The Honest Difference Between Hydro Jetting and Drain Snaking
When you call a plumber about a blocked drain, the method they use matters enormously. Two plumbers attending the same blocked drain may use very different approaches — and the result can vary from a temporary fix that lasts six months to a proper clear that lasts years.
What Is a Drain Snake?
A drain snake (also called an electric eel or auger) is a long, flexible cable that is fed into the drain pipe and rotated to mechanically break through the blockage. It physically punches a hole through the obstruction — but it does not clean the pipe walls or remove all the material causing the blockage.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting uses water under extremely high pressure — in our case, 5000 PSI — to flush through the drain pipe. The force is strong enough to cut through tree roots, blast away grease, and scour the pipe walls completely clean. It doesn't just punch through the blockage — it removes it entirely.
"A drain snake is like poking a hole in a clogged bathtub. Hydro jetting is like power washing the inside of the pipe from one end to the other."
Why Hydro Jetting Produces Better Long-Term Results
- Removes all blockage material rather than just displacing it
- Cleans pipe walls, eliminating the residue that causes re-blockage
- Cuts through tree roots rather than just bending around them
- Works on grease and fat build-up that snakes cannot remove
- The result can be verified with CCTV camera after jetting
When Might a Drain Snake Be Used?
Drain snakes are appropriate for simple, fresh blockages — a foreign object recently dropped into a drain, or a very superficial soft clog close to the access point. For anything recurring, involving tree roots, grease build-up or whole-house drainage issues, hydro jetting is the correct tool.
At Water Serpent Plumbing, we carry our 5000 PSI hydro jetter to every job because we want to fix the problem properly the first time. Call Jack on 0425 226 636.