Hydro-Jetting vs Snaking: Which Drain Cleaning Method Works Best in Oakville?

When your drains are backed up, two common solutions come to mind: snaking and hydro-jetting. But which method is right for your home or commercial building in Oakville?

At 17 Plumbing & Construction Design Ltd, we’ve handled hundreds of clogged drains across Oakville — from condo bathrooms to commercial kitchens. Here’s our breakdown of both methods and how to know when to use them.

🔧 What Is Drain Snaking?

Snaking uses a long, flexible metal cable with a coil at the end to manually break apart clogs in your pipes. It’s effective for simple blockages like hair, food waste, and minor buildup.

Pros:

  • Quick and cost-effective
  • Great for smaller drains (bathroom sinks, tubs, kitchen drains)
  • No need for water connection

Cons:

  • Doesn’t fully clean the pipe walls
  • May not work on hardened grease, tree roots, or compacted debris
  • Can miss partial clogs deeper in the line


💦 What Is Hydro-Jetting?

Hydro-jetting blasts high-pressure water (up to 4,000 PSI) through your pipes using a specialized nozzle. It scrubs the inner walls of the drain and pushes out even the toughest clogs.

Pros:

  • Removes grease, sludge, roots, and hard buildup
  • Cleans the pipe walls thoroughly
  • Ideal for commercial kitchens and older homes with buildup

Cons:

  • Requires access to a water source and proper drainage
  • Not suitable for fragile or damaged pipes
  • Slightly more expensive than snaking


🏡 Which One Works Best in Oakville?

It depends on the type and location of the clog:

Scenario Recommended Method
Hair clog in bathtub Snaking
Grease and sludge in kitchen drain Hydro-jetting
Commercial kitchen floor drain Hydro-jetting
Slow laundry drain in a condo Snaking
Recurring main drain backup Hydro-jetting (with camera inspection first)

✅ Real Example from Oakville

Last week, we responded to a commercial kitchen in Oakville with water backing up from the floor drains. Snaking cleared the line temporarily — but within two days, the clog returned.

We returned with our hydro-jetting system, blasted out compacted grease and debris, and the drain has been flowing perfectly ever since.

🛠 Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re dealing with:

  • A one-time, shallow clog → Try snaking
  • Recurring or greasy clogs → Hydro-jetting is the smarter option
  • A business or high-traffic building → Hydro-jetting is more thorough and lasts longer

📞 Get Expert Drain Cleaning in Oakville

Whether you need a quick snaking or a full hydro-jet cleaning, our licensed Oakville plumbers are ready to help — fast.

📍 Serving residential and commercial properties in Oakville and the GTA
📞 Call us at
647-862-1317
👉
Contact 17 Plumbing | Oakville 24/7 Emergency Licensed Plumber

#DrainCleaningOakville #HydroJettingOakville #OakvillePlumber #EmergencyPlumbingOakville #MainDrainBackup


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