All You Need to Know About Hydro Jet Drain Cleaning

Your plumber will often recommend hydro jet cleaning for your blocked drains. What is hydro jetting though? And how effective is it?

What is Hydro Jetting?

Only a fully licensed and qualified plumber can use a hydro jet. It consists of a high-pressure hose with a specialised nozzle at one end.  The hose is connected to a machine that pressurises the water to 5000 psi. Grease, mineral and organic build-up, and other debris from your pipes is cleared as a result of the high-pressure water. A hydro jet machine can reach a blockage as far as 100 metres away!

Your blockage is broken up and forced down the drain by the high-pressure water and into the much larger main sewer line where it is no longer a problem. Moreover, your pipes are left much cleaner after a hydro jet clean. The high-pressure water is fired in all directions to achieve this level of cleanliness. You won’t experience a blocked drain from a build-up anytime soon after a hydro jet drain clean.

Plumbers often use CCTV drain cameras prior to hydro jetting to inspect your blocked drain. A CCTV drain inspection will allow your plumber to assess the problem and suggest whether or not hydro jetting is the solution to your blocked drain. In addition, it will also allow them to identify the cause of your blocked drain and help you prevent it from happening again.

Hydro jet drain cleaning is usually reserved for more stubborn and hard to reach blockages. For less severe blockages, however, your plumber might opt for a manual extraction or an electric drain cleaner for pipes that won’t withstand the hydro jet’s high-pressure water.

Is Hydro Jetting Safe for Pipes?

Did you know that you can cut through metal with high-pressure water? If an untrained or amateur plumber uses a hydro jet on your pipes, they could potentially cut through your pipes. Fully licensed plumbers, like those found at Metropolitan Plumbing, are trained to select a hydro jet nozzle that will be safe for your pipes. When you use a professional plumber, the risk of cutting through your pipes is very low.

Chemical drain cleaners could actually do more damage to your pipes than a hydro jet drain cleaner!

How Often Should You Hydro Jet?

Regular pipe maintenance will help prevent blocked drains. Hydro jet drain cleaning is an effective method for this preventative plumbing maintenance on your pipes. Residential homes should only need hydro jetting every few years to prevent build-ups from occurring. If you have an older home with stainless steel or galvanised pipes, however, your pipes require more frequent cleaning. These pipes are more susceptible to mineral build-up, thus may be more prone to 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, 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, contact Metropolitan Plumbing.