How to snake every drain before you move in
To snake a drain before you unpack, pull each stopper, clear hair with a hand snake or plastic drain strip, then run every fixture at once and watch the lowest drain. Slow draining or gurgling can point to the main line. A plumber's sewer camera inspection generally costs about $125 to $350.
When to snake drains before moving in
| Job | When |
|---|---|
| Clear every sink, tub and shower drain | Once, before move-in |
| Whole-house flow test | Once, before move-in, and again if drains slow down |
| Clean hair traps and stoppers | Whenever draining slows |
| Sewer camera inspection | Before closing if you can, or after any warning sign |
| Septic inspection, if you have a tank | Every 1 to 3 years, per EPA |
| Septic pumping | Every 3 to 5 years, depending on tank size and use, per EPA |
The first week is a good test. A house that sat empty, or that had one light user, is about to take far more water.
What you need to snake a drain
- A hand snake or a plastic barbed drain strip
- Rubber gloves and old towels
- A bucket
- A screwdriver or pliers for stopper hardware
- A helper for the flow test, if the house has two floors or a basement
Leave chemical drain openers on the shelf. On a septic system, EPA says to use a drain snake or boiling water instead, because toxic products can kill the organisms the system depends on.
How to snake a drain and test the whole house
- Start with the stoppers
Lift out or unscrew each sink and tub stopper. Clean off the hair and soap and rinse the parts.
- Clear each drain
Feed the snake or strip in until you feel resistance, twist, and pull the debris out into a bucket. Work through every sink, tub and shower, including the ones nobody used.
- Flush each one
Run hot water for a short while. A clear drain should empty without pooling.
- Run the whole house at once
Open the taps and start the showers together, with stoppers out, and flush a toilet. This is the load a full household puts on the pipes.
- Watch the lowest drain
Stand by the lowest fixture or floor drain. Rising water, gurgling or a sewer smell suggests trouble farther down the line.
- Shut everything off if it backs up
Close the taps right away, keep everyone from using water, and call a plumber.
- Book a camera if anything looks off
Ask for a copy of the video and report, and for the pipe material and the location of any defect.
Signs of main sewer line problems
Roto-Rooter names these as reasons to get the sewer line checked:
- A house built before the 1980s
- Repeated backups or slow drains
- Patches of unusually lush grass, which may mark a leak
- Large trees standing near the sewer line
Older pipe is a big part of the risk. Clay and cast iron can crack, corrode or collapse with age, and clay is especially open to tree roots. Redfin adds Orangeburg pipe to the list of materials that will likely need replacing. Also treat water coming up in a tub or floor drain, when you run the washer or flush a toilet, as a problem with the main line. Stop using water in the house until a plumber has looked at it.
How to snake a drain yourself, and when to call a plumber
Sinks, tubs and showers are DIY. Call a licensed plumber if a clog sits beyond your snake's reach, if more than one fixture is slow, or if sewage appears. A camera inspection can show roots, cracks, sagging sections and outdated pipe.
Redfin puts a camera inspection at about $125 to $350. It says repair or replacement of a damaged line can run $2,500 to $30,000. Price depends on your location, the pipe depth and the line length. If you haven't closed yet, the report gives you something to negotiate with.
Call your city or sewer utility to ask where your responsibility for the line ends, because it varies. Ask your insurance agent if your policy covers water that backs up through drains. Don't assume so. On a septic system, call a septic professional instead of a sewer company.
Sewer camera inspection questions
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?
Redfin puts it at about $125 to $350. The price depends on your area, how deep the pipe is and how long the line runs, so get a local quote.
Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?
It's worth considering, especially in a home built before the 1980s or with big trees near the line. A standard home inspection doesn't see inside the pipe, and the report can help you negotiate.
Can I use drain cleaner if I have a septic tank?
EPA advises against chemical drain openers on septic systems. Use a drain snake or boiling water, because toxic products can kill the organisms that make the system work.
Sources: redfin.com, rotorooter.com, EPA
General guidance for U.S. homes, not professional advice. For gas, electrical and structural work, call a licensed pro.