plumbing Ltd.
Orléans +5
4.6(422)on GoogleChecked Aug 2026Plumbers
Nepean-based plumbing company serving Ottawa communities, offering drain, water heater and general plumbing services. Holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
View Safari Plumbing Ltd.
View Safari Plumbing Ltd. directory profile
Lists: Drain cleaning

Ready to book? Compare the pros above and request a free quote, or call (613) 400-7587 for help choosing a drain cleaning company in Ottawa.

Types of Drain Cleaning in Ottawa

Ottawa plumbers handle several types of drain cleaning:

Sink and bathtub clogs
Toilet blockages
Shower and floor drain backups
Main sewer line cleaning

For main line backups, contact a plumber after the City of Ottawa confirms the problem is on your property.

What drain cleaning costs in Ottawa

Three Ottawa companies publish drain prices, all read on 30 September 2026. Plumbing Now publishes drain cleaning at $189 to $425 by access and severity, hydro jetting at $475 to $850 and a camera inspection at $325 to $525. Safari Plumbing lists drain cleaning at $150 to $350.

Summit Drain & Plumbing prices by the job: $220 to clear a hand sink, a shower or a tub, $350 for a kitchen sink by snake, $350 for a main drain through an accessible clean-out, $450 through the toilet flange with the toilet put back, and $350 for a main drain camera inspection. These are published prices, not quotes.

Emergency & 24-Hour Drain Cleaning

For a basement sewer backup, call 3-1-1 first. City of Ottawa staff will check the main sewer line. If the problem is in your own drain, the City tells you to call a plumber. Three companies on this page publish 24/7 emergency drain service: B&W Plumbing, Summit Drain & Plumbing, and The Irish Plumber.

Call 3-1-1 first for a basement backup. If the City says the problem is on your property, call B&W Plumbing, Summit Drain & Plumbing, or The Irish Plumber for 24/7 emergency service.

Why a basement drain backup starts with a call to 3-1-1

Report a sewer backup to the City through 3-1-1. City staff are on duty at all times, and someone 18 or older has to be home to meet them. Clear at least a metre around the sewer clean-out, usually in the basement floor at the front of the house near the water meter, and leave its caps closed.

To tell sewage from groundwater, the City suggests running a sink or flushing a toilet and watching the floor drain. If water comes up, the drain line is backing up. City staff inspect the sewer main near the house first and repair it if that is the fault. If the problem is in the home's own drain system, the City tells the owner to call a plumber.

Ottawa Neighbourhoods Served

The companies on this page list different service areas. Find plumbers near you:

Confirm the company's service area before you book, especially for emergency calls.

How to Choose a Drain Cleaning Company

Check these points before you hire:

Ask whether the company is licensed and insured in Ontario.
Ask about response time for emergency calls.
Ask for an upfront written estimate.
Read reviews from past customers.
Ask about a warranty on parts and labour.

Ask for a written estimate and confirm the company's license, insurance, and warranty before work starts.

For every published Ottawa plumbing price with the company named beside it, read What a plumber costs in Ottawa.

If water is on the floor right now, read Emergency plumber in Ottawa: what to do in the first ten minutes.

For plumbing work beyond drains, compare all Ottawa plumbers in this directory.

Sources, checked by this directory:

Prices from the Plumbing Now, Safari Plumbing and Summit Drain & Plumbing pages cited on our plumber cost guide.

Common questions