Snake or Hydrojet? What’s the Difference and When Do You Need It

Everyone has likely experienced the difference between using a high-pressure hose to wash a car and using a brush or a soap sponge. The latter is a manual process that requires attention to detail and a better-than-average level of skill. The former is a little more forgiving, and in some cases, a little more effective depending on the body type of the car and how much cleaning really needs to be done

Plumbers in Rancho Cucamonga will tell you when it comes to a clogged sewer or plumbing system, choosing between a snake and a hydro jet is very similar to the choice that car washer faces.

The snake is a manual device that physically breaks up blockages and debris so they can be flushed away or retrieved by the snake and pulled out of the line.

The hydro jet, on the other hand, works more like the hose. It directs a high-pressure stream of water into the pipe which breaks up the blockage and also scours the walls of the pipe clean.

Physical Contact

The key advantage of a snake is the sensation of making contact with the blockage. An experienced plumber can often tell based on how the device reacts what the nature of the blockage is. This can be important if there is a possibility that whatever is interfering with the flow can’t be removed by conventional means.

For example, some sewer lines and other kinds of pipes can be impacted by tree roots underground. In these cases, it won’t be possible to clear the line. It is more likely it will have to be replaced. The kind of resistance the snake encounters will tell the plumber what to expect.

Pressure Clean

Hydrojetting has a completely different effect on pipes. A snake, for example, doesn’t clean a line. It simply removes the most prominent blockage.

A hydro jet can do both. The high-pressure water stream can loosen and break up clogs and also clean the inside of the line to make future clogs less likely. In the hands of the right kind of professional, this kind of equipment can be used to great effect to not only repair lines, but to maintain them and avoid future clogs and damage.

Types of Clogs

Ultimately the choice between snake or hydrojetting boils down to the proximate cause of the problem.

Is the line blocked by something small and relatively easy to remove? Then a snake might be the appropriate option.

Is the blockage something more formidable like a tree root or a mechanical flaw in the line itself? Then a snake may not be able to overcome the issue.

Does the line need cleaning or maintenance to prevent a problem in the future? In that case, a hydro jet treatment might be most appropriate.

Regardless of the cause, a trained plumber will know which tool is most effective and which is most likely to produce the best results. In some instances, a combination of snake and hydro jet might be appropriate. As always, having a trained and reliable plumber involved as early as possible is the best path to success.