How the job runs
- 1Pick the accesspull a trap, a cleanout plug or the overflow rather than forcing through a strainer
- 2Size the cablesmall cable for sinks, heavier drum machine for branches and mains
- 3Choose the headauger bulb for hair, cutter for grease and paper, root saw for the main
- 4Retrievepull back what the cable grabbed so you can see what caused it
- 5Flood testrun a full basin or tub to confirm the line now carries water freely
01Cable work done carefully
Snaking looks simple, but a cable spun too hard in an old galvanized or cast-iron branch can punch through a corroded spot. We feel for resistance and slow down at fittings. On fragile lines we choose a smaller cable and more passes over brute force.
We also protect the floor and the fixture, because drain water is not something anyone wants on a carpet.
| Kitchen clogs | Grease and food scraps stuck in horizontal runs |
|---|---|
| Bathroom clogs | Hair and soap scum near the trap |
| Recurring clog | Worth a camera look for a sag or broken pipe |
02What comes back on the cable
The cable usually returns with the answer: a mat of hair, a slug of grease, a tangle of wipes or fine root hairs. That tells us whether the fix is behavioural, like a sink strainer, or structural, like a broken pipe that needs a camera.
03When snaking is not enough
If a line clogs again within weeks, something is catching debris. Hydro-jetting scours grease off pipe walls, and a camera shows bellies, offsets and cracks.