When a drain blocks, there are two common ways to clear it: a drain snake or hydro jetting. They work very differently, and picking the right one saves you clearing the same drain twice.
What is drain snaking?
A drain snake, or auger, is a long flexible cable that is fed into the drain and turned to break through or hook out a blockage. It is quick, simple and effective for a single clog, such as a wad of wipes or a hairball near the surface. What it does not do is clean the pipe: it makes a hole through the blockage so water can pass, but the rest stays stuck to the pipe wall.
What is hydro jetting?
Hydro jetting uses high pressure water and a specialised nozzle to scour the whole inside of the pipe. Rather than punching through a blockage, it removes it entirely along with the grease, scale and debris coating the pipe, restoring the full diameter.
Hydro jetting vs drain snaking
| Capability | Hydro jetting | Drain snaking |
|---|---|---|
| Clears grease and scale from the pipe wall | Yes | Partial |
| Removes roots | Yes | Limited |
| Cleans the full pipe diameter | Yes | No |
| Quick fix for a single clog | Yes | Yes |
| Best for recurring blockages | Yes | No |
When to use each
Reach for a snake when you have a single, simple blockage near a fixture and you just need it clear. Choose hydro jetting when a drain keeps blocking, when the problem is grease or scale, when roots are involved, or when you want the pipe genuinely clean rather than just passable.
Which lasts longer?
Because jetting removes the cause rather than punching through it, the result lasts much longer. A snaked drain that was blocked by grease will often block again within weeks, as the remaining grease keeps catching debris. A jetted drain starts clean, so it stays clear far longer. That is why, for recurring problems, jetting is usually the cheaper option over time.
- A snake makes a hole through a blockage; jetting removes it and cleans the whole pipe.
- Snaking suits a single, simple clog. Jetting suits grease, scale, roots and recurring blockages.
- Jetting lasts far longer, so it is often cheaper over time for repeat problems.
- The two are frequently used together on the same job.
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Frequently asked questions
Is hydro jetting worth the extra over snaking?
For a one off simple clog, snaking may be enough. For grease, scale, roots or a drain that keeps blocking, jetting is worth it because it removes the cause and lasts far longer, saving repeat call outs.
Can you snake and jet the same drain?
Yes. It is common to use a snake to open an initial path and then jet the line to clean it fully. A good operator picks the right combination for the blockage.