Snaking: the everyday workhorse
A drain snake (an auger) physically breaks through and pulls out a clog. It's what handles the vast majority of everyday blockages — a kitchen sink full of grease, a tub stopped up with hair, a toilet with something caught in the trap. It's fast, it's targeted, and it's usually the right first call.
Hydro jetting: clearing the whole pipe wall
Hydro jetting shoots high-pressure water through the line and strips the buildup off the pipe wall along the whole length — grease, soap scum, mineral scale, the lot. It's the right move when a drain keeps clogging back, when there's heavy buildup in a long main line, or after a bad grease clog so it doesn't return in a month.
- •Snake: clears a specific clog, fast, for everyday blockages
- •Hydro jet: strips buildup from the whole pipe wall, for recurring clogs
- •Jetting needs a cleanout access and a line that can hold pressure
How I decide
I snake first when it's a single fixture acting up. I jet when the same line has clogged more than once, when there's a long main with known buildup, or when a customer wants it done right so they're not calling me again in six weeks. Tell me what's happening and I'll tell you which your home needs — over the phone, before anyone shows up.
Have a plumbing issue right now?
Call and leave a voicemail — Bob calls back during business hours. For the fastest reply (usually within the hour), email him directly.