When it comes to pipes, the drains are bound to get clogged. Keeping your plumbing clog-free is a vital skill when it comes to owning a home. After all, when the plumbing system isn’t working, it can disrupt the entire household. But let’s face it—even the most responsible homeowners will eventually face a clogged drain. In addition to the usual hair, grease, food, and normal sludge getting stuck in the drains, there is also the wear and tear of using chemical drain cleaners to unclog the drains. These chemicals slowly corrode your pipes, weakening the infrastructure of your plumbing, which could lead to more serious problems down the line.
When you do face an inevitable plumbing clog that can’t be cleared with a plunger, there are two main drain cleaning methods of removing it: using a plumbing snake and hydro-jetting. Bill Howe’s certified technicians will be happy to go over the differences between hydro jetting vs. snaking.
This article will cover hydro jetting and snaking a drainand when the appropriate time is to use them. Both methods have their own advantages and should be performed by a plumbing professional. Call your friendly technicians at Bill Howe Plumbing today to schedule a drain inspection.
Plumbing Snake
Snaking a drain is a great way to remove an entire clog. So, what is a plumbing snake? A plumbing snake is also known as a plumbing auger, and it takes a different approach to unclog a drain than hydro jetting. A plumbing snake has a long metal tube encasing a cable with blades or a corkscrew attached to the end and a crank attached to the other. The terminal end (the side with the blades) is inserted in the drain. The cable is extended until it reaches the obstruction in the pipe.
To clear the drain,the technician will turn the crank to twist the blades into the obstruction and push with force. This action will either punch a hole through the clog or the clog will become twisted around the snake’s terminal end so that when it is pulled out the clog is removed from the drain. Snaking a drain with a straight auger should be used for bathroom and kitchen sink drains while an auger with a J-bend is used for toilet bowls.
Plumbing snakes are typically powered by a hand crank but there is a larger, motorized version. Regardless of where the clog is cleared from, water should be flushed down the drain to ensure that the clog has been fully eradicated. This is typically used by an experienced plumbing professional, but it can be rented if you are interested in a DIY project.
Some of the benefits of snaking a drain include:
- Can safely remove various clogs
- Chemical-free way of unclogging a drain
- Effective on stubborn clogs
- Different plumbing auger options for different types of drains
Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting is a more sophisticated tool for cleaning a drain. A hose is connected to a machine that creates a pressurized water stream powerful enough to clean the drain. The hose is fed into the drain while the water jet stream obliterates all gunk, grime and debris from within the pipe. The water pressure is even strong enough to cut through tree roots. Hydro jet drain cleaning should only be performed by a professional. Using a combination of their expertise and a camera inspection, the plumbing technician can determine if hydro-jetting is the correct course of action for your pipes.
The water pressure used by hydro jetting is incredibly powerful and if used at the wrong setting it can damage the structural integrity of the pipe. Because of this, jetting equipment is typically only available to plumbing contractors or professionals. Hydro jetting drain cleaning is also a great option for main line sewer cleaning to eradicate any toilet paper, sludge, and debris that may have clogged up your main sewer line.
Here are a few of the benefits of hydro jetting:
- Highly effective at clearing clogs quickly
- Can cover the entire cross-section of a pipe with minimal residue left behind
- Eco-friendly (uses high water pressure; no harsh chemicals required)
- Since no chemicals are used, it’s safer for families, customers, and neighbors.
When to use hydro jetting:
- To scour pipe walls clean
- To flush out a filthy plumbing system
- To pound out oil and grease
- To clear out a stubborn accumulation of debris and sludge
- To break up tree roots
- To remove calcified scale
- To wash out sand and silt in the piping system
How to Choose the Right Method for Your Needs
Clogged drains are never convenient, fortunately there are solutions. Of course, after reading through this, you may be wondering if you should go the hydrojet vs. snake route. Both types work, but choosing the right method for your property depends on your needs.
The plumbing snake has been the tried-and-true method of plumbers for years. It is an easier procedure that is possible to perform on your own. It is much gentler on your pipes and is especially suited for weakened or older drains. The drawback of it is that its clog removal capabilities are limited. For instance, while snaking can remove clogs by breaking up the center of the clog, it may leave buildup on the pipe walls. When you’re snaking a drain, it’s not as effective at removing residue from the sides.
Unlike a plumbing auger, hydro jetting uses high-pressurized water to remove clogs. The advantage of hydro jetting vs. snaking is that the rush of water covers the entire section of the clogged pipe.
To be fair, snaking a drain works well on clogs that aren’t too deep into the pipes. Unfortunately, they aren’t a 100% cure. Hydro jetting goes the extra mile by completely removing any fat, debris, and scum in the pipes. You can think of hydro jetting as giving your pipes a deep clean!
But there are drawbacks to hydro jetting. Most notably, the force of water can sometimes damage old and frail pipes. If the pipes in your home or business are cracked, snaking a drain is much gentler, so it’s a better method to unclog drains. Hydro jetting is not a DIY job, whereas snaking a drain yourself is easy if you have the time.
Hydro jetting vs. plumbing snake, which is better for your property? When dealing with a clog it is best to consult a professional to determine the correct course of action. A certified technician at Bill Howe Plumbing can help determine the best plumbing services for your clogged drain issue.
Did you experiencewater damagein your home or business? Have you noticed that thewater pressurein your home is too high?Bill Howe Plumbing is the number one San Diego plumbing company you can trust with all your jetting services, drain, and sewer concerns!
Call us today and we’ll get started on the best way to help with your residential or commercial plumbing drain cleaning needs at 1-800-BILL-HOWE!
Book Now!
