What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting, also known as pipe jetting, is a way to clean your drains that uses high-pressure water. A nozzle with jets pointing in all directions slides down the length of the pipe. Instead of poking a hole through the problem, hydro jetting scours the sides of your pipes. Doing this can leave your pipes almost as clean as when they were first installed.

If one of these clogs happens in a sink or a shower, it can be frustrating. But if you get a restriction in your sewer main line, it can be disastrous. Because all the water leaves your home through it, a backup there could cover your floor in sewage. But if you know what to look for, your pipes will let you know if this is close to happening.

What is Hydro Jetting Good At?

Hyrdo jetting is great at cleaning grease, grime, and sludge from the walls of your pipes. That gunk can can congeal together into a sticky mess that coats the inside of your lines. That can slow your drains to a crawl, and even plug them all the way over time.

The water from a hydro jetter can cut through that mess and clean it out of your pipes when a snake or augur can’t. And because the water is so high pressure, it can even cut away roots invading your lines. If you have a solid line that you want to bring back to like-new condition, hydro jetting is a great option.

When is Hydro Jetting Not Enough?

While hydro jetting can cut away roots and other debris, it won’t fix a broken pipe. If that's happened, you’ll need a more permanent solution soon. That often means repairing or replacing the pipe. What hydro jetting can do is allow water to drain if you need more time before you work on a permanent solution.

When Should You Consider Hydro Jetting?

If you have a drain that clogs all the time, hydro jetting can help get it working at peak efficiency again. The kitchen and bathroom sink often deal with this kind of build-up that hydro jetting can clean out. It’s perfect for the grease, hair, oil, soap, and other gunk that goes down those drains. But as long as the pipe hasn’t had a total cave-in, hydro jetting can often help.