Do you have a sewer line that is clogged and causing you problems? If so, you're likely wondering what the best method is for clearing the clog. Rather than put harsh chemicals down the drain that can damage your pipes, you'll want to use sewer snaking or hydro jetting. Here is what you need to know about these two drain cleaning methods.

Sewer Snaking

A sewer snake works by fishing a blade into your sewer drain that is attached to a rotating cable. The goal is to use the blade to cut through the clog that is deep within the pipe, which could be grease, food waste, or tree roots. 

It is possible to rent a sewer snake from your local home improvement store, but you may want to hire a plumber to handle this job for you. If you use a plumber, you'll likely use a sewer camera as well to see in the pipe to try to get a handle on what kind of clog is down there. They'll then slowly feed the sewer snake into the pipe until they reach the clog, using back-and-forth motions to break up the clogs and loosen it. While this can be effective at clearing the clog, it is not going to scrape the pipe clean. Most of the time, it will just create a hole in the clog so waste can flow through once again.

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting is a different technique, which uses a powerful stream of water to break up a clog. It is done by feeding a water line into the pipe that creates a powerful jet of water. Hydro jetting is best performed by a plumber since it is a bit more complicated to use compared to a sewer snake.

What is nice about hydro jetting is that it will actually clean out the pipe fairly well thanks to the powerful jet of water. It not only breaks up the clog but will get rid of the debris that is normally stuck to the inside walls of the pipe. The powerful stream of water also helps push the debris outward toward the sewer, rather than spread out the debris in the pipe where it can cause a clog again. Many homeowners find that hydro jetting is more effective at clearing clogs and keeping the sewer lines clear.

Reach out to a plumber in your area if you want to use sewer snaking or hydro jetting to clear a clog.