Why Can’t You Just Snake the Drain Instead of Recommending a Camera Inspection?
The short answer is that we usually can snake the drain.
But snaking a drain and finding out why it clogged are two completely different things.
A drain snake is meant to break through or pull out an obstruction so water can begin moving again. A sewer camera allows us to look inside the line and investigate what caused the problem.
If we only snake the drain, we may get it flowing again without knowing whether the real problem is grease, roots, a damaged pipe, a low spot in the line, or something else entirely.
My Very Scientific Abi Explanation
This might not make it into plumbing school, but here is how I think about it:
Would you pull your pants up after going #2 and skip wiping?
Probably not. 😂
You may technically be finished, but you skipped a pretty important part of the process.
That is sometimes what it feels like when we clear a stubborn or recurring clog without looking at what is happening inside the pipe. Getting the water moving is important, but it does not always tell us why the drain stopped working in the first place.
What Does Snaking a Drain Actually Do?
A drain snake travels through the pipe and attempts to break through, grab, or move whatever is blocking the line.
Snaking can be exactly what a drain needs when the clog is caused by something relatively simple, such as:
Hair
Soap buildup
Toilet paper
A small obstruction
Certain soft blockages
However, a snake does not clean the entire inside wall of the pipe. It may punch a small opening through the blockage while leaving a considerable amount of buildup behind.
That is one reason a drain can appear fixed and then begin backing up again.
What Does a Drain Camera Show Us?
A sewer camera gives us more information about what is happening inside the pipe. Depending on the condition of the line and whether the view is blocked, it may help us identify:
Grease buildup
Tree-root intrusion
Cracks or breaks
Separated pipe connections
Corrosion or deterioration
A belly or low spot holding water
An object stuck inside the line
The approximate location of a problem
One important thing homeowners should know is that the camera may not provide a perfectly clear view while the pipe is still full of grease, dirty water, or debris. Sometimes we have to clear or clean the line first and then camera it again to properly inspect it.
The snake gets us through the clog. The camera helps us understand what we are dealing with.
My Mom’s Kitchen Sink Is a Perfect Example
My mom had a kitchen sink that kept clogging. She swore up and down that she had not put anything down it.
Of course, she said it “just stopped draining one day.”
Joe began troubleshooting the plumbing. The toilets were flushing, and the other sinks were draining normally. That told him the problem was probably isolated to the kitchen drain rather than affecting the entire sewer system.
He ran a camera approximately 30 feet into the line, but the buildup made it difficult to see everything clearly. He also snaked the line, but the problem was farther down than he could initially reach and the snake was not removing all of the buildup.
Joe then went underneath the home and discovered that the kitchen drainpipe was packed with grease.
Ultimately, the line needed to be hydro jetted. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to clean buildup from the inside walls of the pipe instead of simply poking a hole through it.
The best part? My mom told me afterward that even her dishwasher was running better.
The clog was not just a random inconvenience. The buildup was affecting how well the entire kitchen drain system could carry water away.
Trees and Roots Create a Completely Different Problem
If your yard has large trees, bushes, or older sewer pipes, roots may find their way inside the line through a small crack or loose connection.
Snaking through the roots might temporarily restore flow, but it does not answer the bigger questions:
How much of the pipe is affected?
Is there a crack or separated connection?
How quickly are the roots likely to return?
Can the line be cleaned, or does part of it need to be repaired?
Where is the damaged section located?
My brother-in-law experienced this after buying a home in Harriman, Tennessee. On the very first night they moved in, the sewer backed up.
They later learned that the sewer line contained a massive root ball and needed to be replaced. That is definitely not the type of housewarming surprise anyone wants.
A camera inspection before purchasing the home may have helped reveal that there was a serious problem inside the sewer line.
Do You Need a Camera Inspection Every Time?
No. We are not saying that every slow bathroom sink requires a full sewer investigation.
A straightforward clog with an obvious cause may only need to be cleared. However, we are more likely to recommend a camera inspection when:
The same drain keeps clogging
Several fixtures are backing up
The problem is affecting the main sewer line
The home has older plumbing
Large trees are located near the sewer line
We suspect damaged or separated piping
The snake will not fully clear the obstruction
You are considering buying an older home
You want to confirm the condition of the pipe after it is cleaned
The goal is not to add an unnecessary service. The goal is to avoid guessing and help you make a decision based on what is actually happening inside your plumbing.
So, Can You Just Snake the Drain?
Absolutely. Sometimes snaking is all the drain needs.
But if the clog keeps returning, the snake cannot reach or remove it, or there may be damage inside the pipe, simply snaking the drain could provide only temporary relief.
A camera inspection helps us move from “We got it draining” to “Here is what caused it, where it is, and what your options are.”
That is the difference between treating the symptom and investigating the actual problem.
If you are dealing with a slow, clogged, or repeatedly backing-up drain, Friendly Neighborhood Plumber can help you determine whether you need basic drain cleaning, a camera inspection, hydro jetting, or another solution.
Learn more about drain cleaning and sewer camera inspections in Knoxville from Friendly Neighborhood Plumber, or call or text us at 865-443-7617.
Neighbors helping neighbors. 💙
