Drain snaking clears a blockage; hydro jetting cleans the line. For recurring clogs, grease-coated kitchen lines, or root-infested sewer mains, hydro jetting is the right tool — it removes buildup from the pipe walls rather than just punching a hole through the obstruction.
Both tools have their place. Knowing which one a situation calls for saves money and prevents callbacks.
What Drain Snaking Does
A drain snake (cable machine) is a rotating cable with a cutting head that punches through or pulls out a blockage. It's fast, effective for simple clogs, and appropriate when a line is blocked but otherwise clean. A snake doesn't remove grease, soap scum, or mineral scale from pipe walls — it punches through the obstruction and leaves the buildup behind.
What Hydro Jetting Does
Hydro jetting uses water at 2,000–4,000 PSI directed through a nozzle to scour pipe walls clean — grease, scale, roots (small ones), and all debris. The result is a pipe closer to original diameter than a snake can achieve. It's the right tool for kitchen drains that clog repeatedly, sewer mains with root or grease buildup, and any situation where you want to reset the line rather than just open it.
Camera First, Always
Hydro jetting at high pressure can damage fragile pipe — clay tile, corroded cast iron, or a line with a belly. A camera inspection before hydro jetting confirms the pipe is in condition to handle it. At Staggs Plumbing, we don't hydro jet without knowing what we're jetting into. Call 682-284-0966.
