When your sewer line is backed up, it can lead to a plethora of problems. From not being able to use your plumbing to having wastewater backflow into your home, getting the problem fixed quickly is an absolute necessity. For the toughest of problems, hydro jetting can be the ideal answer.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting is a technique that plumbers use to clear clogged and slow-moving sewage lines. This technique involves high-pressure water to clear out heavy buildup debris from inside the sewer lines. It’s highly beneficial for breaking up clogs of all sizes. Hydro jetting is done with a jetter, which is a specialized piece of equipment that is comprised of a nozzle, hose, tank of water, and pressurization device.
How Does This Method Work?
Your plumbing professional will insert the nozzle into the access port of your sewer pipe. This can also be referred to as your plumbing cleanout. Next, they’ll turn the jetter on, which will send high-pressure water down the sewer line. The pressure of this water can often get up to 3,500 pounds per square inch (PSI).
Due to the tremendous force of the jetter, it can easily clear out built-up debris and clogs. The jetter will have various nozzle heads that can be used to treat different types of debris buildup. For example, a chisel nozzle type is used to effectively cut through hardened buildup, roots, and ice.
What Are the Benefits of Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting is an extremely effective method for clearing out blocked or slow-draining sewer pipes. It’s extremely effective at clearing all different types of blockages. From tree roots to heavy waste debris, the high pressure used in hydro jetting will take care of it.
When you compare hydro jetting to some other methods, it’s much more effective. For example, snaking a pipe can still leave a thin layer of debris on the interior of the pipe. Snakes are only made with a thin attachment that is meant to break up the center of the clog. Hydro jetting, on the other hand, uses high pressure to clear out the entire interior of the pipe. It leaves no residue behind, so there are no immediate future flow issues.
Hydro jetting is also a very eco-friendly drain-clearing option. It doesn’t use any harsh chemicals or enzymes to break up the clogs. This means that no hazardous chemicals are going down your drain or damaging your existing piping. Additionally, no plumbers have to handle hazardous chemicals during this pipe-clearing method. This means a safe working environment.
When you compare the price of hydro jetting to other drain-clearing methods, it becomes extremely affordable. This pipe-clearing solution prevents the issue of repeat clogs and burst pipes as it can handle all the residue and ice buildup inside of the pipe very quickly. Even better, you won’t have to worry about ripping out drywall or physically having any pipes opened up to clear out debris.
What Situations Can Hydro Jetting Be Beneficial In?
Hydro jetting can be beneficial in countless scenarios. Some of its most common uses include the following:
- Breaking up tree roots
- Removing calcified scale
- Smashing through ice buildup
- Washing out sand and silt
- Scouring pipe walls
- Pulverizing oil and grease
The above are just some of the many situations where this drain-clearing method can help. It’s commonly used in restaurants, commercial, and municipal settings where there is heavy use on sewer pipes. Additionally, hydro jetting is extremely beneficial for older buildings that have decades’ worth of buildup on the interior of their sewer piping.
Top Signs That You Need Hydro Jetting
As a property owner, you may notice numerous signs that indicate an issue with your plumbing that needs to be addressed by a pipe-clearing method like hydro jetting. One of the most obvious is a slow-draining pipe. When you first have a clog developing, you’ll notice that your sinks, shower, and toilets will take much longer to drain than normal.
Another common indicator of an impending clog is a noisy drain pipe. You may hear gurgling, ticking, or even hissing coming from your drains. You may also start to pick up on an unpleasant odor that seems to be radiating out of your drains. Another common sign of a clog is physical wastewater backup into your home.
A Thorough Pipe Inspection Is Always Necessary
Before hydro jetting can be performed, it’s necessary that a thorough pipe inspection be done via a specialized inspection camera. Your plumber will assess the situation that is causing the clog or slow drain. Due to the high water pressure utilized by hydro jetting, it’s imperative that it not be used when there is damage to the existing pipe. The high force of the water could end up causing more damage.
What Piping Can Hydro Jetting Be Used On?
Over the years, plumbing pipes have been constructed out of many different materials. In older homes, it’s not uncommon to find clay, steel, and cast iron piping. Most newer homes will have piping made of PVC and similar materials. Fortunately, hydro jetting is very versatile in its usage on different types of pipes. It can be effective on all of the following types of plumbing pipes:
- Steel
- Clay
- Cast Iron
- Cement
- Resin-Based
Can Hydro Jetting Help With Unpleasant Odors?
One of the biggest complaints that homeowners may have about their household plumbing is its production of unpleasant odors. These odd smells are typically the result of bacteria and other buildup on the interior of your piping. Hydro jetting uses a high force of water to completely clear out the interior debris of the piping. This means that it will flush away all that buildup of debris and bacteria that is causing those unpleasant odors. After having hydro jetting performed, you should no longer have these unwanted odors emitting from your plumbing.
A Non-Invasive Treatment Option
When you think of a clogged sewer line, you may get blasted with unwanted images of backhoes digging up your front yard. Traditionally, when a snake wasn’t effective at clearing out a sewer line, it had to be dug up by mechanical equipment. With the introduction of hydro jetting into the plumbing industry, it has served as a great, non-invasive alternative.
Typically, hydro jetting can be used to clear out even the toughest of clogs without having to rip into the surrounding soil to physically assess the pipe. This is not only less costly for the property owner, but it also makes for a much shorter repair time frame.
Long-Lasting Results
Hydro jetting is a very effective method for completely clearing out the interior of your piping. Since all the interior debris is removed, the results of this clog-clearing method are extremely long-lasting. When other methods are utilized, there is still typically debris left inside of the piping. This debris can grab the future waste and end up clogging your pipes again in a short while.
Helpful Hydro Jetting Services
Splash Plumbing offers hydro jetting services throughout Anaheim, CA, and the surrounding regions. We can also assist with all of your commercial, backflow testing, HOA, and property maintenance needs. With over 20 years of experience behind us, we’re a top choice in the area when clients want expert service. Simply contact us today to get one of our licensed plumbers on the way.
