Is your plumbing system giving you issues? More to the point, is it draining much slower than it should or possibly not at all?
In that case, hydro jetting and snaking are a couple of options that will help clear your pipes. But which drain fix is better? The answer to that depends on a number of factors, and we’ll dive into those.
What Is Snaking?
Snaking involves the use of a plumbing snake, also known as a drain snake or a drain auger, and this is something that you could utilize yourself to solve the problem if the situation isn’t too significant. Most of the time, it should be the second option when attempting to unclog a drain, after a plunger.
What exactly is a plumbing auger? It’s a tool with a flexible steel cable that can be inserted into pipes. Once it starts rotating, it’ll usually break up what’s clogging your pipes so that those smaller pieces can easily move on, or it may take hold of something so that it can be brought back and dispersed of more directly.
Note that there are both manual plumbing snakes and motorized ones. The former, which is the more affordable of the two options, will suffice if the issue is a minor one while a motorized drain snake provides much more power and will break through blockages that a manual drain auger may struggle with.
The main pros of using either type of drain snake include that it could potentially solve your draining issue in minutes and is something that you could use yourself. Conversely, in some circumstances, it’s not an effective solution, such as when the blockage is significant or is too deep into your pipes to reach with it. Also, snaking is not a process that will ever thoroughly clean your pipes.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting utilizes water to thoroughly clean pipes, leaning no debris behind. This is possible as that water is highly pressurized, usually being dispelled at a range of 3,000-4,000 PSI but sometimes as high as 8,000 PSI, ensuring that not only major blockages are removed but also all of the sediment, grease and hair that has accumulated and that has been steadily ruining the quality of your drainage system.
As a result, all types of blockages are cleared with ease, oftentimes even including tough tree roots. In addition, it essentially doesn’t matter how far into your drainage system your blockages are located as this high-pressured water should have no issues still reaching and dislodging it.
Although hydro flushing is often used for sewer lines and grease lines, it’s also an option for other types of drainage systems in both residential and commercial settings.
However, it does come with some cons, including its initial cost and that it’s not an option for those with older or otherwise weaker pipes – i.e. ones that cannot handle that amount of pressure. Additionally, this is absolutely not a DIY project as you’ll need to secure the services of a professional to have it done.
Some may also view the necessary pre-hydro jetting video inspection of the pipes as a con, but this non-invasive procedure must be done to see what types of blockages are going to be dealt with and to assess the drainage system’s condition.
What Method Is Right For You?
What’s the right method for your situation? It depends.
How severe is the clog? Those that are not that significant may be solved with a plumbing snake while more substantial issues could require hydro jetting to eradicate.
How old are your pipes? If they’ve been used for quite a while or are otherwise fragile, hydro flushing might not even be an option as this process could damage them. However, if they’re newer and, more to the point, durable, either method will likely be available to you. In general, pipes that are made from metal or PVC are sturdy enough to handle hydro jetting.
Are you experiencing frequent clogs? If yes, hydro jetting may be best as the main issue might be too significant to solve with a drain auger.
How much do you want to spend? The upfront costs are much lower for a drain snake, probably around $50 if you hire someone to remove a simple clog, less if you do it yourself.
However, hydro jetting, which will usually cost a few hundred dollars, is such a thorough solution that you’ll probably then have no issues for an extensive period of time, thus removing many future costs and likely saving you money in the long run.
What Do We Recommend?
If you’re experiencing drainage issues, particularly if it’s a new problem, it’s usually best to try to dislodge the object with a plunger and, if that fails, with a plumbing snake. You can also consult the services of a professional for the latter as they’ll usually have access to a more extensive drain auger and know how to most effectively utilize it.
Conversely, if you’re experiencing severe issues that a drain snake isn’t solving and your pipes can handle the pressure, we recommend that you contact professionals and have them use hydro jetting on your drainage system. Hydro flushing is also recommended to anyone who’d like to save money and hassles in the long run as it’ll result in drains being kept clear for an extensive amount of time, even years in some cases.
Regardless, we strongly recommend either of these methods over doing something that involves chemicals as that type of process will weaken your pipes, especially so if they’re older or made from plastic.
Would You Like Assistance?
If you’d like to discuss your situation with our punctual plumbers, reach out to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. We provide residents and business owners in Tampa, FL, and the surrounding areas with all types of drain cleaning services, including hydro jetting and snaking, and are looking forward to getting your pipes clear of debris.