Why Do Plumbers Still Use Drain Augers When Hydro Jetting Exists in Broomfield, CO?
If hydro jetting blasts drains clean with high-pressure water, why do plumbers keep showing up with a drain snake? Great question — and the answer could save you money or prevent a costly mistake.
This article explains why plumbers still use drain augers even when hydro jetting exists in Broomfield, CO — and helps you figure out which method your drain actually needs. We'll cover how each tool works, when each one makes sense, and when hydro jetting is clearly the better call. By the end, you'll know exactly what to ask your plumber.
Why Do Plumbers Still Use Drain Augers If Hydro Jetting Exists?
Drain augers — also called drain snakes — are still widely used because they work well on simple clogs caused by hair, grease buildup, or small blockages near the drain opening. They are faster, less expensive, and safe for older or fragile pipes. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the full pipe interior and is better for heavy buildup, root intrusion, or recurring clogs. Plumbers choose the right tool based on the clog type, pipe condition, and pipe age. Neither tool is always better — the job determines the method.
If your drain keeps clogging or a snake hasn't fixed the problem, find out if hydro jetting in Broomfield CO is the right next step
How a Drain Auger Works (And Why It's Still Useful)
A drain auger — sometimes called a drain snake — is a long, flexible metal coil. It rotates through the pipe to break up or grab a clog. It is one of the most dependable tools in a plumber's kit, and there is a good reason we still use it.
Augers are fast. Most simple jobs clear in under 30 minutes. They cost less than hydro jetting and cause no stress on pipe walls. For a first-time clog that is close to the drain opening, a snake is usually the right move.
That said, an auger has limits. It punches through or pulls out a blockage — it does not clean the pipe walls. If grease, scale, or root growth is coating the inside of your pipe, the snake may clear enough to restore flow without solving the real problem.
In most kitchen sink calls, we grab the auger first. If the clog is within the first ten feet, it clears in minutes. That is the tool doing exactly what it is designed to do.
Best uses for a drain auger:
Hair or soap scum buildup in a bathroom drain
Small debris caught near the drain opening
A single clog in one fixture with no history of repeat problems
Older or fragile pipes where pressure jetting is not safe
Emergency situations where speed is the priority
So an auger handles the basics — but what happens when the basics aren't enough?
How Hydro Jetting Works (And Why It Goes Deeper)
Hydro jetting sends water through your pipes at pressures up to 4,000 PSI. That pressure scours the full interior of the pipe — not just the clog, but the buildup coating the pipe walls. The result is a cleaner pipe, not just an open one.
Where a snake moves a blockage, hydro jetting removes what caused it. Grease layers, mineral scale, tree root intrusion, and years of debris all come out. Pipes cleaned this way stay clear longer — often one to three years — compared to a snaked pipe that may re-clog in weeks.
We inspected a Broomfield home where the drain had been snaked three times in one year. The camera showed heavy grease coating the full length of the pipe. One hydro jetting visit cleared it completely. That homeowner has not called us back for that drain since.
One important step: we always run a camera inspection before hydro jetting. This confirms the pipe is in good enough condition to handle the pressure. Skipping that step can cause damage to older or cracked lines — which is why you should always ask any plumber if a camera inspection is included before they jet.
| Drain Auger | Hydro Jetting | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Flexible coil breaks up or pulls out clogs | High-pressure water scours full pipe interior |
| Best for | Simple, shallow clogs | Heavy buildup, root intrusion, recurring clogs |
| Pipe wall cleaning | No | Yes |
| Speed | Fast (under 30 min) | Longer — camera inspection required |
| Cost | Lower | Higher — but results last longer |
| Safe for fragile pipes | Yes | Requires inspection first |
| How long results last | Weeks to months | 1–3 years with normal use |
When Plumbers Choose an Auger Over Hydro Jetting
Augers are the first tool we reach for on most service calls — and that is not a shortcut. It is the right call for many situations. A good plumber matches the tool to the job.
For a first-time clog with no repeat history, an auger is almost always the right starting point. It is fast, affordable, and gets the drain moving with no risk to the pipe. If the problem is minor and unlikely to come back, hydro jetting would be overkill.
Older pipes are another reason to reach for the snake first. Clay, cast iron, and deteriorating PVC may not hold up to high-pressure jetting. We inspect the pipe first whenever there is any doubt — and if the pipe is fragile, the auger is the safer option.
Speed matters too. If you have sewage backing up on a Sunday night, we are not going to add time for a full camera inspection and hydro jetting setup if a snake can clear the line and restore flow right now.
5 signs your drain only needs a snake:
This is the first time this drain has clogged
The clog is in a single fixture, not throughout the house
The drain cleared easily last time it backed up
Your pipes are older clay, cast iron, or deteriorating PVC
You need the drain cleared fast and the problem is straightforward
That said, there are situations where an auger just won't cut it. Here's when hydro jetting becomes the smarter choice.
When Hydro Jetting Is the Better Choice in Broomfield, CO
If the same drain keeps backing up, an auger is not solving the problem — it is only buying time. Recurring clogs in the same fixture usually mean buildup that a snake cannot reach. Hydro jetting clears the full pipe and removes the source of the problem. Slow drains throughout your home are a different signal. When multiple fixtures drain slowly at the same time, the issue is usually in the main line — further down than a standard snake can reach. That kind of buildup calls for hydro jetting. Broomfield sits in a hard water area. The Front Range water supply carries elevated mineral content that leaves scale deposits inside pipes over time. A snake moves through that buildup temporarily. Hydro jetting removes it. We see more scale-related clogs in Broomfield than in softer-water areas — and snaking those pipes without jetting them usually means a callback within a few months.
If you are buying a home in Broomfield and the inspector flagged the drains, hydro jetting before you move in gives you a clean baseline. You will know what condition the pipes are in and start fresh.
Signs hydro jetting may be the right call:
The same drain has clogged two or more times in the past year
Multiple drains in your home are running slow at the same time
A snake was used recently but the drain is already backing up again
You are buying a home and want the pipes cleared before move-in
Your home has hard water and you have never had the main line cleaned
Think hydro jetting might be what your drain needs? Learn about professional hydro jetting Broomfield CO and what the process looks like.
How to Know Which Method You Need — And Who to Call in Broomfield
Here is a simple rule that works for most situations: first clog, use a snake. Recurring clog or whole-house slow drainage, ask about hydro jetting.
Before any plumber recommends a method, they should look at the pipe — not just take your word for what is happening. Ask if they are going to inspect the line first. A camera inspection before hydro jetting is not optional — it protects both you and your pipes. If a plumber wants to jet without inspecting, that is a red flag.
Broomfield residents do not have to wait for a serious backup to ask about hydro jetting. Preventive jetting every few years keeps main lines clear, especially in homes with hard water or mature trees near the sewer line.
Knowing the difference between these two methods puts you in a better position in any conversation with a plumber. You can ask the right questions, understand what is being recommended, and make a call that actually fits your situation.
At The Drain Cleaning Company, we serve Broomfield and the Denver metro area with drain cleaning and sewer services backed by honest recommendations and upfront pricing. We are a veteran-owned, locally rooted team — licensed under Colorado Plumbing License MP.03000945 — and we will tell you which method your situation actually calls for, not the one that costs more.
Call us at (720) 948-4175 to talk through what your drain is doing and what we would recommend. Learn more about hydro jetting services in Broomfield CO and what to expect from the process.