Does $99 Drain Cleaning Or It’s Free Sound Too Good To Be True?
Does The $99 Drain Cleaning Or It's Free Special Sound Too Good To Be True?
Let's discuss some simple drain cleaning facts to form an answer.
What is the definition of drain cleaning?
The first thing we need to clarify is the difference between drain cleaning and simply poking a hole through a clog. The typical size of residential sewer lines in our area is 4″. We say typically because sometimes we find 3″ sewer lines that were installed by persons who didn’t follow code or obtain a permit.
Typically, a $99 drain cleaning plumber is going to bring a small snake with a head that is much smaller than 4″ (usually a 3/4′ to 1″ head) to poke a hole through the clog in your pipe. Why poke the hole? In order to insert a camera into the line (we’ll discuss this later).
Does poking a hole through a clog constitute drain cleaning? NO. Drain cleaning involves using a 4″ cutter head or hydro jetting equipment. The purpose of drain cleaning is to remove all debris such as roots and grease from the pipe walls. Poking a hole in the clog does not remove any roots or grease, it just pokes a hole through it. So the literal definition of $99 drain cleaning is absolutely false – they are not cleaning your drain for $99.
How much does a plumbing employee cost?
Do you know how much 1 plumbing employee in a shiny new truck costs?
You have to think about much more than just the employee. Vehicles are not cheap!
For 1 hour at your location you can plan on a 2 hour expense for the company considering travel time to and from your location.
Costs involved in each hour = employee salary, employment taxes, liability insurance, workers comp insurance, fuel, vehicle cost, vehicle maintenance expenses, company overhead expenses, company profit, and equipment expenses. I can promise you no plumbing company can stay in business if all they do is charge $99 to “clean” your drain.
How much does a sewer camera cost?
Sewer cameras cost a lot of money. The smaller machines start at $6,000 but the better machines run well over $10,000. Do you really think a plumber is going to run an $8,000 camera into your sewer line for $99? I can tell you the answer is no, unless they have an ulterior motive.
How much does drain cleaning equipment cost?
Sewer snakes start off around $500 for the smallest cable drum style snake. This is the type of snake used during your $99 drain cleaning special.
Most cable snakes run between $500 and $10,000. Big price difference. The simplest hydrojetting equipment starts around $7,000.
You tell me, would you take a $5,000 piece of equipment somewhere to make $99?
Drain cleaning equipment and cameras don’t last forever so the wear and tear factor far exceeds $99.
Why offer the $99 drain cleaning special?
Potential payoff. As I mentioned earlier, it only takes 1 sewer line replacement to make 10 trips at $99 worth it for a plumber.
It’s a sales gimmick. Plain and simple sales gimmick. Every plumber knows you can’t clean a drain line for $99. Truly cleaning a sewer line to remove all roots and grease takes time and effort. Run the jetter then check with camera which may have to be repeated multiple times.
By poking a hole in the clog then running a camera, a plumber can try to sell you on a nightmare scenario that you must replace your sewer line now. Perhaps you do need a new sewer line, but perhaps you don’t. The $99 drain cleaning gimmick is to find the right person who won’t question and won’t think twice about shelling out thousands of dollars to replace their sewer line.
And don't forget to read the fine print...
Some of these specials have fine print. Don’t forget to read it.
Don’t have an accessible ground level clean out? If not, you’ll end up paying for the plumber to find it, identify another access point or to install one. Do they charge travel fees? Do they charge extra equipment fees? Beware the hidden costs.
So, is the $99 drain cleaning special too good to be true?
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you’re going to spend a lot more money than $99 to ensure your clog doesn’t come back within 2 weeks.
At Hanahan Plumbing Co, we don’t offer gimmicks. We offer honest drain cleaning services. We may run a small snake to bust the clog so we can see any problems with our camera. As long as your sewer line doesn’t have bellies or breaks in it, we’ll use a snake with a large enough head or a hydrojetter to clean the walls of the pipe. But we can’t do that for $99.
We realize plumbers are out to make money because we are too. But we believe honesty, not overselling or offering you a worthless gimmick price is the best way to keep your drains flowing, and possibly earn your trust. We understand it takes a long time to earn trust – and that works both ways. So if you chose the $99 drain cleaning special and got a repair quote for $6,000, call and get a second opinion. You may not really need to spend that much.
Also note, you’re propbably not getting a video with the $99 drain cleaning special to prove the problems they say you have. If you call Hanahan Plumbing Co and we recommend an expensive repair, we’ll show you the video evidence. We don’t believe in performing unrequired repairs/replacements or selling you more than you need. We may give you options, but we’ll try to do the best option for the fairest price.
The most important thing you can do, regarding plumbing, is to find a plumber you trust and stick with them. Avoid the gimmicks, they usually end up costing you more than you would have spent.
Thanks for reading and we hope we’ve shed some light on the too good to be true $99 drain cleaning or it’s free gimmick.
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Steven Dyson
Owner of Hanahan Plumbing Co and licensed mechanical contractor since 1997.
Serving Hanahan, SC & the Surrounding Charleston, SC Lowcountry Area
Make Hanahan Plumbing Co your first choice for plumbing, gas, water heater, sewer/drain cleaning and backflow problems.
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