Is hydro Jetting Better Than Snaking?
When it comes to clearing stubborn clogs from your drains or pipes, plumbing professionals often consider either hydro-jetting or snaking as viable solutions. Both methods are reliable, but is one better than the other? Let’s take a look at each one so you can choose the best option for your plumbing woes.
What Is Hydro-Jetting?
Hydro-jetting is a high-pressure cleaning method for removing blockages and build-up within pipes. The process involves propelling water through plumbing pipes at pressures between 3,000 and 8,000 PSI.
This is usually sufficient to clear clogs caused by things such as grease, sediment, and tree roots. It’s also great for cleaning the inner surfaces of pipes, which removes bacterial growth and mineral deposits. Since hydro-jetting fully clears out debris, it reduces the likelihood that more clogs could develop in the future.
Hydro-jetting is versatile enough to be used in residential and commercial plumbing. It’s powerful and thorough enough to remove sludge and tree roots from sewer lines and greasy buildup from restaurant grease lines. It’s also great for preventative maintenance since it can remove build-up on the inside walls of pipes before it can create a blockage, and it could be better for your family’s health since it also removes most of the bacteria from your pipes without relying on caustic chemicals.
Unfortunately, hydro-jetting does have some downsides. First of all, it’s not a great option if you have older and more fragile pipes. The high-pressure spray is sometimes powerful enough to damage aging plumbing, which can cause leaks and other issues that are arguably worse than those you’re trying to solve.
It’s also often more expensive than drain snaking due to the equipment and operation costs. Then again, hydro-jetting does offer a longer-lasting solution to your plumbing problems, which could save you money in the long run.
What Is Snaking?
Snaking involves using a long, flexible auger or snake that breaks up and dislodges clogs in plumbing. During snaking, the auger’s coiled wire is inserted into a drain and through the obstructed pipe. The operator of the auger turns a handle to rotate the wire as it moves through the pipe.
The wire either breaks apart or snags the obstruction, either removing it altogether or breaking it up enough to allow water to pass through the pipe. It’s a simple yet effective process that usually provides a quick fix when you have a clogged drain, and it’s far more affordable than hydro-jetting and other plumbing solutions. The only major downside is that it’s sometimes only a quick fix. It may remove a clog or break it up enough to allow water to move through your pipes, but it doesn’t always get everything.
There could still be some buildup on the inside walls of the pipe or even parts of the clog that it doesn’t remove. If that’s the case, you could develop another clog later on, especially if you’re not careful about what goes down your drains. Still, if you have a clogged drain or pipe that needs to be cleared quickly, snaking is often your best option.
Snaking Vs. Hydro-Jetting: What Is the Better Option?
Both snaking and hydro-jetting are viable options for fixing a clogged pipe. As for which is the best option, that comes down to how severe your problems are, the state of your plumbing, and how much you can afford to spend. Snaking is great if you have a relatively minor clog that isn’t recurring. It can be done quickly and is relatively inexpensive, and it’s effective in most situations.
On the other hand, if you have recurring clogs or a clog that is deep within your sewer line, hydro-jetting might be the best option as long as you have relatively new pipes made from PVC or metal. It will remove almost all of the debris on the inner walls of your pipes to prevent recurring clogs. It is more expensive and time-consuming, but it may be worth it if you’ve had ongoing plumbing issues in your home.
In any case, if you do have plumbing issues that you can’t solve yourself, we at Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Pompano Beach, FL will be happy to assist you. We can find the best option for fixing your plumbing problems and have everything working smoothly as soon as possible.
To learn more about our hydro-jetting or drain snaking services, contact Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Pluming in Pompano Beach today. Remember, if there’s any delay, it’s YOU we pay.
