High Pressure Water Jetting vs. Cable Snaking: What’s the Best Way to Clear Your Drains?

When your drain backs up, the only thing you care about is getting it fixed—fast. But not all drain-clearing methods work the same. At Drainworks Plumbing & Septic, we mainly use two options: high pressure water jetting and conventional cable snaking. Both get the job done, but in different ways. Here’s the breakdown in plain English.

What Is Cable Drain Cleaning?

Cable cleaning—aka “snaking”—is the method most people are familiar with. A metal cable spins its way through your pipe and breaks apart whatever is clogging the line.

It’s great for clearing out:

• Hair clumps

• Soap scum

• Food gunk

• Small root growth

• General sludge

Why Snaking Works

• It’s quick

• It’s usually the cheapest option

• It knocks out most simple clogs

• Works well in older, twisty plumbing

Where It Falls Short

Snaking punches a hole through the clog, but it doesn’t scrub the pipe clean. Some buildup gets left behind, and that can lead to clogs coming back sooner than you’d like.

What Is High Pressure Water Jetting?

High pressure water jetting—also called hydro jetting—is basically power washing the inside of your pipes. A special nozzle blasts water at super high pressure to flush out everything.

It’s perfect for clearing:

• Thick grease

• Heavy sludge

• Mineral and scale buildup

• Tree roots

• Really stubborn clogs

Why Hydro Jetting Rocks

• Cleans the entire pipe, not just the blockage

• Gives longer-lasting results

• Great for homes with repeat drain problems

• Amazing for commercial kitchens or high-use drains

• Cuts through roots better than a cable

What to Keep in Mind

• Your pipes need to be in decent shape first

• It costs more upfront

• Requires specialized equipment and training

Side-by-Side: Jetting vs. Snaking

So… Which One Do You Need?

It really depends on what’s going on in your pipes.

Go With Snaking If:

• This is your first clog

• The blockage seems minor

• You want the quickest, most affordable fix

Choose Hydro Jetting If:

• You get clogs often

• There’s grease or heavy buildup

• Tree roots are causing problems

• You want the most thorough, long-term solution

Our Two Cents

At Drainworks, we usually start with snaking to get things moving again and see what we’re dealing with. If the clog keeps returning or we spot a lot of buildup, we recommend hydro jetting for a full, long-lasting clean.

Got a Stubborn Drain?

Whether it’s a one-time clog or something that keeps coming back, we’re here to help. Reach out to Drainworks Plumbing & Septic—we’ll figure out what’s going on and get your drains flowing like they should.