Drain Snaking
Fast, effective clearing for clogged or slow-draining lines using a drain snake.
Drain snaking is the most common way to clear a clog that's beyond what a plunger can handle — a flexible cable is fed directly into the line to break through or hook out whatever's blocking it. It's fast, effective for most single-point clogs, and less invasive than digging up a line.
Snaking works well for clogs caused by hair, soap buildup, food debris, or foreign objects lodged at a specific point in the pipe. For a line with widespread buildup along its whole length, or recurring grease buildup, hydro jetting is usually the more thorough option since it clears the entire diameter of the pipe rather than punching through at one spot.
We use different snake sizes and attachments depending on the line — a bathroom sink and a main sewer line need very different equipment, even though the basic method is the same.
If a drain keeps clogging in the same spot after snaking, that's usually a sign of something structural — a low spot in the pipe, a partial collapse, or root intrusion — worth investigating with a camera inspection rather than just snaking it again each time.
Frequently asked questions
- Is drain snaking safe for older pipes?
- Generally yes when done carefully — but older, more fragile pipe (some clay or cast iron lines) needs a more careful approach than modern PVC. We adjust technique and equipment based on what we're working with.
- How is snaking different from hydro jetting?
- Snaking clears a clog at a specific point using a cable. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to clean the entire inside surface of the pipe. Snaking is usually faster and sufficient for a single clog; jetting is better for buildup along the whole line.
- Why does my drain keep clogging in the same spot?
- That often points to something beyond a simple clog — a low spot in the pipe that collects debris, a partial obstruction like root intrusion, or a pipe that's starting to fail. A camera inspection can identify what's actually going on.
- Can you snake a main sewer line, not just a sink?
- Yes — main line snaking uses larger, more heavy-duty equipment than a sink or tub drain, but the principle is the same.
Drain Snaking — serving Saskatoon and area
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