All You Need to Know About Hydro Jet Drain Cleaning

Your plumber will often recommend hydro jet cleaning if you’re experiencing blocked drains in and around your home. What is hydro jet cleaning though? And how effective is it at clearing clogged drains and sewer lines? Let’s explore the process further.

What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is a plumbing technique that uses high-pressure water to clear blockages and clean the interior of plumbing pipes.

Only a fully licensed and qualified plumber can use a hydro jet, which consists of a very high-pressure water hose with a specialised nozzle at one end.  This hose connects to a machine that pressurises the water to 5000 psi. The high-pressure water clears grease, mineral and organic build-up, dirt, and other debris from pipes. Additionally, a hydro jet machine can tackle sewer line blockages up to 100 metres away!

The high-pressure water from the hydro jet breaks up your blockage and forces it down the drain, pushing it into the much larger main sewer line where it ceases to be a problem. Additionally, this process leaves your pipes much cleaner, as the high-pressure water fires in all directions to achieve this level of cleanliness. After receiving hydro jet drain cleaning services, you are unlikely to experience a blocked drain from build-up anytime soon.

Inspection First Before We Get Out The Hydro Jets

To properly inspect your drain before commencing hydro jetting services, plumbers will often use a CCTV drain camera. It allows your plumber to assess the problem and suggest whether or not sewer jetting is the best solution to your blocked drain pipe problem. In addition, it will also allow them to identify the cause of your blocked drain pipe or sewer line and help you prevent it from happening again.

Plumbers usually reserve hydro jet drain cleaning for more stubborn and hard-to-reach blockages. For less severe blockages, however, they might opt for other methods. These might include a manual extraction or an electric drain cleaner for pipes – including blocked toilets – that won’t withstand the hydro jet’s high-pressure water.

Is Hydro Jet Cleaning Safe for Pipes and Clogged Drains?

Did you know highly pressurised water can cut through metal? An untrained or amateur plumber using a hydro jet’s pressure could potentially slice through your pipes. At Metropolitan Plumbing, fully licensed plumbers receive training to choose a hydro jet nozzle safe for your pipes. Using a professional plumber significantly reduces the risk of accidentally cutting through your pipes.

In contrast, chemical drain cleaners can actually cause more damage to your pipes and drains than a hydro jet drain cleaner!

How Often Should You Hydro Jet?

Regular pipe maintenance prevents blocked drains, and hydro jet drain cleaning serves as an effective method for this preventative plumbing maintenance. Residential homes typically require hydro jetting every few years to prevent further debris build-ups. However, older homes with stainless steel or galvanised pipes need more frequent cleaning due to their higher susceptibility to mineral build-up and consequent blockages.

Does Hydro Jetting Work on Roots?

Hydro jetting works on most types of blockages, from grease to tree roots. Using a hydro jet for tree roots is the superior tree root removal tool! For especially thick and troublesome tree roots, tools such as an electric drain cleaner might be employed to tear up the roots. The hydro jet follows this up to finish the job!

For more information about using a hydro jet on your drain line, contact Metropolitan Plumbing.