Use this tool to decide between hydro jetting, cable augering, a camera inspection first, or neither (repair). It weighs the blockage type, pipe material, whether camera findings are known, any defects, pipe size and access. Grease, sediment and fine roots lean to jetting; solid objects lean to augering; unknown causes in fragile or older pipe lean to camera first; structural failure leads to repair.
- Blockage type is the strongest signal: grease and sediment favour jetting, solid objects favour a cable.
- Unknown pipe condition in clay, cast iron or bituminous fibre (Orangeburg) pipe pushes the answer toward camera first.
- Known collapse, severe offset or a large belly means cleaning is a stopgap and the result is 'repair'.
- Small lines and poor access limit jetting; they do not rule it out, but they change the equipment and cost.
- The result is guidance for a conversation with a contractor, not a diagnosis of your pipe.
Jet or Auger? Decision Tool
01 /How does the jet-or-auger tool decide?
The tool applies the same reasoning a careful operator uses at the cleanout, in a fixed order. It first checks for reasons not to clean at all, then for reasons to look before cleaning, and only then picks the cleaning method that suits the blockage. The four possible results are Jet, Auger, Camera first and Neither: plan a repair, each with the reasons that produced it.
- Structural failure check
If the camera is known to show a collapse, a severe offset that traps tools, or a large belly holding water, the result is Neither: plan a repair. Cleaning may still be needed to restore flow temporarily, and the reasoning says so.
- Fragility and unknowns check
If the pipe is vitrified clay, cast iron, bituminous fibre or unknown, and there is no camera information, the result leans to Camera first, especially when the blockage type is also unknown or roots are suspected.
- Blockage type
Grease, sludge and sand point to Jet. A solid object points to Auger. Roots point to Jet for fine roots or Auger for dense masses, often both. Unknown points to Camera first.
- Pipe size
Very small lines (around 1.5 to 2 inches) favour a small cable or a small jetter; building sewers and laterals (3 to 6 inches) suit trailer jetters and sectional or drum machines; larger lines point to commercial equipment.
- Access
A usable cleanout supports any method. Access only through a fixture or toilet pull favours a cable for a quick opening and notes that installing a cleanout would help future jetting.
02 /What do the four results mean?
| Result | Typical inputs that lead here | What to ask a contractor for |
|---|---|---|
| Jet | Grease, sludge, sand or fine roots; pipe known to be sound or plastic; usable access | Hydro jetting with a named nozzle approach, plus a post-cleaning camera pass |
| Auger | Solid object, dense root ball, emergency backup, or fixture-only access | Cable clearing with the right head, then camera if the problem recurs |
| Camera first | Unknown blockage, older or fragile material, no camera history, recurring clogs | A camera inspection with video and footage, then a method chosen from what it shows |
| Neither: plan a repair | Known collapse, severe offset, large belly, soil in the pipe | Repair options (spot repair, lining, replacement) with quotes; cleaning only to keep flow meanwhile |
Each result links to the guides that explain it: hydro jetting vs snaking for the core comparison, is hydro jetting safe for old pipes for the camera-first logic, and jetting before trenchless lining for repair preparation.
03 /Why does camera-first matter so much for fragile pipe?
Camera-first matters because the two cleaning methods fail in different ways on damaged pipe, and you cannot tell which risk applies without seeing inside. A cable can catch on an offset, crack a weak clay bell or become stuck. A jetter can erode a thin cast iron invert, soften and deform bituminous fibre, or wash soil in through a break and enlarge a void. On sound pipe, both are routine. On unknown pipe in an older home, a camera inspection costs less than recovering a stuck tool or repairing a section that cleaning made worse.
That is why the tool will not recommend jetting clay, cast iron or Orangeburg pipe with confidence when you answer 'no' to known camera condition. It is not saying jetting is unsafe; it is saying the decision needs one more piece of information. SewerInspector.ca explains what a camera inspection shows and how to read the report.
04 /How should you answer each question?
| Question | How to answer if you are unsure |
|---|---|
| Blockage type | Choose grease if only the kitchen line is slow; roots if there are large trees near the sewer path and a clay lateral; sludge or sand if the line is old and slow everywhere; solid object if something was flushed or dropped; otherwise unknown |
| Pipe material | Homes built before about the 1970s often have clay laterals and cast iron inside; later homes are usually ABS or PVC. Choose unknown if you have not seen it |
| Camera condition known | Answer yes only if you have video or a report from a camera inspection, ideally recent |
| Defects | Select any defect the camera report names: cracks, offsets, sag or belly, collapse, root intrusion |
| Pipe size | Kitchen and bathroom branches are usually 1.5 to 2 inches; the main building sewer is commonly 4 inches in houses |
| Access | Cleanout if there is a capped pipe you can open; fixture or toilet pull if not; none known if you are unsure |
05 /What are the limits of this tool?
- It does not see your pipe. It applies general rules to your answers, and answers can be wrong.
- It cannot detect hazards such as sewer gas, chemical drain cleaners in the line, or a pressurized backup; those need on-site judgement.
- It does not account for local bylaws or who owns which part of the line; confirm with your municipality (in Calgary, 311).
- It gives a method family, not an equipment specification. The operator chooses the nozzle, cable, pressure and flow. To check whether a particular rig's pressure and flow suit your line size, use the Jetter Power Calculator.
- It is not a quote or cost estimate. See hydro jetting cost for planning ranges.
- HAUSE Sewer is an independent information and quote-request network, not a contractor; the result is guidance for your conversation with one.
06 /What should you do with your result?
Take your result to a contractor as the starting point of a conversation. Tell them what you entered and why, ask whether they agree, and ask what they will use. A good operator will either confirm the approach or explain what they see differently. If the result was Camera first, ask for the inspection and video before any cleaning decision. If it was Neither, get repair quotes and ask what interim cleaning, if any, makes sense.
The quote request form lets you include the tool result so contractors can quote the right service. For background, start with what is hydro jetting and jetting nozzles explained, or see DrainAugering.ca for the cable side of the decision.
FAQQuestions people ask
Is the jet-or-auger tool a diagnosis?
No. It applies general decision rules to your answers. Only an on-site assessment, ideally with a camera, can diagnose a specific pipe.
Why did the tool say camera first?
Usually because the pipe material is older or unknown, there is no camera information, or the blockage type is unknown. One inspection resolves those unknowns.
Why did the tool say neither?
You reported a structural defect such as a collapse, severe offset or large belly. Cleaning will not fix it; repair options should be compared.
Can I get jetting even if the tool says auger?
Yes. The tool shows the reasoning so you can discuss it. For solid objects, though, a cable usually works better.
Does the tool consider cost?
No. It focuses on the method that fits the pipe and blockage. Cost ranges are on the hydro jetting cost page.
What pipe size is my main sewer?
Most Canadian houses have a 4-inch building sewer, but older homes and larger buildings vary. A contractor or camera report can confirm it.
NETWORKGo deeper across the HAUSE Sewer network
Sewer pipe materials by construction era, and what each looks like on camera
Sewer pipe materials by era in Canadian homes: clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, concrete, ABS and PVC, how each one fails and what it looks like on camera.
PipeCleaning.caPipe cleaning methods compared, method by method
Pipe cleaning methods compared: snaking, hydro jetting, descaling, chain knockers, enzymes and chemicals — what each removes, and which pipes each can harm.
DrainAugering.caCan a drain snake damage your pipes? Where the real risks are
Can a drain snake damage pipes? How cables and cutters harm old clay, Orangeburg, cast iron, plastic traps, chrome fittings and toilets, and how to avoid it.