A main line clog is stressful, but most soft clogs clear with a $50 auger and 45 minutes of work. If you encounter black water backup, stop immediately – that’s an emergency sewage situation requiring professional extraction and disinfection.

If you have a cleanout pipe (a threaded cap outside your home or in the basement) and the backup is slow rather than a total standstill, you can attempt to clear it with a rented power auger. When to Call a Pro