A cable snake punches a path through a clog and is the fastest fix for a simple blockage. Hydro jetting scours the whole pipe wall with high-pressure water, which removes grease, roots and scale and is better for lines that keep clogging.
Cable snaking
A motorized steel cable with a cutting head spins through the pipe and breaks up the clog. It is quick, works through most traps and cleanouts, and is the right first step for a single slow drain.
Hydro jetting
A jetter sends high-pressure water through a nozzle that scrubs the pipe wall as it moves. It removes the grease, soap scale and root fibers a cable leaves behind, so the pipe flows at full size again.
Which one you need
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| One slow sink, tub or toilet | Cable |
| Kitchen line full of grease | Jetting |
| Roots in the sewer or septic inlet | Jetting, with a camera |
| A line that clogs every few months | Jetting, with a camera |
| Broken or collapsed pipe | Neither. Repair the pipe |
What each costs
Cable drain cleaning starts from $448 for a toilet and from $776 for a main or branch line up to 100 feet. Jetting interior branch lines starts from $776, and residential sewer jetting with a video inspection starts from $1,398. Take $99 off either with our drain offer.
We film before we jet. If the camera shows a cracked or collapsed pipe, we recommend a repair instead.
Written by the Drainworks teamLicensed plumbing contractor PLM.0288824-P7 · septic installer #6174 · updated October 14, 2026
