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There’s a point where the problem stops being a clog. If the same line backs up every few months, if a drain gurgles and then clears on its own, if there’s a sewer smell nobody can locate, or if a patch of yard stays soggy and unusually green, the pipe itself is likely damaged. Homeowners usually reach out for drain repair in Columbus after two or three cleanings that didn’t hold.

Diagnosis comes first, and it’s not optional. A camera inspection shows whether you’re dealing with root intrusion, a cracked or offset joint, corrosion, or a belly a low spot where the pipe sags and waste collects. Locating equipment then marks the exact depth and position from above ground, so nobody digs more than necessary. Inspections run $250 to $900 standalone, and plumbers in Columbus often credit that toward the repair.

Cost tracks access more than pipe length. A sink or bathroom drain repair reachable through a cabinet runs $150 to $500. Inside a wall, $150 to $800, plus $250 to $700 for drywall. Under a basement slab, $725 to $6,000. Full replacement averages $150 to $250 per linear foot, and a main sewer lateral typically lands between $2,000 and $10,000. Homes in Columbus with mature trees near the line see the most root damage.

Ask about trenchless options before agreeing to excavation. Cured-in-place lining forms a new pipe inside the old one through small access points, usually in one to two days, and typically costs 30% to 50% less than dig-and-replace once landscaping and concrete restoration are counted. It won’t work on a collapsed pipe or a severe belly. Below you’ll find licensed plumbers in Columbus handling drain repair, camera inspection, root removal, pipe lining, and full replacement. Compare licensing, warranties, and written bids on the same scope.

List of Drain Repair Services In Columbus

Based on our criteria
Workman Score
52.1 /100
Based on
167 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Strong evidence
High confidence data
  • Project Completion 52%
  • Professionalism 58%
  • Experience 60%
  • Price-friendly 28%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Apex's professionalism score reflects a deeply split record: many individual technicians are praised as courteous, friendly, and communicative, but the company is repeatedly cited for missed appointments, no-shows, poor scheduling, upselling pressure, and unresponsive management. Pricing is the most consistently negative dimension across the entire review set, with dozens of reviewers explicitly c... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
52.1 /100
Based on
148 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Strong evidence
High confidence data
  • Project Completion 48%
  • Professionalism 46%
  • Experience 54%
  • Price-friendly 55%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Calhoun Plumbing presents a deeply polarized review profile. A substantial cluster of positive reviews praises individual technicians by name — particularly Austin, Clayton, Johnny, and others — for punctuality, courtesy, and effective repairs, suggesting that when the right technician is dispatched, the experience can be genuinely excellent. However, an equally substantial and detailed body of ne... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
56.8 /100
Based on
40 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 68%
  • Professionalism 73%
  • Experience 78%
  • Price-friendly 32%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

The Rooter Works demonstrates significant inconsistency across service dimensions. While professionalism scores reasonably well (72.5) with multiple mentions of courteous, knowledgeable technicians like Daniel, Jim, and Carl, this is severely undermined by pervasive pricing complaints. Pricing emerges as the critical weakness (32.0), with 16 reviews explicitly documenting egregious overcharges—$40... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
View Profile
Workman Score
54.8 /100
Based on
40 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi Thumbtack Thumbtack Homeadvisor Homeadvisor Google Google
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 62%
  • Professionalism 52%
  • Experience 78%
  • Price-friendly 38%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

Lovelace Plumbing shows significant inconsistency across all dimensions. While technical skill and workmanship are generally praised (78/100), the company is severely hampered by poor pricing practices, unprofessional communication, and unreliable project completion. Multiple recent reviews (2024-2019) document price gouging, bait-and-switch billing, and rude customer service from management (part... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
54.3 /100
Based on
5 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 40%
  • Professionalism 52%
  • Experience 85%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

This contractor shows significant inconsistency in service delivery. While technical skill and problem-solving ability are evident in positive reviews (Austin's diligent work, knowledgeable bidding), professionalism is severely undermined by chronic communication failures, no-shows without notice, and poor follow-up on callbacks. Project completion is compromised by incomplete cleanup, lack of acc... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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Workman Score
52.1 /100
Based on
10 reviews analyzed
Yelp Yelp Angi Angi
Score Data Quality
Moderate evidence
Decent data coverage
  • Project Completion 42%
  • Professionalism 52%
  • Experience 48%
  • Price-friendly 55%

What is the overall customer analysis in August?

This contractor has a deeply polarized review profile, with enthusiastic praise from satisfied customers offset by serious complaints from others. Positive reviews highlight prompt response, honesty, and willingness to go above and beyond, including after-hours emergency service. However, multiple negative reviews describe significant failures: technicians unable or unwilling to resolve urgent sit... Read more
Score last updated August 2026
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How do I know if my drain pipe is broken rather than clogged?

A clog clears and stays clear. Damage keeps coming back. Watch for backups that return within weeks of snaking, gurgling from multiple fixtures, persistent sewer odors, fluctuating toilet water levels, and slow drains across the house. Outside, look for soggy soil, a strip of unusually green grass along the line, or sunken patches. Indoors, warm or spongy floor spots and lifting tile suggest a slab leak. Any plumber can settle it with a camera inspection in under an hour.

How much does drain repair cost?

Minor repairs run $100 to $800; major ones reach $8,000 or more. A kitchen drain reachable under the sink is $150 to $500. A bathroom drain inside a wall runs $150 to $800, plus $250 to $700 to patch drywall. Basement and under-slab work costs $725 to $6,000. Full replacement averages $150 to $250 per linear foot. Prices sit inside these ranges, with access driving most of the difference. Leak location typically adds around $100 to the bill.

Do I need a camera inspection before repair?

Yes, for anything beyond an accessible pipe under a sink. The camera shows whether the problem is roots, a cracked joint, corrosion, an offset, or a belly, and each calls for a different fix. Locating equipment then marks depth and position so excavation is targeted rather than exploratory. Standalone inspections run $250 to $900, and many plumbers credit the fee toward the repair. Skipping it usually means paying someone to dig in the wrong place, sometimes more than once.

Trenchless lining or dig-and-replace which is better?

Lining works when the pipe still holds its shape: cracks, leaks, root intrusion, minor offsets. Cured-in-place lining creates a seamless epoxy pipe inside the old one through small access points, finishes in one to two days, and usually costs 30% to 50% less once you count restoring landscaping, driveways, or slabs. Excavation is required when a section has collapsed, is severely misaligned, or has a real belly. Plumbers should show you the camera footage either way before quoting.

What causes drain pipes to break?

Tree roots are the most common cause; they find moisture at joints and cracks, then widen them. Age and corrosion account for most of the rest, especially in cast iron and clay lines installed decades ago. Soil movement, nearby construction, heavy equipment, and freeze-thaw cycles shift pipes and open joints. Bellies form when supporting soil settles unevenly. Chemical drain cleaners accelerate corrosion in older pipes. Plumbers see roots and pipe age as the top two causes by far.

Does homeowners insurance cover drain repair?

Usually, only when the damage comes from a sudden event, like a pipe bursting during a freeze. Gradual failures root intrusion, corrosion, normal wear are almost always excluded, and those account for most drain repairs. Policies also tend to cover the resulting water damage rather than the pipework itself. Service line coverage is available as an add-on in many policies. Document everything and get a written cause-of-failure statement from your plumber before filing a claim.

How long does drain repair take?

An accessible repair under a sink or in a wall takes a few hours. Trenchless lining typically finishes in one to two days, including cure time. Under-slab work and full excavation run several days to a week once you add jackhammering, inspection before backfill, and restoring concrete or landscaping. Permit review adds time in most jurisdictions. Ask plumbers for a written schedule that separates the repair itself from the restoration work afterward. Restoration is often a separate trade.

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1.2 million + Plumber reviews analyzed

See customer stories
IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

IR
Igal Rubinshtein @igal

Joel and his team went above and beyond to make sure they helped us fix the gas leak. Joel is a man of his word and came through on his promise.

AP
Alex Pritchard @alexpritch

Very expensive. Make sure you establish the price up front. They did some work on gas pipes, which was specialized so the prices weren't so horrible.

JS
Joe S. @joe

They did a good job and came quickly. Installed a bidet in my toilet. Shout out to Casey for the quality work.

DE
D Evonne W. @evonne

Scheduled service for a clogged toilet and never showed. No call, all messages unanswered

JA
Jari @jari22

If its an easy fit sure they maybe great but if its something different then quoted they are going to charge you either way a hefty price.

AU
Ashley Undercuffler @undercuffler

They never called my property manager, or myself, to ask if they could do an additional estimate while at my property. I was shocked. Companies cannot go around doing estimates.

AJ
A Jackson @jacksona

Mike showed up in an hour to shut off a spigot that I could not shut off. Always great friendly service at a reasonable price!!!

What does the Wise Workman score mean?
<70 Low
71–80 Moderate
81–100 High
77.5
WW Score
Learn more about how the Wise Workman scoring system works, along with our data governance policy.
What things affect the Wise Workman score?
Price-Friendly
💰Professionalism:
Experience
🛠️Project
Completion

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