Key Takeaways

• Where snaking works great for small, localized clogs and is available as a simple DIY drain cleaning method, it does not necessarily address deeper or more persistent stoppages.

• Hydro jetting utilizes high-pressure water to eliminate stubborn clogs, sludge, and mineral deposits. It provides a deeper cleaning and long-term protection against recurring blockages.

• Before deciding on a cleaning method, the condition and age of your pipes should be inspected, as fragile or older pipes, like cast iron, may be damaged by the pressure of hydro jetting.

• Professional evaluation, such as video inspection, identifies the optimal approach to safely clear drains and minimizes the likelihood of harming pipes.

• Hydro jetting is usually more expensive upfront, it can save you money in the long run by preventing clog codes and decreasing access calls.

• Opting for water instead of chemical cleaners with our hydro jetting technology gives back to the earth and encourages sustainable plumbing to wasteful homes and businesses worldwide.

Hydro jetting and snaking are two primary methods of clearing clogged drains. Hydro jetting washes out build-up and debris with high-pressure water, while snaking breaks through clogs with a metal cable.

Both work for typical blockages and they fit different pipe varieties and clog origins. Understanding how each method works and when to use them allows you to select the right cure for your home or business plumbing needs.

The Methods

Drain cleaning usually relies on two main tools: snaking and hydro jetting. Both seek to flush out congestion, yet each does so in its own manner. Snaking employs a malleable metal cable to dislodge or extract blockages, whereas hydro jetting deploys high-pressure water jets to cleanse pipes. Both methods excel in different circumstances.

Snaking

Snaking is usually the go-to for a clogged drain. This technique employs a steel cable that is bendable enough to snake through pipes. At one end is a corkscrew or hook that catches and holds debris. You crank it to push the cable further and shred or yank out blockages.

Mechanical snaking pulls away hair, soap scum and some solids that have lodged at openings of the drain. Many households maintain a simple drain auger around for bathroom or kitchen sinks. Snaking implies that you can address a clog without dismantling plumbing or resorting to chemicals, keeping things uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive.

Snaking has its limits. If a clog is deep, greasy, or a thick sludge, the snake might simply plume a hole in it, allowing water to drain slowly but not dislodge the source. Long-term clogs or roots crawling into pipes often come back after snaking. Still, snaking is simple to pick up and effective for immediate patches.

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting utilizes a hose outfitted with a specialized nozzle to blast water into pipes at pressures ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 PSI. The high-pressure stream quickly blasts away grease, sludge, and even tree roots. There are no chemicals involved in this method, so it’s equally friendly to septic systems and groundwater.

Hydro jetting is a great option for pipes with serious deposits, such as restaurants or older homes with decades of grease or mineral build-up. One pass can remove thick buildups that snaking can’t reach. The water usage, around 190 to 380 liters per job, is equivalent to a few wash cycles, making it feasible for most environments.

This approach is not for every pipe. Older pipes, particularly clay or corroded cast iron installed before 1980, can rupture due to high pressure. That’s why hydro jetting is best left to the trained professionals who check pipe condition first.

The method provides a deep clean, minimizes the risk of re-clogging and keeps pipes draining for extended periods.

The Showdown

Hydro jetting and snaking are two of the main ways to clear drains, but each works best in different scenarios, clogs, and pipes. Which you choose depends on your problem’s size, your plumbing’s health, your budget, and your long-term needs.

1. Clog Type

Hydro jetting cleans up beautifully after large, difficult blockages. It shoots water at as much as 4,000 PSI to flush away grease, tree roots, and thick sludge. That’s what makes it the go-to for years of buildup in sewer lines or giant stubborn clogs that a quick fix can’t touch.

Snaking is great for smaller, more local clogs like hair or food stuck in a single sink or shower drain. A plumbing snake is a steel cable with a corkscrew tip that pulverizes or extracts the clog. It’s simple to introduce from the top or via the p-trap and is frequently sufficient for light clogs.

Before selecting a technique, a video inspection assists in identifying the location and severity of the clog.

2. Pipe Health

Pipe status is a big deal. Ancient or brittle pipes can fracture from the intense pressure of hydro jetting, so delicate snaking is more secure for elderly networks. Hydro jetting can scour out decades-old sludge without damage, but only if your pipes are resilient enough.

If pipes are fragile or have vulnerable joints, a snake is less hazardous. Before you start flinging forceful tools, always check pipe health first. Sometimes, this can be done with a video inspection.

This avoids leaks and breaks that end up more expensive to repair down the line.

3. Long-Term Results

Hydro jetting provides a deep clean that prevents future clogs. It cleans out all of the gunk, meaning water drains quicker and pipes stay clearer for longer. There are fewer plumber visits and less concern about recurring blockages.

Snaking is fast, but it can leave some residual bits. If the pipe isn’t cleared completely, blockages return. Hydro jetting can reduce your maintenance frequency.

Snaking can mean redoing it sooner.

4. Cost

Snaking is less expensive initially, with basic tasks beginning at approximately $50. Hydro jetting is pricier, usually a few hundred dollars, but can save money down the road by preventing recurring clogs.

If the snake can’t unstop the clog or the pipe breaks, additional repairs increase the cost. Hydro jetting costs more, but it could be worth the investment for a permanent solution.

Your budget will factor in, particularly for minor clogs.

5. Application

Both techniques are dangerous if misapplied. Hydro jetting’s high-pressure water can break weak pipes, and snaking can scratch or puncture old ones. DIY with the wrong tools can hurt or worse.

The pros do a video check, use the proper tools, and test the drain with water post-cleaning to ensure the clog is gone. Experienced assistance reduces risk and provides peace of mind.

Risk Assessment

Drain cleaning isn’t one-size-fits-all. Choosing between hydro jetting and snaking depends on the nature of the clog, pipe composition, and the age of the pipes. Most plumbers begin with mini-cameras to peer into the pipes. Video inspection allows them to view the scale of the blockage and the reason for it, detect any vulnerable pipe connections, and determine the composition of the pipes.

It helps them select an approach that accomplishes the task with minimal risk. Hydro jetting operates by propelling water through the pipes at high pressure, at times exceeding 4,000 psi. It can remove grease, roots, and stubborn debris. If the pipes are old, clay, or corroded cast iron, as in many homes built before 1980, blasting them with high pressure can cause them to crack or even break.

Clay and early cast iron pipes, predominantly in homes constructed prior to 1960, have a tendency to be brittle. When water rushes through these antiquated pipes with such force, there’s a genuine danger that a joint will separate or the pipe walls will break down. That’s why a professional needs to ensure the pipes can take it prior to commencing hydro jetting.

Snaking is gentler. It utilizes a metal cable to dissolve clogs or yank out blockages. Snaking is gentler on the pipes, so it’s frequently chosen for older systems or when the clog consists of materials like hair or paper, not hard deposits or roots. Still, snaking doesn’t pull out all debris or scrub the pipe walls, so it won’t necessarily prevent clogs from returning.

Plumbers balance these trade-offs, considering what led to the blockage, how deep it is from the drain opening, and the condition of the pipes. Water usage is another story. Hydro jetting requires 190 to 380 liters (50 to 100 gallons) of water for a single job, roughly equivalent to a few loads of laundry. A few clients fret about water waste, but in many cases, the volume is not significant against day-to-day household use.

Still, it’s a legitimate worry in places where water is limited or expensive. Attempting drain cleaning yourself can be error prone. Taking a risk with the wrong tool or too aggressive a force can be disastrous to pipes, transforming a simple stoppage into an expensive repair that might run into the thousands.

Plumbers use training, experience, and the appropriate tools to choose the safest approach.

The Professional’s Choice

Professional drain cleaning begins with a clean slate. Before selecting an approach, experienced technicians inspect the pipes using video equipment. This assists in identifying the type of clog, its precise location, and the condition of the pipe.

Video inspections determine whether it is a soft clog, such as food or grease, or a solid clog, like tree roots or mineral deposits. By understanding what clogs the pipe, journeyman can select the appropriate patch without guessing. This attention helps prevent additional abuse that could stem from utilizing an ill-suited instrument, particularly in aging pipes that may not endure high pressure.

When they can see clearly, drudges can articulate the work and provide a reasonable price. This upfront check typically ends up saving time and money in the long run.

Diagnostic First

Pro’s match the instrument to the affliction. If the clog is light, they’ll use a snake—a metal coil that shatters hair or soap scum buildup. For heavy-duty, oily or difficult clogs, hydro jetting is the pro’s pick.

It utilizes high-pressure water, ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 PSI, to scrape pipes inside and out. It can clean junk off of a snake’s belly. Selecting the most effective approach comes down to understanding your plumbing’s age, material, and configuration.

For instance, older pipes predating the 60s aren’t going to fare well with a hosing down of forceful water, so a gentler approach is preferred. Customizing the solution for every individual system translates into reduced call-backs and enduring outcomes.

Strategic Application

A timely cleaning reduces future headaches. By scheduling hydro jetting for commercial establishments such as restaurants every few months, grease is kept from accumulating into blockages.

In homes with aging lines, regular maintenance and mild scouring can help things move and prolong the plumbing’s life. Hydro jetting, which we do if pipes are sturdy enough, is excellent for high traffic or recurrent blockages.

It cleans deeper and lasts up to three or four times longer than snaking alone. Regular service and checkups keep both homes and businesses humming without unexpected shutdowns or major repair costs.

Preventative Mindset

Tech is still reinventing how we clean drains. Newer hydro jetting machines are more targeted and employ specialized nozzles to shatter stubborn clogs without damaging pipes.

These nozzles get selected depending on what type of clog you’re dealing with. With superior tools, workers can repair problems quicker and with less danger.

Innovations help keep your service costs down by ensuring more of the pipe gets cleaned the first time. These innovations assist in making drain cleaning safer, quicker, and more economical for any size building.

Modern Innovations

Modern-Day Drain Cleaning Has Changed A Lot With Hydro Jetting. This technique utilizes 4,000 PSI water jets to slice through blockages and scour pipe surfaces. It began in the 1850s for industrial work, and it took until just a few decades ago for it to become ubiquitous and inexpensive enough to be found in homes globally.

Though snaking or motorized augers have been the norm since the 1930s, hydro jetting now provides plumbers with another option for clearing drains, particularly in houses with ancient or stubborn residue.

Hydro jetting is environmentally friendly. Unlike chemical drain cleaners, which rely on strong acids or bases to dissolve blockages, hydro jetting operates with water exclusively. This reduces the amount of noxious chemicals that could seep into nearby waterways.

These chemicals can harm plants and animals when they run out of houses and into larger bodies of water. Deploying water as the central agent aids in maintaining low risk for both humanity and the world. For instance, when a plumber employs hydro jetting inside a city apartment block, there is less concern about chemical runoff impacting local parks or streams.

There’s the question of how sustainable it is to use pressurized water to clean pipes. Water is a renewable resource in and of itself. When used correctly, like with hydro jetting, it washes away decades of grease, minerals, and waste without causing additional pollution.

Plumbing pros preferred hydro jetting for high traffic locations, such as schools or hospitals, because it lasts and doesn’t introduce additional waste or chemicals. It’s crucial to inspect pipes prior to blasting with pressure washing. Pipes that are in bad condition, particularly cracked or old pipes, can rupture.

Plumbing systems that are kept clean with hydro jetting, for example, have a ripple effect of benefits to the environment long-term. Clear pipes lead to less drips and clogs, reducing the chances of raw water spills or bursts.

Where water is limited or expensive, keeping pipes clean contributes to water conservation by preventing small leaks from escalating. This makes hydro jetting a savvy option for most city and suburban residences and commercial properties.

Environmental Impact

Hydro jetting and snaking provide options for unclogging drains, they impact the environment differently. Hydro jetting uses a stream of water at high pressure, up to 4,000 psi, to flush out pipes. Its method is notable because it doesn’t require chemical cleaners, a boon to soil and water. Chemical cleaners can seep into groundwater or rivers and harm fish, insects, and plants. Hydro jetting reduces this threat and assists in sustaining safer water sources for humans and animals.

Hydro jetting is water-intensive. That doesn’t sound like a lot per job, but in areas where water is limited or people are in conservation mode, this can add up. A standard hydro jetting job can consume as many as several hundred liters, all based on the length and severity of the clogged pipe. In areas where water is scarce, this should be balanced against the need to eschew chemicals. Water use can be monitored and controlled, but that requires foresight and perhaps is not feasible in every location.

Another consideration is the age and state of your pipes. High pressure water can damage aging or fragile pipes. If pipes crack or break, they may have to be excavated and replaced. This action can disrupt earth, consume additional resources, and generate fresh refuse. Although hydro jetting sidesteps harsh digging in many cases, if damage does occur, it could negate some of the benefits.

When pipes are healthy, hydro jetting can blast through them with minimal hassle and mess. It saves time, reduces the need for big repairs, and minimizes the trash from old materials. Snaking, by comparison, employs a tool to disperse the clog and doesn’t depend on water or chemicals. It’s easy on water. It might not scour pipes as effectively. If the clog is thick or sticky, additional snaking may be necessary as time goes by.

That’s more visits, more time, and these small impacts add up. Hydro jetting, when it works well, typically keeps pipes a little cleaner longer. That translates into fewer run-out trips and lower machine usage. It turns out there are ways to make hydro jetting less wasteful. Prudent water use, recycling where possible, and treating wastewater before discharge all assist.

Some plumbers utilize water catching and filtering systems post jetting. This keeps toxic waste from the soil and adjacent streams and rivers. In regions with tight regulations, these measures are not only nice, they are required.

Conclusion

Both hydro jetting and snaking clear drains. Hydro jetting employs powerful bursts of water to blast apart persistent blockages and scrub pipe walls. Snaking is great for small obstructions and aging pipes. Plumbers tend to choose hydro jetting because it’s fast and clean. Snaking still works for soft gunk or fragile pipes. New tools make both methods clean and eco-friendly. In bustling households or workplaces, fast and secure drain maintenance keeps the wheels turning. For the optimal choice, consult a plumber who understands your pipes. Still not sure which method fits your needs? Contact your local plumber and discuss your options. Clear pipes begin with clear advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hydro jetting and snaking a drain?

Hydro jetting is the use of high-pressure water to scour pipes clean. Snaking utilizes a flexible metal cable with a corkscrew attached to remove clog buildup. Hydro jetting is more thorough than snaking, which is typically employed for smaller or softer blockages.

Which method is safer for old pipes, hydro jetting or snaking?

Snaking is usually safer for aged or delicate pipes. Hydro jetting’s high-pressure water can harm compromised or corroded pipes if not managed carefully.

Is hydro jetting more effective than snaking for tough blockages?

Sure, hydro jetting is better for clearing stubborn blockages and ensuring pipes are scrubbed really clean. It can clear grease, scale, and debris that snaking may only partially address.

How often should I use hydro jetting for drain maintenance?

Several experts suggest hydro jetting once every one to two years as a preventative measure. Times vary based on usage and the state of your plumbing.

Does hydro jetting use a lot of water?

Hydro jetting does use more water than snaking, but it’s effective for deep cleaning. It normally uses a few hundred liters of water per session, depending on the blockage and pipe length.

Can I perform hydro jetting or snaking myself?

Snaking can be handled by homeowners for small clogs. Hydro jetting needs professional tools and training to prevent pipe damage and ensure safety.

Which method is more environmentally friendly?

Hydro jetting is more eco-friendly, utilizing only water without any aggressive chemicals. It is not without some water wrangling.