Two ways to open a line
A sewer cable, often called a snake or rooter, is a long steel cable spun by a motor. A cutting head on the end bores through the blockage and chops up roots. It is the most common first tool on a main line stoppage because it restores flow quickly from a cleanout.
A hydro jetter pushes water at high pressure through a hose with a nozzle that shoots jets backward and sometimes forward. The backward jets pull the hose up the line while scrubbing grease, scale, sludge and fine roots off the pipe walls. Jetting tends to leave the pipe cleaner, but it needs reasonable access and pipe that can take the pressure.
Side by side
Sewer cable
- Fast way to restore flow in a full line
- Cuts through root masses and paper
- Opens a path roughly the size of the cutter
- Leaves some buildup on the walls
- Can snag in broken or offset pipe
Hydro jetting
- Cleans the full pipe wall
- Well suited to grease and sludge
- Clears fine roots and scale
- Uses water, so it needs the line to drain
- Needs care in fragile or badly broken pipe
Which usually comes first
- IfThe line is full and sewage is in the houseThenA cable is often used first to get water moving.
- IfThe camera shows heavy grease or sludgeThenJetting is usually the better follow-up.
- IfThick roots fill a jointThenA root cutter on a cable, sometimes followed by jetting to clean up.
- IfThe camera shows a break or collapseThenAsk whether either method is safe before a repair, and what the risks are.
Ask before either method
- Which tool do you plan to use first, and why?
- Will the line be inspected with a camera afterward?
- Is the pipe in good enough shape for jetting?
- Where will you access the line?
- How is the price set, and what changes it?
What neither one fixes
Cleaning does not seal a joint, lift a sag or mend a crack. If the camera shows structural problems, a clean line is a temporary state. That is not a reason to skip cleaning, but it is a reason to know what you are buying: flow restored now, versus a line that will stay open.
Common questions
Is jetting always better than a cable?
Not always. Jetting cleans more thoroughly but is not the right first step in every line, especially fragile or broken pipe. The best choice depends on the camera findings.
Can jetting damage old pipe?
In pipe that is badly cracked or deteriorated, high pressure can make things worse. That is why many plumbers camera the line before jetting.
Why does the cleaning not last?
If roots or a belly caused the stoppage, they are still there after cleaning. The camera shows whether that is the case.
General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.