Hydrojetting vs. Drain Snaking

What is Drain Snaking?

Drain snaking refers to using a flexible “snake” – a flexible tube also called a plumber’s snake, drain snake, or plumbing auger – to reach deep inside your pipes and “drill” through the clog. This method also allows the clog to be fished out and removed, rather than forcing it through the rest of the system. This makes it a good choice for older plumbing systems and minor clogs. 

However, it doesn’t always deal with your problem completely; it can leave some debris behind and pave the way for new clogs. The metal auger on the end of the snake can also scratch your pipes and weaken them, which is a concern for new systems as well as older ones.

What is Hydrojetting?

Hydrojetting – also called hydro flushing – uses a long hose that blasts through clogs with high-pressure water. This water jet is incredibly powerful – it can even blast through tree roots intruding on your pipes! However, your technician will use the minimal possible pressure to remove the clog. This is to avoid damaging your pipes, and makes hydrojetting a very versatile tool. It can be used on just about any pipe material, but if your pipes are weakened with age, it may not be the solution for you.

Hydrojetting can blast away fat, oil, grease, and more – eliminating all traces of your problem clog and preventing it from coming back.

Should I Use Hydrojetting or Drain Snaking?

In the vast majority of cases, hydrojetting is the best choice. Unless your plumbing system is older, or the problem clog is small, it’s likely that your technician will choose hydrojetting over drain snaking. However, this is on a case-by-case basis and is not a one-size-fits-all solution. 

To assess your system’s needs, we will perform an inspection using a drain scope. This involves putting a camera down your drain and looking at the condition of your pipes up close. Using this method, we can choose the best method to fix your clogged drain.