What Does Hydro Jetting Do?

What is hydro-jetting? 

Plumbers have a variety of methods they can use for unclogging plumbing and sewer lines. However, hydro-jetting is often the preferred choice. This is a process using water at a high pressure and forcing it through the plumbing pipes and sewer lines. This process typically busts apart any build-up that is clogging the pipe’s interior.

This hydro-jetting process scours away any heavy buildup inside the plumbing lines and sewer lines easily and quickly. It breaks up any clogs inside the plumbing and sewer lines commonly found to cause clogs. 

What are the common causes of clogged drain lines? 

Inside your home, clogged drains are aggravating and can be nasty too, especially if it is the toilet backing up.  Some of the common things that cause these clogs include: 

• FOG (fats, oils, grease)
• Soap and toothpaste scum
• Hair
• Paper products (Kleenex, tissues, napkins, paper towels)
• Baby and feminine products (diapers, wipes, tampons, sanitary pads)
• Debris, dirt, tree roots
• Assorted objects (toys)
• Cosmetics, makeup, cotton balls

It can be easy to pour FOG substance down the kitchen drain, or flush baby and female products down the toilet. However, these things should never be flushed or poured because they will eventually, if not immediately, cause plumbing drains to clog. 

If the basic household methods of unclogging the drains don’t work, a plumber should be called to inspect the situation.  They will often try hydro-jetting the drains inside the home with possible results of pushing the blockage through. If this doesn’t fix the problem, a plumber will then inspect the sewer lines outside of the home.

What are the common causes of clogged sewer lines? 

All of the above items listed that are a common cause for clogged drain lines can also cause sewer lines to clog too.  Additionally, though, the sewer line is subject to other possible clogging matters such as the sewer being overfilled during heavy rains storms and small critters making their way into the sewer line and building nests.

Again, the plumber will try the hydro-jetting process using the clean-out. The high-pressure force of hydro-jetting will usually bust through any blockage, including critter nesting and tree roots. After the hydro-jetting is completed, the plumber will then do a camera scan of the pipe’s interior. 

If they find any breaks or cracks in the sewer line, they choose a method to repair the sewer line. Today, instead of digging up the landscape to replace the entire sewer line, the plumber will use a balloon type of repair by inserting an epoxy material. This material is inserted into the clean-out and forced into the broken or cracked areas of the sewer line and then air is forced into the line. This expands the epoxy inside the sewer line and once it cures, it creates a new pipe inside the broken pipe. 

Are there downsides to using the hydro-jetting process? 

Yes, depending on the age, condition, and type of material of the drain and sewer lines, the force of water in the hydro-jetting can cut through the pipe and cause it to break.  Hydro-jetting is not recommended for homes on a septic system. An experienced plumber will inspect the situation and determine the type of material they are working with before starting a hydro-jetting process. 

How long does the process of hydro-jetting take? 

In most cases, the actual hydro-jetting takes approximately an hour. This doesn’t include the prep work needed first nor any repairs that may be needed afterward.  Is hydro-jetting expensive?  It can cost around $1,000 for most situations. 

Is hydro jetting better than snaking a drain? 

Both methods have specifics, with each being effective in the intended goal. Snaking a drain is a good process for common household blockages, but hydro jetting is better for getting down into the sewer line. 

In Conclusion

While hydro jetting may be on the expensive side of homeownership repairs, it is less invasive than how plumbers found sewer line problems. In the past, they would bring heavy equipment in to dig up the sewer line until they found the break or clog. Then cut the defective pipe out, place the new pipe there, and connect it to the existing pipe. This would often leave a possible sewer line break as the ground shifted. 

Once hydro jetting service is complete, it has cleared out any major blockages, and made way for any repairs to be done if needed, the results will last for several years.  If a home has several older trees around or nearby, there is always going to be the chance of tree roots finding their way to the sewer lines and creating the problem again.