Drain cleaning & sewer clearing in Tennessee
Same-day pros across 65 Tennessee cities. Estimate your cost, then call to clear the clog.
No obligation — talk through your options.
What's clogged?
- Licensed& fully insured
- Same-dayservice available
- Upfrontpricing, no pressure
- Localpros, nationwide
Drain cleaning cost across Tennessee
| Type / job | Typical Tennessee cost |
|---|---|
| Snake a single drain (sink, tub, shower)Cable/auger, one fixture | $85 – $250 |
| Toilet or kitchen-line clogMost common call | $100 – $300 |
| Main line / sewer clog (via cleanout)Whole-house backup | $125 – $425+ |
| Hydro jetting — branch lineScours grease & scale | $300 – $700 |
| Hydro jetting — main sewer lineRoots & heavy buildup | $500 – $1,300+ |
| Sewer camera inspectionLocate & diagnose the blockage | $85 – $350 |
| Sewer line repair (spot fix)If the camera finds a break | $850 – $3,500+ |
Statewide medians — open a city below for locally adjusted pricing. Main-line and hydro-jetting jobs run higher than a single snaked fixture.
What’s different about Tennessee.
Generic cost pages skip the things that actually decide your price and which method fits here — local pipe materials, sewer-lateral rules, and the tree-root pressure in the ground.
Recommended approach for Tennessee
Many Tennessee homes have older clay or cast-iron laterals, and the state's long humid growing season encourages tree roots to push through pipe joints, which is why blockages tend to recur in the same spot. A camera inspection after clearing helps confirm whether roots, a pipe offset, or a low spot ("belly") is the underlying cause so you can match the repair to the problem. Snaking handles light roots, while hydro jetting scours grease and heavier root mats from the pipe wall. Homes with fixtures below street level should ask about a backwater valve to guard against sewer surcharge.
Sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors · Tennessee Residential Code 2018, Chapter 30 Sanitary Drainage (UpCodes) · City of Clarksville TN - About Sewer (lateral responsibility)
What Tennessee code requires
Across Tennessee, drain and sewer work is governed by these statewide rules under the state plumbing code:
- PermitRepair/replace only
Routine clearing of an existing drain (snaking or jetting) generally does not require a permit, but repairing or replacing buried sewer or building-drain pipe is plumbing work that requires a permit and inspection from the local codes office under Tennessee's adopted 2018 plumbing code.
- Cleanout accessRequired
Under the 2018 IPC/Tennessee Residential Code, cleanouts are required where horizontal drainage changes direction more than 45 degrees and at intervals of no more than 100 feet along horizontal drains, with accessible cleanouts for the building drain and building sewer.
- Licensed contractorState-licensed plumber
Plumbing and sewer work is regulated by the State of Tennessee through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance); a Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) is required for work under $25,000 and a licensed mechanical/plumbing contractor for larger projects, though local codes offices may impose additional journeyman/master licensing.
- Lateral ownershipHomeowner to the main
In Tennessee the homeowner generally owns and maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the point of connection at the public main, though some cities assume responsibility for portions within the public right-of-way.
- Backwater valveCheck local code
The 2018 IPC adopted in Tennessee requires a backwater valve on the building drain or branch serving fixtures whose flood-level rims are below the next upstream manhole cover in the public sewer; valves must comply with ASME A112.14.1 or CSA B181.1/B181.2.
Sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors · Tennessee Residential Code 2018, Chapter 30 Sanitary Drainage (UpCodes) · City of Clarksville TN - About Sewer (lateral responsibility)
Not sure what your Tennessee drain needs?
A licensed Tennessee pro will walk you through the likely cause, the right method, and what it costs — in one quick call.
No obligation — talk through your options.
Local programs in Tennessee
Drain cleaning itself carries no rebate, but in Tennessee it’s worth knowing who owns the line and what protection options exist:
- UtilityHomeowner to the mainSewer lateral responsibility →
In Tennessee the homeowner generally owns and maintains the sewer lateral from the house to the point of connection at the public main, though some cities assume responsibility for portions within the public right-of-way.
- UtilityVaries — check your utilityOptional sewer line protection plan →
Some Tennessee utilities and municipalities offer optional service-line protection plans that can offset lateral repair costs — for example: The City of Chattanooga partners with Service Line Warranties of America (a HomeServe company) to offer residents an optional, voluntary exterior sewer service line repair plan covering blockages and leaks on the homeowner's property; similar ServLine/HomeServe plans are offered by various Tennessee utility districts. Availability is set by your local provider, so check whether Tennessee’s own water or sewer utility offers a similar plan, and review what’s covered before enrolling.
A clog is usually a clearing job; a cracked, root-filled, or collapsed lateral is a repair you own. A camera inspection tells you which one you’re dealing with before you spend on a dig.
Ready to get your drain cleared in Tennessee?
Speak with a licensed, insured drain technician near you. Upfront pricing, same-day availability, no obligation.
- Licensed & insured
- Same-day availability
- Upfront, no-pressure pricing
- Local pros near you
No obligation — talk through your options.
All 65 Tennessee cities
Type your city to jump straight to local pricing.
- Nashville-Davidson metropolitan government (balance)684k
- Memphis630k
- Knoxville192k
- Chattanooga181k
- Clarksville168k
- Murfreesboro153k
- Franklin84k
- Johnson City71k
- Jackson68k
- Hendersonville62k
- Bartlett57k
- Kingsport55k
- Smyrna54k
- Spring Hill51k
- Collierville51k
- Cleveland48k
- Gallatin45k
- Brentwood45k
- Columbia42k
- Germantown41k
- Lebanon40k
- Mount Juliet40k
- La Vergne39k
- Cookeville35k
- Maryville32k
- Oak Ridge32k
- Morristown31k
- Bristol27k
- Farragut24k
- Shelbyville24k
- East Ridge22k
- Tullahoma21k
- Springfield19k
- Sevierville18k
- Goodlettsville18k
- Dyersburg16k
- Seymour16k
- Dickson16k
- Greeneville15k
- Nolensville14k
- Elizabethton14k
- Arlington14k
- Athens14k
- Powell14k
- Lakeland14k
- McMinnville14k
- White House13k
- Portland13k
- Soddy-Daisy13k
- Lewisburg12k
- Manchester12k
- Crossville12k
- Red Bank12k
- Middle Valley12k
- Hartsville/Trousdale County12k
- Lawrenceburg12k
- Alcoa11k
- Union City11k
- Collegedale11k
- Martin11k
- Millington11k
- Paris10k
- Lenoir City10k
- Atoka10k
- Clinton10k
65 cities
Drain cleared in three steps.
- 1
Tell us what’s clogged
Use the cost tool or call — takes 30 seconds. A slow sink, a backed-up toilet, or sewage coming up.
- 2
Get matched with a local pro
We connect you with a licensed, insured drain technician near you — often the same day.
- 3
Drain cleared, fast
Your pro confirms the price on-site and clears the line. Most clogs are cleared in a single visit.
Drain cleaning FAQs — Tennessee
No. In Tennessee, snaking or hydro jetting an existing drain or sewer line needs no permit. Routine clearing of an existing drain (snaking or jetting) generally does not require a permit, but repairing or replacing buried sewer or building-drain pipe is plumbing work that requires a permit and inspection from the local codes office under Tennessee's adopted 2018 plumbing code., and it’s pulled by your licensed plumber.
Get a drain cleaning quote in Tennessee.
Talk to a licensed drain pro now — no obligation, no pressure.