Cost Comparison: Using a Chemical Drain Opener vs. Hydro-Jetting

When considering how best to clear a clog out of your drain, price is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. You want the most effective product at the best value—no one wants a wasted purchase.

At State Chemical, we manufacture and sell several drain openers fit for different needs. It can be hard to choose what kind of service is best for you, but we’re committed to providing you with honest information about the industry, even if that means you choose a different service from us.

To stay true to this mission, we’ve compared the cost of hydro-jetting to the cost of chemical drain openers so that you understand what you’re paying for and what is ultimately best for you.

What is Hydro-Jetting?

Hydro-jetting is a process in which a plumber sticks a high-pressure hose down your drain to shoot through and break down buildup and clogs. Think of it like a power washer: spraying the high-pressure water breaks down grime into smaller pieces that can easily pass through your drain.

It’s a highly effective process that’s minimally invasive or destructive compared to a pipe repair, which can mean drilling into the wall or floor just to access the pipe. Instead, the main drawback of hydro-jetting is how expensive it is compared to using a chemical drain opener.

Cost of Hydro-Jetting

Hydro-jetting must be done by a professional plumber, which already makes it much more expensive. Plumbers typically charge $50–$120 per hour, and then you have to consider the cost of the job itself.

Price will vary based on clog severity, clog depth, pipe size, and pipe accessibility. Generally, you can expect a commercial hydro-jetting job to cost between $500 and $2,500 depending on these factors.

Let’s imagine that you’re the building manager of an elementary school. During lunch each day, the kitchen experiences a lot of accidental drainage of fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) as well as food particles. Drain clogs are no stranger to you, and you’re sick of dealing with constant backups. So, the next time you get a call about an overflowing sink, you decide to call a plumber about hydro-jetting.

The plumber surveys your drain and lets you know that your issue is moderate and your drain is easily accessible, but you have a large system, so it will take more work to clean out. For these reasons, they say it’ll cost $1,600 and will take two hours ($100–$240) to clean. This is a total of $1,700–$1,840 for the job.

What are Drain Openers?

So, how do drain openers compare?

Drain openers are chemical solutions you pour down your drain to push out or disintegrate clogs via a chemical reaction. There are acid, alkaline, liquid, granular, and more options so that you can make the best purchase based on your facility’s preferences.

Compared to hydro-jetting, drain openers are often preferred because they’re less expensive, can be used by your staff, and have more product variety. However, they are also dangerous to handle, so you must properly educate your staff and wear PPE when handling.

Cost of Drain Openers

The price of drain openers largely depends on the product quality, ingredients, and strength. The range of products available means drain openers can range from around $10– $70 for a single 32-ounce bottle. This is $0.31–$2.19 per ounce.

When you’re using a granular and/or higher-strength product, the price will usually be on the higher end. Meanwhile, when you’re using a liquid and/or lower-strength product, the price will usually be on the lower end.

Let’s imagine that you’re the manager of a nursing home. Lately, your drains have been getting severe clogs caused by residents flushing diapers down the toilets. You know your facility can’t go on this way, so you decide to get a case of drain openers to deal with these clogs as they arise.

You contact a chemical manufacturer, and they inform you that your only option for dealing with clogs of this nature is to use an acid drain opener. Because of the ingredients, effectiveness, and fact that you’re buying an industrial product, they tell you that a single 32-ounce bottle will cost you $45. Meanwhile, a case of 12 will be $450.

Decide Which Option is Best for You

When you’re looking for a solution to your drain clog, you want the most cost-effective option. Drain openers are less expensive overall, but depending on your specific needs, using a drain opener or hydro-jetting could be the right option for you.

To learn more about drain openers, explore the best State products to unclog your drain.