Drain cleaning
Drain cleaning scours grease, scale and debris out of the pipes that carry waste water away, using high-pressure jetting, descaling and a camera to check the result. It suits repeat chokes, slow drains across the home, old pipes and landed homes with inspection chambers.
Typical price
$250–$500per job, standard hoursTypical job time
1–3 h
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
What it looks like
- Chokes that come back every few weeks or months, even after clearing.
- Several drains in the home are slow, not just one.
- Drain smells from floor traps or sinks that cleaning does not fix.
- Gurgling in the pipes when water runs elsewhere in the home.
- In landed homes, inspection chambers that fill up or have grease or roots in them.
Common causes
- Grease built up along kitchen waste pipes over years.
- Scale and rust inside old cast-iron or galvanised drain pipes.
- Soap scum and hair coating bathroom branch pipes.
- Debris left in the pipes from earlier renovation works.
- Tree roots and soil entering underground pipes and inspection chambers at landed homes.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Use sink strainers and floor trap hair catchers, and keep cooking oil out of the sink.
- Run hot water for a minute after washing greasy pots and pans.
- In landed homes, check inspection chambers now and then for standing water, grease or roots.
Stop and call if
- Sewage backs up through a floor trap or toilet.
- An inspection chamber outside is overflowing.
- The common stack seems to be the cause. In HDB blocks, call the town council.
What we do
- 1Ask about the history of chokes and test each fitting to find the problem lines.
- 2Inspect the pipes with a CCTV camera where needed, to see grease, scale, roots or damage.
- 3Clean the pipes with high-pressure water jetting, and descale old metal pipes with a rotating cutting head.
- 4In landed homes, clear grease, silt and roots from the inspection chambers.
- 5Run the camera again or flow-test every fitting, and give you a short note on the pipe condition and what to watch for.
How much it costs
Most drain cleaning jobs in Singapore cost $250–$500 (per job, standard hours). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- High-pressure water jetting$250–$500
- Jetting or descaling added to a choke job$100–$300
- CCTV drain inspection$180–$300
- After-hours surcharge$50–$150
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
Drain cleaning inside the flat covers your branch pipes up to the common stack. The stack itself is maintained by the town council, so report stack problems to them.
Condo
Unit pipes are the owner's; stacks and common drains are the MCST's. Inform management and security before jetting, and check the permitted work hours.
Landed
The owner is responsible for all drain pipes and inspection chambers on the property. Keep chamber covers accessible, not tiled over or hidden under planters, so they can be opened for cleaning.
Drain cleaning: common questions
What is the difference between drain cleaning and clearing a choke?
Clearing a choke opens a path through one blockage so water flows again. Drain cleaning scours the whole pipe back to full bore and checks its condition, which cuts down repeat chokes.
How often should drains be cleaned?
There is no fixed rule. Homes with frequent chokes, heavy cooking or old pipes may benefit from a check every year or two. Most flats only need it once problems start.
What does a CCTV drain inspection show?
A small camera on a cable is pushed through the pipe and shows grease, scale, roots, cracks, sags and stuck objects. It helps you decide between cleaning and repair, and confirms the result after jetting.
Can drain cleaning fix a cracked pipe?
No. Jetting removes build-up but cannot repair cracks or collapsed sections. If the camera finds damage, that section has to be repaired or replaced.
Who cleans the common stack in my HDB block?
The town council. If a choke is in the stack, report it to them. A plumber you engage works on the pipes inside your flat.
Get a price for drain cleaning
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
Open 24/7. All of Singapore.