Nothing beats hydro jetting when it comes to clearing stubborn, recurring clogs in your sewer line. Hydro jetting scrubs the inside of the sewer line and gets rid of everything.
In this article, we're going to go over what hydro jetting is, the benefits, the process, when you can't use hydro jetting to clear a sewer line, and more.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting involves using nothing but pressurized water - no chemicals - to clear stubborn blockages from a sewer line. Hydro jetting is basically power washing for the inside of your sewer pipes. It removes everything, including grease build-up, scale, debris, and even small tree roots. In comparison, a drain snake just pokes holes in the sludge. It can't clean the walls of the drain pipe.
A hydro jetting system includes various nozzles that change the direction and shape of the pressurized water from the hose. The experienced technician selects a nozzle that's appropriate for what's in the pipe. For example, there's a nozzle specially designed to break up small tree roots.
A CCTV sewer camera inspection is always done before cleaning a pipe using pressurized water. This is to make sure the pipe isn't collapsed and that it can withstand the highly pressurized water. If a pipe is old and fragile, this may not be the best way to clear a stubborn clog. In this case, a drain snake will be used.
For more information, see, How Hydro Jetting A Sewer Line Works.
Benefits of Using Pressurized Water To Clean A Sewer Line
The benefits of using pressurized water to clean a sewer line include:
- It washes everything away and scrubs the inside of the sewer line. You're not just poking holes in built-up sludge.
- It can clear away small tree roots that, if left inside the pipe, will grow and eventually break the pipe.
- It's non-invasive. There's no need to dig a hole because the pipe is easily accessed via a cleanout.
Things To Consider Before Sewer Line Hydro Jetting
It could damage fragile pipes
Pressurized water isn't appropriate for older, fragile pipes because it could damage them. For obvious reasons, a collapsed pipe won't benefit from this method of cleaning either. This is why a CCTV sewer video inspection is always performed before using pressurized water on your pipe. Never allow anyone to hydro jet your sewer line without first doing a video inspection.
It's not a DIY project
While drain snaking can be a DIY repair, using pressurized water to clean a sewer line requires special equipment, training, and experience. An experienced technician knows how much pressure and which nozzle to use based on the results of the sewer video inspection.
Hydro Jetting is Eco-Friendly
Because hydro jetting uses nothing but pressurized water to clean the inside of the pipe, it's safe and environmentally friendly. You can feel comfortable knowing that you're not injecting chemicals into the sewer line that will eventually turn up in the groundwater.
When Is Pressurized Water Used?
Pressurized water is used on stubborn clogs that keep coming back. You've tried everything else, and nothing has worked. While you need to find out why you have recurring clogs - maybe you're pouring a lot of grease down the drain, for example - pressurized water is the best way to get rid of clogs that aren't responding to other drain cleaning methods.
The Hydro Jetting Process
The experienced technician will:
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- Locate the cleanout that will be used to access the clogged sewer line
- Insert the CCTV camera into the sewer line to perform the video inspection. This enables the technician to assess the problem, type, severity, and location. Based on the video inspection, the technician will know that the sewer pipe is intact and can withstand the pressurized water.
- The technician will select the appropriate nozzle, attach it to the hose, insert it into the cleanout, and turn on the machine that produces the pressure.
- The hose moves through the pipe dislodging clogs, scrubbing as it goes, and washing away everything.
How Much Does Hydro Jetting Cost?
The cost of will depend on where you live and the clog's type, location, and severity. Therefore, it's impossible for us to give you a quote without that information. Contact a plumber in your area who's experienced with hydro jetting and ask for a sewer video inspection to see if hydro jetting is right for you.
Signs You Might Need To Clean Your Sewer Line Using Pressurized Water
Signs your sewer line might need deep cleaning with pressurized water include:
- Frequent, recurring clogs that aren't responding to other drain cleaning methods
- Smelly drains
- Drains that make gurgling sounds
- Slow drains
If you think your home's sewer line might need hydro jetting, contact a licensed plumber in your area and ask for a sewer camera inspection. If you're in our service area in Benicia, CA, contact us today!
