Drain Snakes vs. Chemical Drain Openers

Drain Snakes or Chemical Drain Openers? When you type this question into a search engine, you’ll likely get mixed results. Some sites make impassioned pleas for snakes while others tout the merits of chemicals. Some give you simple advertisements. Others offer clips about why one option is the best product that has ever been—or the worst thing for you.

It’s safe to say that it’s a lot to navigate when all you want is a functioning drain.

At State Chemical, we sell several different chemical drain openers for different issues and preferences. We do not sell drain snakes, but our goal is to provide you with information about all your options so that you can pick the best product for you, even if that is not one of our products.

To achieve this goal, we have written this article comparing drain snakes to chemical drain maintenance. By the end, you’ll have a better idea of what situations each product is best used for, and you will be equipped to make the best purchase for your facility.

Drain Snakes and Their Role in Drain Maintenance

First, it’s important to understand that drain snakes are coiled metal wires you can shimmy into your drains to break up clogs. You operate them by manually turning a crank. They’re often used to remove hair or generally break down drain buildup. But what should you know about them?

Drain Snakes Should be Used for Mild Clogs or as Pre-Treatment for Thick Clogs

Is your water draining slowly? Do you suspect it’s caused by hair or something soft?

If you answered yes, it’s time to use a drain snake. While slower and less effective than chemicals, this can be perfect when dealing with a milder clog. Chemicals like acid can be harsh on your pipes, so if you’re dealing with a lighter issue, drain snakes can be effective and less harmful to older cast iron pipes.

At the same time, however, drain snakes are good for breaking up thick clogs before using a chemical drain opener. Drain snakes will not break down thick clogs on their own, but sometimes, chemical drain openers can’t do that either. If you have what we call a “fatberg” in your drain, chemicals won't necessarily be able to break through several feet of congealed fats, oils, and greases (FOGS). Drain snakes can assist with breaking up a thick clog so that chemicals can effectively clear the rest of the issue. In ways like this, drain snakes and chemicals are better used together.

Drain Snakes are a One-Time Purchase

A positive element to drain snakes is that they are a reusable one-time expense. The price will vary depending on what specific option you’re looking for (manual snakes tend to range from $100-300 while high-end electric options can be as much as $2,000), but whatever you choose is a savings in the long run since you only need to purchase it once.

Drain snakes may be more time-consuming to use when you must manually operate them, but if cost is a concern for you, drain snakes are an economical option that is well-equipped for less severe issues.

Sometimes, Drain Snakes Just Push Clogs Further Down the Pipes

One downside of drain snakes is that they may just move the clog further down your drain line. For example, imagine that you’re snaking a shower drain because of a hair clog. You wiggle the snake into the drain and push through the clog. The snake even pulls back up some of the hair, and the water starts to drain normally again. It looks like the issue is resolved. But a month later, the shower drain starts causing problems again. What happened?

In this case, the snake broke up the hair and was able to remove some of it, but the hair and soap scum just built up again further down the pipes because it didn’t fully pass through. This can be the issue with drain snakes: they can only break up clogs so much. If they aren’t fully successful, they’ll push buildup further down your drains, which can make your problem worse.

Clogs further down the pipes are harder to reach. If a snake keeps pushing the clog down, it could get very deep in the pipes. At this point, you would need a chemical drain opener.

Drain Snakes Cannot Resolve Odor Problems

Another important thing to note is that drain snakes cannot be used to solve odor problems. Yes, they can remove your clogs, but since they can’t remove all buildup, they cannot eliminate the foul odors the buildup emanates.

To eliminate odors, you should use non-acid drain openers (if you’re also experiencing a clog) or deodorizing drain maintainers (to generally maintain your drains).

Chemical Drain Openers and Their Place in Drain Maintenance

As opposed to drain snakes, chemical drain openers are chemicals you add into a drain to disintegrate or melt clogs through the pipes.

You Should Use Chemicals for More Severe Clogs

Is water failing to pass through your drain? Is this a persistent issue? Do you have a lot of buildup?

In contrast to drain snakes being great for mild clogs, chemical drain openers should be used for more intense clogs. Drain openers get to the root of the problem and fully remove buildup. With drain openers, clogs can be fully flushed from a drain, providing a longer lasting solution.

Use Chemicals for Clogs Further Down the Pipes

If drain snakes cannot reach your clog, chemicals will pass all the way through the drain to eliminate the clog. For example, pouring a pint of our product, Drain Rocket, down the sink will generate intense heat and push the clog out of the pipes and into the sewer system. This can also be useful in cases where the drain snake has just moved the clog further down the pipe.

Chemical Drain Openers are More Expensive

One major drawback with chemical drain openers is that they’re significantly more expensive than drain snakes. Since drain openers involve specialized chemicals, it takes more research and labor to create them. Prices vary, but in 2024, a 12-pack of drain openers from State Chemical costs between $300 and $600.

When treating a clog, it usually makes more sense to go through your options from least severe treatment to most severe treatment. Unfortunately, when other options have failed, drain openers are an expense you’ll have to make. If snaking doesn’t work for you, it’s time to go for a chemical drain opener.

For the Highest Efficiency, Use Drain Snakes and Chemical Drain Openers Together

Sometimes, the best way to decide between drain snakes and chemical drain openers is to simply use both. Especially when it comes to thicker or very severe clogs, it’s a great idea to use a drain snake first to break up some of the buildup and then to follow up with chemicals to finish the clog off. This is the most efficient way to deal with major clogs.

An important note: do not use a drain snake after using chemicals. This can be hazardous to you as the user because the chemicals are still present in the drain. If you pull back up a snake that’s been exposed to hazardous chemicals, you’ll be exposing yourself to them as well. To avoid harming yourself, it’s best to use a drain snake first. If you have to use a drain snake after using chemicals, wait at least several days before doing so.

Avoid Clogs with Consistent Drain Maintenance

Whether you decide to use a drain snake or a chemical drain opener, it is a smart move to start regularly maintaining your drains. With regular drain maintenance, you can break down organics before they form a clog, and you won’t have to worry about whether to pick a drain snake or a chemical drain opener. Instead, you’ll start daily or weekly—and eventually only monthly—chemical treatments to deal with drain problems before they appear.

In Summary: Drain Snakes are Best for the Initial Breakdown of Buildup, and Chemicals are Best for Full Breakdown and Maintenance

It’s a hassle to deal with not only a clogged drain but the coinciding product research it involves. Now, you know whether drain snakes or chemical drain openers are the right choice for you—and you can even use both to most efficiently treat your drain. Depending on your situation, your next step is to either invest in a drain snake, find solutions to your drain opener concerns, or both.