Hydro-Jetting vs Snaking — What's the Difference?

A snake bores a hole through a clog; a jet scours the pipe wall clean. Different jobs, different results.

Common causes

• One-off clog vs recurring buildup
• Grease-heavy kitchen line
• Root intrusion on a sewer lateral
• Older cast-iron with heavy scale

Step-by-step

1. 01Snake for a fresh, single clog in a branch line
2. 02Jet when a drain re-clogs within weeks of snaking
3. 03Jet grease-heavy lines annually as maintenance
4. 04Camera-inspect before jetting to rule out broken pipe

When to call Northbridge

• Same drain clogs every 1–2 months
• Grease-heavy restaurant kitchen line
• Sewer lateral needs a full clean before scoping
• Cast-iron main showing scale on camera