Which One is More Efficient: Hydro-Jetting or Drain Snaking

Both hydro-jetting and drain snaking have the same goal in mind when it comes to clearing your drains. However, they operate on different scales. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the differences between the two and help to determine which one will be more efficient for you.

Function

Hydro-jetting and drain snaking are both designed to unclog your drains, but they operate very differently. A drain snake, sometimes called a plumbing auger, uses a long metal tube encasing a bladed cable or corkscrew with a crank in the back. The corkscrew end is placed into the drain, and the crank is turned to extend the cable until it hits the clog. Once the clog is located, the crank can be turned with force to either clear the blockage or allow the cable to ensnare the clog and extract it from the drain.

Hydro-jetting consists of using a pressurized hose with specialized nozzles, designed to free your drain from any obstruction. Due to the extremely high pressure of the water, hydro-jetting is able to force everything from hair and mineral build-up to grease, oil, and even tree roots out of your plumbing system.

Purpose

A drain snake is a reliable tool that can be used by both homeowners and plumbers alike and is perfect for unclogging older pipes that would be too weak to withstand the pressure from a hydro jet. They are usually meant for slow-flowing drains and to remove occasional small clogs due to things like food, hair, or toilet paper.

Hydro-jetting is only meant to be performed by professional plumbers and is not safe for homeowners. The purpose of this method is to clear major blockages that can’t be cleared by a drain snake. Hydro-jetting has both residential and commercial applications and does not require any chemicals to clear blockages, simply water.

Efficiency

Drain snakes are only efficient for small blockages in sinks, toilets, and showers. Their capability to remove clogs is limited by the size of the tip being used, making it a temporary solution to your problem.

Hydro-jetting is extremely efficient in clearing out anything in any of your pipes, but maybe a little too efficient. Before the job is conducted, a plumber should perform a camera inspection of the pipe in question to check for structural integrity. If unchecked, there is a possibility that the force of the water can break your pipe.

All in all, both hydro-jetting and drain snaking are efficient in different ways and for different needs. If your drains are clogged, and you aren’t sure which option is right for you, contact us through our website or give us a call at (903) 290-0851.