What Is Hydro Jetting?


Hydro jetting is an excellent plumbing tool. You might be wondering: what is hydro jetting? Well, at Drain Express, we’ve got answers for you. Let us help you decide if hydro jetting is a good option for you and your home. 

Hydro jetting is a non-invasive method used to unclog drains without using chemicals. The process utilizes high-pressure water, usually around 4,000 PSI, to clean pipes. This water can remove thick grease blockages, debris, and roots from drain lines in your home. One way to think about hydro jetting is that it’s pressure washing for the inside of your pipes. 

These systems have a high-pressure hose, nozzle, and pump that builds the pressure in the water. There aren’t any chemicals used, so you can rest assured there won’t be any damage done to your pipes or health. 

The Process

Before hydro jetting, we use a camera to inspect the pipes to ensure they’re in optimal condition. If there is any damage to your drain lines, the hydro jetting process can cause more destruction. This high-pressure water can break through brittle, old metal pipes and do more harm than good. If there’s any damage to your lines, we will repair them before hydro jetting the entire system. 

First, we insert the hydro jet nozzle into the drain line at the cleanout. When the water encounters a blockage, we will continue to blast it until it is clear. We adjust pressure based on the blockage type and size. This ensures no damage is caused to your pipes.

Once the entire drain system has been hydro jetted, we run a camera through once more. This is to be sure that there are no more blockages. We strive to please our customers every day, so this step is crucial. 

Why You Should Consider Hydro Jetting Your Pipes

Snakes and plungers are great—to an extent. Plungers are a surface-level tool, and snakes are not all-encompassing. 

The difference between this process and snaking is that snakes are making holes. When we say making holes, we mean the snake is making holes in the clog. This does break up the clog, but it doesn’t clean the whole line. 

A snake is a great tool to get water flowing again. Although, when you have a blockage that is so big it cannot get snaked, you need to hydro jet it. 

Hydro jetting thoroughly cleans out the blockage and the rest of the pipe without damage. This is better for the system as a whole and guarantees there are no more blockages. 

If you find yourself at the end of your rope trying to unclog your drain lines, it’s time to consider hydro jetting. Also, it is a great option to consider for annual maintenance to prevent buildups and extend the life of your drain line system. 

Next Steps

Unfortunately, hydro jetting is not a DIY project. There are too many things that can go wrong. Whether that’s causing damage to existing pipes or not understanding how to use the tools, it’s not worth the risk. 

If you’d like to hydro jet your drain lines, give us a call at Drain Express, and we can help today! We’ll come to take a look at what’s going on and provide you with honest advice and the best course of action.