When a kitchen sink gurgles, a shower backs up, or sewage starts to pool in the basement, you have a clogged drain emergency.
For residents of Toronto, choosing the right professional drain cleaning method is crucial not just for a quick fix, but for the long-term health of your plumbing system. The primary debate boils down to using a mechanical plumber’s snake (auger) or high-pressure water hydro jetting to clear a clogged drain. This detailed guide explores both methods to help you make an informed decision for your home’s blocked pipes.
What is a Plumber’s Snake (Auger) and When is it Used?
A plumber’s snake, also known as a drain auger, is a flexible, metal cable that is fed into a pipe to manually clear an obstruction. The end of the cable often features a corkscrew tip or a small blade designed to break up soft clogs or latch onto debris (like hair or objects) so it can be pulled out or pushed through.
The Mechanism
A professional-grade electric auger—or rooter service machine—uses motor power to spin the cable as it advances deep into the pipe, giving it the mechanical force to chew through tougher blockages.
Best Use Cases
The plumber’s snake is the ideal choice for simple, localized, or “soft” clogs. This includes removing hair, soap scum, and minor personal care product residue from bathroom sinks and tubs, clearing heavy toilet paper or small objects from toilet blockages, and providing urgent relief when an active backup requires the fastest possible restoration of flow.
Snaking is a quick and effective short-term solution that is gentle on pipes, making it the safer default option for older Toronto homes with potentially fragile plumbing, such as clay or cast iron.
What is Hydro Jetting and How Does It Work?
Hydro jetting is a modern, non-invasive method of sewer cleaning that uses highly pressurized water—often ranging from 3,000 to 8,000 PSI—to thoroughly clean the interior surfaces of your pipes.
The Mechanism
A specialized hose and nozzle are inserted into the drain cleanout access point. The nozzle is designed to fire powerful streams of water both forward (to bore through the clog) and backward (to propel the nozzle and flush debris back out of the line). This process doesn’t just punch a hole in the blockage; it scours the entire circumference of the pipe wall.
Best Use Cases
Hydro jetting is recommended for severe, stubborn, or recurring clogs. This is the only way to effectively handle grease and sludge buildup (which hardens in kitchen drains), root intrusion (where high-pressure water can shear off and flush out tree roots), and for pre-lining preparation to ensure pipe walls are clean before trenchless repairs. It is also an essential part of routine preventative drain maintenance in high-use commercial settings.
Head-to-Head Comparison: Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking
Effectiveness on Different Types of Clogs
For simple clogs like hair and soap scum, the plumber’s snake is highly effective as it provides quick, localized removal. However, for serious buildup, Hydro Jetting offers superior results.
- When dealing with grease and sludge, snaking is poor because it only punches a small hole and leaves most of the residue behind, whereas jetting scours the walls completely clean.
- For tree roots, snaking is effective as it cuts them, but it leaves root fuzz that quickly regrows. Jetting is best because it slices and thoroughly flushes all root material from the pipe.
- For hard deposits such as mineral scale or heavy sand/silt, the snake is limited in its effectiveness. Hydro jetting with rotary nozzles is superior as it breaks up and flushes all heavy sediment.
For a thorough, full-diameter clean that restores the pipe to near-original condition, Hydro Jetting is unmatched. You can read more in detail about its benefits here.
Cost Comparison in the Toronto Area
Cost is a major factor in the decision to hydro jet or snake a clogged drain in Toronto.
- Plumber’s Snake Cost: This is typically the less expensive option upfront, ranging from $275 to $550 for a standard residential drain clearing service, depending on the clog’s location and severity.
- Hydro Jetting Cost: The initial investment is higher, typically ranging from $480 to $1,000+ for residential lateral line jetting.
While snaking is cheaper upfront, if a clog recurs quickly due to unremoved grease, the repeated cost of service can easily surpass the initial cost of hydro jetting. The long-term savings often favour the more effective cleaning method.
Impact on Your Pipes (Safety and Longevity)
The plumber’s snake is generally safer for older, brittle, or corroded pipes in Toronto because its mechanical action is localized and less forceful. However, there is a small risk that excessive force could snag on an existing crack and worsen pipe damage.
Hydro Jetting is extremely safe for modern, well-maintained pipes like PVC. The risk is primarily to older infrastructure. If a pipe is already cracked, severely corroded (common in older Toronto cast iron), or has compromised joints, the immense pressure of the water can exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to a leak or break.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Solution
The key difference between the two methods lies in their scope:
- Snaking is a Short-Term Fix: It aims only to restore flow by creating a path through the blockage. It doesn’t clean the pipe walls, leaving the sticky residue (grease, scale) that causes the next clog to form almost immediately.
- Hydro Jetting is a Long-Term Solution: It provides true sewer cleaning by completely cleaning the entire interior surface, removing the primary causes of recurrence. This method significantly extends the time needed between drain cleaning Toronto appointments, making it a powerful form of preventative drain maintenance.
Why a Camera Inspection is Crucial Before Choosing
In the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), many homes have older clay or cast iron sewer lines that are prone to tree root intrusion and age-related deterioration. Because of the potential risks associated with high pressure on weakened pipes, a camera inspection is highly recommended—and often mandatory—before performing hydro jetting.
- Diagnosis: The camera confirms the exact nature of the blockage (grease, roots, silt, or a foreign object) and the pipe’s material.
- Safety Check: A plumber can identify severe cracks, separations, or collapsed sections that would make hydro jetting unsafe and potentially lead to costly flooding or sewer repairs.
- Accuracy: It ensures the plumber uses the correct nozzle and pressure setting for the specific issue, maximizing effectiveness and minimizing risk.
Making the Right Choice for Your Toronto Home
The debate of hydro jetting vs snaking a clogged drain is settled not by which is better, but which is right for your specific plumbing scenario.
- For a slow-draining sink that’s a first-time issue, the plumber’s snake is recommended for its quick, affordable, and minimally invasive nature.
- For a recurring main line clog, Hydro Jetting (with a Camera Inspection) is the better choice. It guarantees the removal of heavy buildup and root hairs that snaking leaves behind, providing true, long-lasting sewer cleaning.
- In an active sewage backup emergency, snaking is often used first to punch a hole and restore emergency flow quickly, followed by jetting later for the complete, long-term clean.
- For confirmed root intrusion, Hydro Jetting is the only way to thoroughly clear the root systems and significantly delay their recurrence.
Contact D.Jason Plumbing
Ultimately, a reliable plumber in Toronto will use their expertise, backed by a camera inspection, to recommend the safest, most effective solution for your blocked pipes, ensuring your home has clear drains and reliable preventive maintenance. For any questions or to schedule a consultation, contact D. Jason Plumbing today.
Source: https://www.homestars.com/plumbing/price-guides/plumbing-cost