Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking: How to Clear Different Kinds of Clogs

Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking: How to Clear Different Kinds of Clogs

All house owners have experienced the annoyance of having a drain that cannot be cleared. Clogs can be a pain and inconvenience whether it is a slow sink, a clogged shower or an entirely blocked sewer line. Plumbers have two typical solutions that include snaking and hydro jetting when fixing them.

Homeowners must be aware of the differences between these two approaches so that they can make the appropriate decision regarding their home. In this article, we will discuss what snaking and hydro jetting are, how they operate, their most appropriate types of clog and when one or the other is the better option.

What Is Snaking?

Snaking is another term used to describe one of the most common and oldest methods of clearing clogs, which is drain augering. A drain snake or auger is a long and flexible metal cable that is coiled or has a blade on its end and is used by a plumber. The snake is placed in the drainage system and turned in order to tear up the clog or remove it.

Snaking is effective in the easy blockages i.e.:

• Bathroom drainage accumulation of hair.
• Food residue in the kitchen sinks.
• Minor objects that got stuck down a toilet.

It is an easy technique and commonly applied as a preliminary step in clearing up pipes.

Related: The impact of hair buildup on drain , How to unclog a kitchen sink

Advantages of Snaking

Snaking has a number of advantages:

1. Fast and efficient on minor clogs:  In case your sink or tub is not draining well, a snake can clear the clog within minutes.
2. Light on pipes:  Snaking is also not as aggressive; therefore, it is usually safe to use on older plumbing systems that may not be resistant to a high pressure system.
3. Affordable: Snaking is also inexpensive compared to hydro jetting and can be used as a starting point when dealing with minor issues.

Limitations of Snaking

Snaking is good, but at the same time, it has its limits.

• Fails to clean pipes completely: Snaking only cleans away the blockage of the pipe, but not all the way that is inside it. This is an indication that accumulation is easily regained.
• Ineffective with stubborn clogs: Grease that is thick, a scale that has formed up or tree roots that are in sewer lines are something that a snake can hardly handle.
• Temporary solution: Since snaking does not eliminate all the debris, frequent clogs are frequent.

What Is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting refers to a more sophisticated and robust technique of draining cleaning agents and sewerages. It involves spending high pressure water perhaps up to 4,000 PSI, which is sprayed with a special hose and nozzle to remove the clogs and accumulation.

Hydro jetting does not only poke a hole on the clog, but it also removes the grease that has accumulated on the inside walls of the pipes. It gets rid of grease, scale, soap scum, food residue and tree roots in a few instances.

Advantages of Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting has numerous advantages, which allow it to be a good option in difficult or reoccurring clogs:

1. Complete cleaning: It does not only clean the pipes; it scrubs the insides of the pipes and leaves them almost clean as new.
2. Handles difficult blockages: Hydro jetting has the capability to remove grease deposits, scale and even small tree roots which snaking is incapable of reaching.
3. Deterrents future clogs: Hydro jetting prevents the build up of your drains which will ensure that they stay cleaner.
4. Green: Hydro jetting does not require any harsh chemicals and it uses nothing but water.

Limitations of Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting is not always the correct solution as effective as it is.

• Not suitable with weak pipes: The old pipes or the ones that are already damaged may not be in a position to sustain high pressure.
• Higher cost: Since it needs specialized equipment and takes more time, hydro jetting is generally higher in cost as compared to snaking.
• Professional service needed: Hydro jetting is a task that should never be performed by any other plumber other than a trained plumber as opposed to a basic snake.

When to Use Snaking

Snaking is the most appropriate in:

• Majority of sinks, tubs, or showers have minor clogs.
• Hair or food blockages near the drain.
• Houses that have older pipes which might not sustain high pressure cleaning.
• The fast cheap solution to the issue which is not very serious.

Snaking can be all you need in case you only have one slow-draining sink or tub.

When to Use Hydro Jetting

The hydro jetting will be preferable when:

• You get frequent clogs which always reoccur after snaking.
• Kitchen drains have excessive accumulation of grease.
• The tree root or mineral deposits block sewer lines.
• You do not want a short-term solution but a long-term one.

Hydro jetting is also very good in preventative plumbing maintenance. It can be employed to clear your drains even when they are not clogged so as to maintain a free flow of water.

Comparing the Hydro Jetting vs Snaking

Snaking is a fast operation and hydro jetting is a thorough job. The snaking cuts through the plug to allow water to pass once more but it deposits residue. Hydro jetting does not only break off the clog but it also clears off years of built up gunk.

To most homeowners, plumbers begin by snaking since it is more cost effective and quicker. However, hydro jetting is more effective in case the problem is acute or recurs.

Safety Considerations

It should be mentioned that small drain snakes can be found in hardware stores but when they are not used properly, they may harm the pipes or force the clogs farther down the pipe. On the contrary, hydro jetting can never be a DIY project. The associated high pressure may be hazardous without the appropriate training and equipment.

This is the reason why one should always make sure to call a professional plumber to take care of the drains clogs. They will check your system and find the cause, and prescribe the most effective and the safest way.

Why Professional Help Matters

In some cases, clogs are symptoms of something more serious like the damage of sewer lines or roots in trees. An expert plumber does not only loosen the blockage but he also examines the well-being of your pipes in order to determine whether there is a concealed issue.

We have innovative devices like camera inspection to have a glimpse of your pipes at Lifetime Plumbing, before making up our minds on the methods to use in snaking or hydro-jetting. This will provide the correct solution on the first try and will also assist in avoiding the extra harm to your plumbing.

Final Thoughts

Drains that are clogged are annoying, but you do not need to allow their existence to interrupt your life. Two of the effective techniques of clearing clogs are snaking and hydro jetting, both of which have their advantages.

• Snaking is suitable when the clogs are minor and simple and the pipes are old.
• The hard, recurring or deep blockage is best suited to hydro jetting and offers a better cleaning solution.

The selection of the appropriate way is dependent on the kind of clog, your pipes and whether you want a short-term solution or a lasting measure.

When you have a recalcitrant blockage in your house, it does not mean that you have to wait until it becomes a bigger issue. Call Contact Lifetime Plumbing and get the services of an expert drain cleaner. Our highly qualified plumbers will check your pipes and advise you on the most effective option, which could be snaking or hydro jetting.