Drainage Guide
Rodding vs Jetting: Which Drain Unblocking Method Do You Need?
Most people don't need to know the difference between rodding and jetting — that's the engineer's call once they see what's actually happening in the pipe. But understanding the basics helps you make sense of what you're being quoted for, and why.
What Is Drain Rodding?
Rodding uses flexible, interlocking rods fed into the drain to physically break up and push through a blockage. It's quick to set up, doesn't need extensive equipment, and works well for straightforward, localised blockages — a single clogged toilet branch, for example.
What Is High-Pressure Jetting?
Jetting uses a hose connected to a high-pressure water pump, which is fed into the drain and blasts water forward to break up and flush out the blockage. Because it scours the full width of the pipe as it goes, it's more effective on grease build-up, longer drain runs, and blockages that have built up gradually rather than appeared suddenly.
When Rodding Is Usually Enough
- A single blocked toilet, sink or shower drain
- A blockage that's recent and likely a single object or clump
- Shorter, more accessible drain runs
When Jetting Is the Better Option
- Grease-heavy kitchen drains, especially in commercial kitchens
- Long external drain runs with silt or debris build-up
- Recurring blockages that rodding has only temporarily cleared
- Routine maintenance cleaning to prevent future blockages
Which Will You Get?
In practice, our engineers carry both rodding and jetting equipment on every van and will use whichever is appropriate — often starting with the less invasive option and moving to jetting if needed. You're quoted a fixed price for the job, not the method, so there's no benefit to us in using more than necessary.