Many households will need to get their drains cleaned by a Sydney plumber at some point in time. Foreign debris that has been flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink can accumulate in drain pipes, causing drain blockages. When it comes to unclogging stubborn blocked drains and sewer pipes there are two main tools used by plumbers - jet blasters and drain snakes. Which tool is best, depends on the drain blockage that’s being treated. This article looks at these two different drain cleaning methods and the pros and cons of each.
What is a drain snake or electric eel?
Drain snakes (also known as plumbing snakes / plumbing augers / electric eel) are comprised of a long metal tube encasing an inner cable with blades or corkscrew auger attached to one end, and a hand crank at the other. The cable end of the drain snake is inserted into the drain as the crank is turned, extending the cable down the drain towards the clog. Once the clog is reached, the crank must be turned with more force in order to break through the clog. The clog often gets twisted around the metal coil so it can be pulled out of the pipe. Drain snakes come in two shapes. They either have a straight tube that is used on sink drains or a J-shaped bend which is suited for clearing clogged toilets.
Pros of drain snakes
Drain snakes are great for clearing minor clogs in the toilet or sink. If you’ve tried plunging a blocked drain without success, drain snakes are normally the ‘next step up’.
Plumbing snakes are readily available to hire and buy. This means homeowners can hire them and attempt to clear minor clogs themselves, without having to call a local plumber.
Most plumbers own a drain snake. This technology has been around for many years and is a reliable tool for unclogging minor blocked drains.
Cons of drain snakes
While drain snakes are great for minor clogs, they are not very effective at remedying major drainage issues in the outside sewer or stormwater line.
When an inexperienced homeowner attempts DIY clogged drain repairs using a plumbing snake that they have hired, there is potential for things to go wrong. The snake can get stuck down the pipes causing damage.
Plumbing snakes use friction to remove clogs from drains. When the metal cable vibrates it can damage the pipes - particularly older clay pipes which are already fragile.
Drain snakes or electric eels can remove the clog but they don’t thoroughly clean the entire pipe. The hole they can make through the clog is only as big as the auger or blade attached to its tip. This means some of the sediment or clog may not be effectively removed.
What is a jet blaster?
Jet blasters are newer technology and are considered by most plumbers as a more sophisticated than drain snakes. They consist of a high-pressure hose with a nozzle attachment, connected to a machine that pressurises the water. The high-pressure streams of water generated are powerful enough to cut through all kinds of blocked drains including grease, mineral build-up, wet-wipes, sanitary items and debris. A variety of nozzles (or cutting heads) can be attached to the hose, depending on the type of clog being cleared.
Pros of using a jet blaster to clean drains
Jet blasting not only removes the clog, it also pressure cleans the inside of drain pipes removing virtually all traced of sediment. This high-pressure drain cleaning methods therefore extends the life of your plumbing pipes.
Plumbers use a jet blaster to clear major clogged drains, including the larger drains outside of the home which are located underground.
Jet blasting is an environmentally-friendly method of cleaning clogged drains because it uses water only. No chemicals are necessary to rid the drains and sewer pipes of blocking debris.
Jet blaster are very quick and effective. In fact, jet blasters have an average cleaning time of 30-45 minutes (depending on the pipe and type of clog being removed). Because it’s quick, this means less labour for the plumber and cheaper prices for the customer.
Cons of using a jet blasters for drain cleaning
Jet blasters are expensive to buy and maintain, which means not all plumbers purchase them. Many plumbers outsource their jet blasting work to specialist drain plumbers and then add a markup on this service that is passed onto the consumer. Homeowners should shop around when looking for a plumber and ask them if they own a jet blaster.
So which method of drain cleaning is better?
It really depends on the kind of blocked drain being cleared and where the clog is located. However, it is generally accepted within the plumbing profession that jet blasters provide a superior clean, are safer for pipes, faster acting and more environmentally friendly.
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