Top Drain Cleaning Companies in New Orleans, Louisiana Ranked

A slow drain or a complete backup is more than an inconvenience; it's a sign your home's essential plumbing system needs attention. Drain cleaning is the process of removing blockages and buildup from your pipes to restore proper water flow and prevent damage. In a historic city like New Orleans, with its unique climate and aging infrastructure, understanding your options for clearing clogs is crucial. This guide will help you navigate the common causes of blockages, the most effective solutions available locally, and what to consider when addressing your drainage issues.

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup

1942 Williams Blvd Ste 6, Kenner, LA 70062

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup provides a wide range of plumbing services in New Orleans, LA, including sewer camera inspections, water heater repairs and installations, drain cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line repairs, trenchless sewer repair, leak detection, and water softener installation. They offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services to address urgent issues such as sewer backups, water heater failures, and clogged drains. Their sewer line services include video camera inspections and both conventional and trenchless repair methods to minimize disruption. The company also installs various water softener and filtration systems to improve water quality in areas with hard water and potential contaminants. Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup serves Kenner and surrounding cities with licensed and insured professionals available year-round.

5.0

468 Reviews

de Veer Plumbing

new orleans

de Veer Plumbing is an owner-operated plumbing company established in 2020, serving New Orleans, LA, and surrounding Northshore and Southshore areas. The company specializes in plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, leak detection, water heater services, gas line installation, and under slab repairs. Operated by a licensed master plumber and master natural gas fitter, de Veer Plumbing provides licensed and insured services across multiple communities including Slidell, Metairie, and Covington.

5.0

221 Reviews

BC Plumbing, LLC

519 Scenic River Cove, Slidell, LA 70461

BC Plumbing, LLC is a locally owned plumbing company serving New Orleans, LA, and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, they provide a wide range of plumbing services including drain cleaning, water heater repair and installation, sewer line repair, leak detection, and gas line installation. Their skilled plumbers use advanced camera inspection technology to diagnose pipe issues and are recognized as master gas fitters by the state plumbing board. BC Plumbing offers 24/7 availability for installations, maintenance, and emergency services, ensuring prompt support for both residential and commercial clients.

5.0

127 Reviews

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Orleans

615 Orange St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Orleans provides a wide range of plumbing services for both residential and commercial properties in New Orleans, LA. Their experienced team handles everything from water heater installation and repair to sewer line services, drain cleaning, leak detection, and repiping. They use advanced tools like video pipe inspections and hydro jetting to diagnose and resolve plumbing issues efficiently. The company is licensed and insured, ensuring compliance with local codes and regulations. They offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services to address urgent needs promptly.

4.9

1.3k Reviews

Service Experts Plumbing and Drain Service

3301a Warrior Dr Suite A, D'Iberville, MS 39540

Service Experts Plumbing and Drain Service offers drain cleaning and plumbing services in New Orleans, LA. They focus on providing reliable service with a flat rate pricing model and on-time arrivals. The company emphasizes customer satisfaction with a written guarantee to address any issues.

4.9

779 Reviews

See more providers in New Orleans, LA

Why New Orleans Drains Clog So Easily

The challenges facing your home's drainage system in New Orleans are distinct. The city's high water table, frequent heavy rainfall, and historic building stock create a perfect storm for plumbing problems. Common culprits include kitchen grease that solidifies in pipes, hair and soap scum from showers, and the relentless intrusion of tree roots searching for water ^{1 2}. Furthermore, the soil in many areas is prone to shifting, which can stress and misalign older pipes, creating low spots where debris collects and blockages form ^{2 3}. In older homes, the pipes themselves may be made of clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg-materials that are more susceptible to deterioration and root penetration than modern PVC ⁴.

The Most Common Drain Blockage Culprits

Identifying the source of your clog is the first step toward a lasting solution. Here are the primary offenders in New Orleans homes:

• Grease and Fat: Perhaps the most frequent cause of kitchen sink clogs. When poured down the drain, cooking oils and fats cool, solidify, and stick to pipe walls, eventually catching other debris and creating a stubborn, restrictive mass ¹.
• Hair and Soap Scum: In bathrooms, hair binds with soap residue and minerals in hard water to form a thick, sludge-like material that coats pipes and traps other objects, leading to slow drains and backups ¹.
• Tree Root Intrusion: This is a major issue for main sewer lines. Roots from live oaks, magnolias, and other trees are naturally drawn to the moisture and nutrients in sewer pipes. They can infiltrate through tiny cracks or pipe joints, growing inside and creating a dense, net-like blockage that can completely stop flow ^{1 4}.
• Heavy Rainfall and Soil Issues: New Orleans' intense downpours can overwhelm municipal systems and saturate the ground. This shifting, saturated soil can put pressure on underground lines, causing breaks or sags where waste collects instead of flowing freely ².

Professional Drain Cleaning Methods: What You Need to Know

When a plunger or a store-bought chemical cleaner fails, it's time to call in a professional with the right tools. The two primary methods used by local plumbing experts are drain snaking and hydro jetting, each suited for different situations.

Drain Snaking (or Augering)

This is the most common initial approach for clearing a localized clog.

• How it Works: A plumber feeds a long, flexible metal cable (a "snake" or auger) into the drain. The end of the cable has a cutting or grabbing attachment that breaks apart or retrieves the obstruction.
• Best For: Isolated clogs in sink, shower, or tub drains. It's effective for clearing a single blockage caused by hair, food, or small objects.
• Limitations: Snaking cuts a hole through the center of a clog but often leaves residue and buildup on the pipe walls. For grease accumulation or root masses, this provides only a temporary fix, as the remaining material can quickly cause another blockage ^{5 6}. For a simple sink clog, this service typically ranges from $100 to $225 ⁷.

Hydro Jetting

This is a more comprehensive, powerful cleaning solution for severe or recurring problems.

• How it Works: A specialized truck-mounted unit pumps water at extremely high pressure (often 1,500 to 4,000 PSI) through a hose and nozzle into the pipe. The nozzle blasts water in multiple directions, scouring the entire interior circumference of the pipe, flushing away grease, sludge, mineral scale, and even cutting through tree roots ^{5 1 4}.
• Best For: Stubborn, recurring clogs, complete main line blockages, heavy grease buildup, and root intrusion. It's also an excellent preventive maintenance tool for thoroughly cleaning pipes.
• Important Consideration: Because of the high pressure, a professional should first conduct a video camera inspection to ensure your pipes are structurally sound enough for hydro jetting. Older, corroded pipes could be damaged by the force ^{5 8}. The cost for this service is generally higher, ranging from $300 to $800 or more, depending on the severity of the blockage and the length of pipe cleaned ^{7 9}.

Snaking vs. Hydro Jetting: Choosing the Right Solution

Understanding the key differences between these two primary drain cleaning techniques will help you make an informed decision with your plumbing professional.

• Effectiveness & Longevity: Snaking is a spot treatment. It removes the immediate obstacle but leaves the pipe walls coated. Hydro jetting is a full-system clean. It removes all debris and buildup, restoring the pipe to near-original capacity and providing a much longer-term solution ^{6 10}.
• Cost Analysis: Snaking is generally less expensive upfront, with main line snaking costing between $250 and $600+ ^{7 11}. Hydro jetting has a higher initial cost ($300-$800+) but can be more cost-effective over time by preventing rapid re-clogging and more serious backups that lead to expensive repairs ^{11 9}.
• Ideal Use Case: Choose snaking for a single, sudden clog in an interior fixture. Opt for hydro jetting if you have slow drains throughout the house, a history of repeated clogs, or suspect roots or decades of grease buildup in your lines ^{5 8}.

What to Expect: Cost Factors for Drain Cleaning in New Orleans

While prices can vary, several key factors influence the final cost of professional drain cleaning in the city:

• Clog Severity and Location: A simple sink clog is the most affordable to fix. A blockage deep in the main sewer line, especially one caused by roots, requires more labor, equipment, and time, increasing the cost significantly ^{7 12}.
• Method Required: As outlined, snaking is typically less expensive than hydro jetting. However, some tough clogs may require starting with a snake and following up with jetting for a complete clean.
• Age and Condition of Home: Older homes in neighborhoods like the Garden District or Bywater often have more fragile, difficult-to-access plumbing. Diagnosing and working on these systems can add to the project's complexity and price ².
• Time of Service: Emergency calls after hours, on weekends, or during holidays typically incur a premium service fee.

Maintaining Clear Drains After a Cleaning

Once your drains are flowing smoothly, a few simple habits can help keep them that way:

• Never pour grease down the kitchen drain. Instead, let it cool and dispose of it in the trash.
• Use drain strainers in sinks, showers, and tubs to catch hair and food particles.
• Flush drains weekly with a mixture of hot water and baking soda followed by vinegar, then flush with more hot water.
• Be mindful of what you flush. Only human waste and toilet paper should go down the toilet.
• Consider periodic maintenance, like annual hydro jetting for older homes or those with large trees nearby, to prevent major issues.

Frequently asked questions

Sources