A slow kitchen sink, a basement floor drain that gurgles, or a sewer line backing up into the tub all fall under the same trade: drain and sewer cleaning. We track 85 companies in Toronto that do this work, ranging from small owner-operated outfits to larger crews that also handle general plumbing repairs.
What the service actually covers
Most calls start with a cable (snake) run to clear a localized clog in a sink, tub, or floor drain. Bigger problems, like a main sewer line clogged with roots or grease, usually need hydro jetting, which blasts the pipe clean with high-pressure water instead of just punching a hole through the blockage. A proper outfit will also run a camera inspection before and after the work, so you can see what caused the backup (roots, a bellied section of pipe, grease buildup, or a partial collapse) and confirm the line is actually clear rather than just draining a bit faster than before.
What to look for before you book
Ask whether the quote includes a camera inspection or whether that gets billed separately, since it can add a lot to the final number if it's tacked on later. Confirm the company carries insurance, since jetting an old clay or cast iron pipe the wrong way can crack it. Get pricing for both a standard cable clearing and a full jetting job upfront, because some companies quote low over the phone and then push a much bigger number once they're on site and have found "extra" work. If you're dealing with an active backup, ask about same-day or after-hours availability too, since sewage backups rarely happen at a convenient time.
How we score these companies
Our ranking weighs verified customer feedback, how consistently a company shows up and finishes the job as quoted, and signals like licensing and years operating in Toronto. The full breakdown of factors is on our methodology page. For the current ranked list of drain and sewer companies, see our best drain and sewer cleaning guide.
