Different Methods Used in Drain Cleaning

07/11/2016

Drain cleaning is best left to the professionals, for a whole bunch of reasons that we’re not going to cover here. However, you should still know a little about the different methods used. Nothing wrong with a bit more information about how to maintain your plumbing system. Let’s take a look at the two most popular drain cleaning methods in use today.

Drain Snaking

A drain snake is a long cord with an auger on the end of it. The cord is inserted into the drain until it makes contact with a clog, at which point the auger drills through it. Drain snaking is one of the oldest methods for drain cleaning, and remains quite popular due to its effectiveness. However, it does have some drawbacks. Mainly, it can only drill a space as wide as itself through drain clogs. This could leave waste on the drain walls after being cleaned, making it easier for clogs to form in the future.

Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting is a more modern form of drain cleaning. A hose is inserted into the drain, with an omni-directional sprayer head attached to the end of it. A high pressure stream of water is used to blast all waste buildup off of the drain pipe walls. This is a much more thorough method for drain cleaning than drain snaking. However, it’s also much more powerful. Some pipes, especially older ones, are not strong enough to withstand the pressure generated by hydro jetting. For the most part, though, this is the preferred method of drain cleaning for plumbing companies. Of course, which drain cleaning method is used will depend entirely on your plumber.

Rooter Man offers comprehensive drain cleaning services throughout Schenectady, NY. If you need drain cleaning services of any kind, call today to schedule an appointment with one of our plumbers.