Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking: Which One Works Best?

When it comes to cleaning your drains, there are numerous options available to homeowners. Dirty and clogged drains are a relatively common problem, especially when you consider how much debris such as hair, food, and grease make it into the drain over the years. Even if you have hair and food screens installed, you may still experience clogs in your toilet or drain.

The two recommended services to deal with this problem are hydro jetting and snaking. Both have numerous benefits and advantages, but there are many reasons why a homeowner would choose one over the other. Here’s a look at which type of drain cleaning service is best:

How Does Snaking Work?

Snaking involves feeding a cable into the drain or toilet with an auger-like attachment fitted to the end. The blades on this attachment are sharp and designed to chew through debris. A crank at the technician’s end of the cable often controls the auger.

When the technician feels resistance coming from the wire, it means the clog has been located. The technician will then start to turn the drill and allow the blades to digest the clog. When it’s in smaller pieces, the clog will either get washed out through the system or get pulled out of the drain by the cable. Regardless, snaking is a safe and efficient way to take care of essential clogs in your home.

What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is the preferred method for cleaning stubborn and hard to handle clogs from the drain. This service is best used in instances where snaking or plunging doesn’t work. Hydro jetting involves using a high-pressure jet of water to blast through clogs quickly. It’s safe, fast and completely effective at permanently removing clogs.

The high-pressure water jet also helps smooth out any rough spots on the inside of the pipe, which prevents future clogs from forming and is known to improve the overall health of your plumbing system.

Benefits of Snaking

Snaking is best used for general drain cleaning problems. This service is ideal for getting rid of simple clogs that have not yet hardened to the side of the pipe. Snaking is always preferred over using chemical drain cleaners from the hardware store since these types of cleaners have harsh active ingredients that will corrode and damage your pipes.

What About DIY Hydro Jetting?

We strongly recommend that homeowners do not try hydro jetting on their own. First of all, it requires specialized equipment that is often only available from professionals, and secondly, it doesn’t take long to realize that you’ve made a mistake when trying to hydro jet on your own.

Since hydro jetting involves using a high-pressure jet of water, it could potentially damage any pipes that are already damaged or weak. This is why it’s always important to trust a professional with this service. A trained eye will inspect the pipes before hydro jetting to make sure the pipes can handle it.

So there you have it, the difference between hydro jetting and snaking. When it comes to your plumbing, it’s not a matter of choosing one service over the other; it’s more about choosing the right service for your unique problem.

To speak with a professional about cleaning your drains, call Falcon Plumbing in Miami, FL today at 305-251-7333.