Drain cleaning: snaking vs. hydro-jetting
Cable snaking (rodding)
A rotating steel cable is fed through a cleanout or fixture to break up or retrieve a blockage. It's fast and inexpensive, and it's often the right first step for a single slow sink, tub, or toilet. It opens a path through the clog but may leave grease or root material on the pipe walls, so stubborn lines can clog again.
Hydro-jetting
A high-pressure water hose with a rear-facing nozzle scours the pipe walls, flushing out grease, scale, sludge, and fine roots. It's used for recurring main-line clogs and grease buildup in restaurant lines. It isn't suitable for every pipe: old, cracked, or badly deteriorated lines can be damaged, which is why a reputable company usually camera-inspects first.
Single fixture or main line?
- One fixture slow (one sink or tub): usually a local clog in that branch.
- Several fixtures slow, toilets gurgle, water backs up into the shower or floor drain when you flush: likely a main-line (building sewer) blockage. Stop using water and call a pro.
Questions to ask
- Is the price flat or hourly, and does it include main-line access via a cleanout?
- Will you camera the line afterwards and show me the video?
- If the clog returns within X days, is a follow-up visit included?
Chemical drain openers can damage older pipes and are hazardous to technicians who work on the line afterwards. If you've used one, tell the technician before they start.