In short
- Ottawa homeowners reported blocked-drain jobs from $124 to $8,500, averaging $1,112, in the HomeStars Ottawa guide.
- One Ottawa firm's tiers: bathroom sink or tub $350–$700, kitchen or laundry $500–$1,000, main sewer line or toilet $700–$2,000.
- Canada-wide, a service call runs $140–$475 including the first hour, and trip fees add $70–$400.
- Two quotes compare only when both name the same tool, the same length of pipe and the same camera terms.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked drain, all cases reported in Ottawa | $124–$8,500 | Average $1,112 across Ottawa jobs reported by homeowners; extra material and labour not included |
| Sink or basin, slow or clogged | $150–$300 | Estimates of recently completed HomeStars jobs |
| Bathroom sink or tub, hand cabling | $350–$700 | One Ottawa firm’s tier; hand cabling alone about $400–$500 |
| Kitchen sink or laundry line | $500–$1,000 | Same firm; these lines often share a pipe in Ottawa houses |
| Main sewer line or toilet | $700–$2,000 | Same firm; heavier machine, possibly a camera |
| Sewer line cleaning | $230–$590 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide |
| Sewer camera inspection | $400–$660 | Canada-wide HomeStars guide |
Sources. HomeStars, Plumbing Services Cost Guide for Ottawa, updated 21.08.2026, based on 62 verified Ottawa homeowner reports, seen 29.10.2026. HomeStars, Guide to Plumbing Costs in Canada, seen 29.10.2026. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa, cost to unblock a drain, published 19.05.2026, seen 29.10.2026 (one firm’s list). Mr. Rooter, plumber cost in Ottawa, 2026, seen 29.10.2026. Mr. Rooter, drain cleaning cost in Ottawa, 2025, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa: Responsibility for the repair costs, seen 29.10.2026.
The numbers in one place
Three kinds of source sit behind the table. HomeStars’ Ottawa guide records what Ottawa homeowners reported paying, 62 verified homeowner reports in all, for a blocked drain: from $124 to $8,500, averaging $1,112. The guide leaves out extra material and labour. HomeStars also shows estimates from recently completed jobs: a slow or clogged sink or basin at $150–$300. One Ottawa firm publishes tiers for hand work and machine work. The Canada-wide HomeStars guide supplies the benchmark for sewer line cleaning and a camera.
Treat all three as a map of tiers. A quote far outside your drain’s tier should come with a reason.
The three tiers
The Ottawa firm sorts jobs by how deep in the house the blockage sits.
- Bathroom sinks and tubs, $350–$700. Hand cabling alone is about $400–$500.
- Kitchen sinks and laundry lines, $500–$1,000. In many Ottawa homes the basement laundry sits below the kitchen and the two share a pipe, so a slow laundry sink can show up as a kitchen backup.
- Main sewer lines and toilets, $700–$2,000. Roots, pipe deterioration and paper buildup live here, and the firm says a camera is especially important to rule out hazards.
The tiers show why two honest quotes for a “blocked drain” differ. They describe different pipes.
What moves a price
The same firm lists five drivers: the type of clog, drain size (especially once it passes two inches), access, equipment and pipe condition. Access means removing a toilet or opening flooring. Equipment means a jetting machine or a camera. Old, corroded or damaged pipe can need repair before it can be cleared. Read the hydro jetting page for when the heavier machine applies and the camera inspection page for the video.
Call-out fees, hourly rates and minimums
Canada-wide, the HomeStars guide shows hourly rates of $60 to $270, with pros averaging $105 to $175. Service calls run $140 to $475 and include the first hour. A trip fee, $70 to $400 in the same guide, is billed on top. Some companies charge a flat rate for the first hour and a lower rate after it. The question to ask is how the invoice is built, and which of these lines it contains. For an overall plumbing view see plumber cost in Ottawa.
Reading a quote line by line
A usable quote names the drain or fixtures covered, the method, the pipe length or the point it reaches, the call-out or trip fee, the camera terms, and what happens if the first visit does not finish the job. It states whether the price includes tax, and whether a repeat visit is charged. Put two quotes side by side only when each lists those lines. A short quote without them cannot be compared.
Who pays when the fault sits on City property
For pricing, the rule is simple: the contractor bills you, whatever it finds. If the block turns out to be City tree roots or on City land, you then claim the money back, up to the City’s usual contractor price. The detail is on the sewer line repair page, and the plain version on drain cleaning.
Who you are dealing with
Every figure above comes from a published source. The one that counts comes from the independent Ottawa plumbing company that receives your request: it calls, hears which drain and which tier, and sets its own price. Ottawa Plumbing Desk only routes the request.
Questions to ask the company
- Is your price a flat figure for the job or an hourly rate, and what is the minimum?
- Does the price include a call-out or trip fee, and is it credited when you do the work?
- Which drains does the price cover, and to which point in the line?
- Is a camera inspection in the price, and do I receive the video?
- What do you charge if the work cannot be finished on the first visit?
Have this ready for the call
- A list of every slow drain and every fixture that reacts when another runs
- The date of the last cleaning and what the invoice said
- The clean-out location with a clear metre around it
- Any photos of the fixture, the floor drain and the water level
- Your budget limit, so the company can say which options fit under it
Questions people ask
Why does the Ottawa average, $1,112, sit so far above a sink job?
The Ottawa figure mixes every blocked-drain job homeowners reported, from a $124 sink to an $8,500 sewer job. Sink and basin clogs in recent HomeStars jobs priced at $150–$300. Main lines, roots and repairs lift the average. Compare your drain with the tier it belongs to.
What is a trip fee?
A trip fee covers travel, supply-store pickups and minimum time. The Canada-wide guide gives $70–$400, billed on top of labour, and service calls at $140–$475 that include the first hour. Ask whether the fee applies to your postal code and whether it disappears when you book the job.
Can I get my money back if the blockage is on City property?
Yes, within limits. When the cleaning proves the block sits on City property, the City carries the cost and refunds what you paid, capped at the rate it pays its own contractors. The claim goes to the City’s Claims Unit, with the invoice and the camera video.
