Snake (cable)
When it fits. The same sink, tub, or toilet clogs again.
A cable opens hair, paper, or a soft grease plug in that branch. It does not wash the pipe wall.
Hydro jetting versus snaking
Drain Cleaning
Professional Services Throughout South Florida
Professional Services Throughout South Florida
A clog in a Miami home is either one fixture or the pipe those fixtures share. Plunge a sink, tub, or toilet the first time it stops. A snake fits when that same branch clogs again. Hydro jetting fits grease or roots after the pipe can take it. A camera fits when the clog comes back after a clear.
Hernandez Plumbing Co. clears those lines across Miami-Dade and Broward. Grease from South Florida kitchens, wipes, and roots are the clogs we find. The steps on this page show when a plunger is enough and when to call (305) 428-3782.
Same Day Service
Licensed & Insured
Hydro Jetting Available
Hernandez Plumbing Co. clears those lines across Miami-Dade and Broward. Grease from South Florida kitchens, wipes, and roots are the clogs we find. The steps on this page show when a plunger is enough and when to call (305) 428-3782.
Serving Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and surrounding South Florida communities with professional drain cleaning services.
Drain cleaning in Miami: snake, hydro jet, or camera
Updated November 2026. These blocks are the starting method for a Miami-Dade or Broward drain. A snake opens one branch. A hydro jet scours grease or roots when the pipe can take it. A camera shows why a clear did not hold.
Not sure whether one fixture is blocked or the line is shared? Read how to diagnose a drain blockage. For a cleaning rhythm rather than an emergency, use the drain cleaning frequency planner.
Hydro jetting
When it fits. Grease, roots, or several fixtures are slow, and the pipe can take the pressure.
A hydro jet scours the pipe wall. It does not repair a collapsed section.
Hydro jettingCamera inspection
When it fits. The clog comes back after a clear, or the cause is unknown.
The video shows leftover grease, roots, or a broken pipe. A camera does not open the clog by itself.
Sewer camera inspectionHow much of the house is affected?
The blocks above are the full answer. These steps walk the same choice.
Ready to get started?
(305) 428-3782Choose Your Property Type
We offer specialized drain cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties
Our Drain Cleaning
Comprehensive solutions for all your needs
Kitchen Drain Cleaning
Clear grease, food, and debris buildup from kitchen sink and garbage disposal drains.
Bathroom Drain Cleaning
Remove hair, soap scum, and buildup from shower, tub, and bathroom sink drains.
Main Line Cleaning
Professional clearing of your main sewer line to restore flow to your entire plumbing system.
Floor Drain Cleaning
Clear basement, garage, and utility floor drains to prevent flooding and backups.
Commercial Drain Cleaning
High-volume drain cleaning for restaurants, hotels, and commercial properties.
Preventive Drain Maintenance
Scheduled cleaning to prevent clogs before they happen and keep drains flowing freely.
Real Work Photos
Our Drain Cleaning Work in Action
Camera inspections and clearing on real South Florida jobs
Drain Cleaning Methods
Snake, hydro jet, or camera: what each one does, and the price range listed here
Drain Snaking
A flexible metal cable with a cutting head that opens a soft clog and can pull debris back out.
$150-$300
Lifespan: Varies if buildup remains
Advantages
- Fits hair, paper, or a soft grease plug in one branch
- Often a shorter visit than a main-line jet
- Used on many intact pipe materials
- Opens a soft clog without washing the wall
Considerations
- Leaves coating on the pipe wall
- The same clog can return if the wall stays coated
- A short cable may not reach a long main
- Can pull roots and still leave the wall coated
Hydro Jetting
High-pressure water scours grease, scale, and roots from the pipe wall.
$350-$600
Lifespan: Depends on the pipe and how the line is used
Advantages
- Scrubs the pipe wall, not only a hole through the clog
- Used for roots when the pipe can take the pressure
- Cleans a longer run than a short branch cable
- Camera first when the pipe may be fragile
Considerations
- Costs more than a simple snake on this page
- Not for a fragile or collapsed pipe
- Does not repair a broken pipe
- A longer visit than a single-fixture snake
Camera inspection
A camera shows leftover grease, roots, or a broken pipe. It does not clear the line.
$250-$450
Advantages
- Shows why a clog came back
- Used before jetting when the pipe may be fragile
- Records the line so the next step matches the cause
- Separates a coated wall from a broken pipe
Considerations
- Does not open the clog by itself
- Needs an access point into the line
- A collapsed pipe still needs repair
- Extra step when a first-time fixture clog only needs a plunger
How to unclog a Miami home drain safely
Safe do-it-yourself work stops at the fixture you can reach with a plunger. A branch drain serves one sink, tub, or toilet. The building drain is the shared pipe. If a second fixture gurgles, you are past the trap and past a plunger.
Do this
1
Stop using that fixture, and stop using any other fixture that drains into the same line.
2
On a toilet, use a flange plunger. On a sink, tub, or shower, use a flat-bottom cup plunger and cover the overflow with a wet cloth. A few firm strokes, then wait and see if it holds.
3
Pull the stopper and remove hair you can see. Do not take the trap apart if you do not have a bucket under it.
4
Wipe grease into the trash. Miami-Dade County says fats, oils, and grease stick to pipe walls, harden, and can send sewage back into the house. Never pour them down a sink, a disposal, or a storm drain. County fats, oils, and grease guidance.
Do not do this
- Do not plunge if a chemical cleaner is already in the drain. Do not pour a cleaner and then book a snake. Tell us first if a cleaner is already in the line.
- Do not mix drain cleaners, and do not follow a cleaner with bleach.
- Do not open an outdoor cleanout if sewage is at the cap.
- Do not run a rental snake down a main line you cannot see. You can punch a hole in a fragile pipe or lose the cable.
- Do not flush wipes, even the ones labeled flushable. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer says to flush only pee, poop, and toilet paper, and that the utility removes about 300 tons a month of items that should not have been flushed. Think Before You Flush.
Call when you smell sewage, when water comes up in a shower, when more than one fixture slows, or when the same clog returns. Those are building-drain problems. The plunger steps above are the whole safe home method. For a backup that is already overflowing, follow our clogged-drain emergency steps.
Why a bottle of cleaner is not the fix for a clog that keeps coming back
A bottle of chemical cleaner is not the step Miami-Dade County gives for grease that has hardened in a South Florida line. The county says fats, oils, and grease stick to sewer pipes, harden, block the flow, and can send sewage back into the house. The county’s step is to wipe pots and pans before washing, let the grease cool, and throw it in the trash. Never pour fats, oils, or grease down a sink, a disposal, or a storm drain.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer says recent studies show most of the grease damaging the wastewater system comes from single-family homes, apartments, and condos, not only from restaurants. The utility also removes about 300 tons a month of items that should not have been flushed, and says to flush only pee, poop, and toilet paper.
If the property is on a septic system, the county’s septic-care page says drain cleaners, floor cleaners, and similar chemicals flushed down the drain can destroy the bacteria the tank needs and can contaminate groundwater. Septic system care. That warning applies where the house still has a tank. It does not apply to a home already on the public sewer.
If one attempt with a cleaner fails, do not add another. How to choose a cleaner, and when to stop, is in our best practices for chemical drain cleaners. When the plunger is not enough, use the steps above: snake, hydro jet, or camera.
Plumber vs handyman for a stubborn drain
Clearing a clog
Clearing a clog and repairing the pipe are not the same job. Florida Statutes section 489.105(3)(m) says a plumbing contractor may perform drain cleaning and clearing, and that a mandatory licensing requirement is not established for those specific services. A handyman who only snakes or plunges a drain is not, under that sentence, automatically doing unlicensed contracting.
Repairing the pipe or permits
The license line is the repair. The same statute defines a plumbing contractor as the contractor who installs, maintains, repairs, alters, or extends plumbing, including sanitary drainage. Section 489.113(2) says a person must be certified or registered to engage in contracting in Florida, and that this rule does not replace local construction licensing ordinances. The Florida DBPR license guide says to check with your county or city about a local business tax receipt or certificate of competency, including for work that does not need a state license. Plumbing that connects lines to drinking water still needs a state contractor license. The guide’s examples are installing a dishwasher and replacing a water heater.
Miami-Dade County tells homeowners that most work requires a licensed contractor to pull the permit and do the work. The homeowner can act as an owner-builder, pull the permit, and hire licensed subcontractors. Contractors still register with Miami-Dade County to pull a permit. A State of Florida license supersedes a separate county contractor license.
Hire a licensed plumber when the job replaces pipe, opens a wall, moves a fixture, or ties into the water or sewer, and when a clog keeps coming back and needs the camera in the steps above. Ask who pulls the Miami-Dade permit before anyone cuts pipe. Hernandez Plumbing Co. holds Florida license CFC 1430030. This is general information, not legal advice. Local rules can differ.
Ready to get started?
(305) 428-3782Where these rules come from
- Florida Statutes § 489.105 — plumbing contractor scope, and the drain-cleaning sentence.
- Florida Statutes § 489.113 — certification or registration required to contract; local licensing ordinances still apply.
- Florida DBPR: what requires a license.
- Miami-Dade County homeowner permit guide.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Don't wait until you have a complete backup. Watch for these warning signs that your drains need professional cleaning:
Slow draining water
Gurgling sounds
Foul odors
Water backing up
Multiple slow drains
Common Drain Cleaning Problems We Solve
Experiencing one of these issues? Our expert technicians can diagnose and fix the problem quickly.
Clogged Drain
Complete blockages that prevent water from draining, causing backups and potential water damage.
Slow Drains
Drains that take longer than normal to empty, indicating buildup in the pipes that will worsen over time.
Drain Odors
Foul smells coming from drains often indicate buildup, dry P-traps, or problems in the sewer line.
Sewer Backup
Multiple drains backing up simultaneously indicates a main line blockage requiring immediate attention.
Tree Root Intrusion
Tree roots seek moisture and can infiltrate drain lines through small cracks, causing severe blockages.
Grease Buildup
Grease accumulation in kitchen drains hardens over time, restricting flow and causing recurring clogs.
Related Specialized Services
Advanced diagnostic and specialized services that complement our drain cleaning
Why Trust Hernandez Plumbing
Your drain cleaning are in expert hands
Licensed Florida Plumbing Contractor
50+ Years Serving South Florida
Commercial-Grade Hydro Jetting Equipment
Video Inspection Technology
Same-Day Service Available
What You Get With Hernandez Plumbing
- Same-day drain cleaning service
- Upfront pricing before work begins
- Camera inspection when the clog may be in the shared line
- Multiple cleaning methods available
- Preventive maintenance plans
Upfront pricing before work begins. Recurring clogs often need jetting or a camera — we say so before you pay for another temporary clear.
How Our Drain Cleaning Works
From the first look at the clog to a flow check
1
Assessment
Identify the clog location and severity
2
Method Selection
Choose the best cleaning approach
3
Clearing
Remove blockage using professional equipment
4
Inspection
Verify drain is flowing properly
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about drain cleaning
How much does drain cleaning cost?
Basic drain snaking on this page is $150-$300, depending on the drain and the clog. Hydro jetting for a tough clog or a main line is $350-$600. We quote before work begins.
How often should drains be cleaned?
For most homes, this page suggests a professional cleaning every 1-2 years. Commercial kitchens and high-use properties may need quarterly cleaning. A drain that stays slow is the signal to look again.
What causes drain clogs?
Common causes include hair and soap buildup in bathroom drains, grease and food in kitchen drains, tree roots in main lines, and mineral scale in older pipes. We identify the cause to recommend the right solution.
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
We look with a camera before hydro jetting an older line. For a fragile or damaged pipe, we use a snake or another gentler method, or we stop and talk about repair.
Can you clear tree roots from drains?
A hydro jet cuts roots out of a line that can take the pressure. A cable can pull a root mat and still leave the wall coated. If the camera shows a broken pipe, cleaning alone will not fix it.
Why do my drains keep clogging?
A clog that returns often means leftover grease, roots, or a damaged pipe, not only a plug in one fixture. A camera shows which of those it is so the next step matches the cause.
Do you offer emergency drain cleaning?
Yes! For sewage backups and drain emergencies, we provide same-day service. Call (305) 428-3782 for immediate assistance.
What's included in drain cleaning service?
The visit includes a look at the clog, clearing it with the method that fits, and a flow check. A shared-line job includes a camera when we need to see why the line slowed.
When should I call for drain cleaning vs wait?
Call for sewage backing up, more than one fixture draining slowly, or a sewage smell. Call soon when one slow drain returns after a plunger. Do not add another chemical cleaner. Miami-Dade County says fats, oils, and grease harden on pipe walls. If the home is on a septic system, the county says drain cleaners can destroy the bacteria the tank needs. Tell us if a cleaner is already in the line.
What does drain cleaning cost in Miami?
Snaking on this page is $150-$300 for a common clog. A camera inspection is $250-$450. Hydro jetting for a main line or grease is $350-$600. A camera is the step when a clog returns, so the next clear matches the cause.
Should I snake, hydro jet, or camera a Miami drain?
Plunge one fixture the first time it stops. A snake (cable) fits when that same sink, tub, or toilet clogs again. Hydro jetting fits grease, several slow fixtures, or roots, and only after the pipe can take it. A camera fits when the clog comes back after a clear: the video shows leftover grease, roots, or a broken pipe. Use the decision steps on this page. The longer comparison is the hydro jetting versus snaking page.
How do I unclog a Miami home drain safely?
Stop using the fixture. On a toilet, use a flange plunger. On a sink, tub, or shower, use a flat-bottom cup plunger and cover the overflow. Do not plunge if a chemical cleaner is already in the drain. Remove hair you can see at the stopper. Wipe grease into the trash. Miami-Dade County says fats, oils, and grease stick to pipe walls and harden, and that pouring them down the sink leads to backups. Stop if a second fixture gurgles, if you smell sewage, or if water comes up in a shower.
Why is a bottle of cleaner not the fix for a clog that keeps coming back?
Miami-Dade County says fats, oils, and grease stick to sewer pipes, harden, and can send sewage back into the house. The county’s step is to wipe pans before washing and keep grease out of the sink. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer says most of the grease damaging the wastewater system comes from homes, apartments, and condos, and that wipes belong in the trash. If the home is on a septic system, the county says drain cleaners can destroy the bacteria the tank needs and can contaminate groundwater. If one attempt with a cleaner fails, do not add another.
Do I need a licensed plumber or can a handyman clear a drain?
Florida law says a plumbing contractor may clean and clear drains, and that drain cleaning and clearing by itself does not carry a mandatory state license (section 489.105(3)(m), Florida Statutes). Repairing, replacing, or altering plumbing is different: a person must be certified or registered to contract for that work, and section 489.113(2) leaves local construction licensing ordinances in place. The Florida DBPR license guide says to check your county or city for a local business tax receipt or certificate of competency, and that plumbing that connects to drinking water, such as a dishwasher or a water heater, needs a state contractor license. In Miami-Dade County, most permitted work is done by a licensed contractor or by the homeowner as an owner-builder, and contractors register with the county to pull a permit. A State of Florida license supersedes a separate county contractor license. Hernandez Plumbing Co. holds Florida license CFC 1430030. This is general information, not legal advice.