If you've had the same drain clog more than once, someone has probably mentioned hydro jetting. Here's what it is, when it's worth it, and when it isn't.
What is hydro jetting?
Hydro jetting cleans the inside of a drain or sewer pipe with high-pressure water. A hose with a special nozzle goes into the line through a cleanout. The nozzle sprays water backward and sideways, which both pulls the hose forward and scours the pipe walls, washing grease, sludge, soap buildup, scale and debris down and out of the line.
It uses only water, no harsh drain chemicals.
Hydro jetting vs. snaking
- Snaking (cabling) pushes a rotating cable through the clog and punches a hole in it. Water flows again, but the buildup on the pipe walls stays, so the clog often comes back.
- Hydro jetting cleans the whole pipe wall, so the buildup that causes the clog is gone, not just pierced.
Snaking is fine for a simple, one-time clog. Jetting is the next step when the same line keeps clogging.
Signs your line may need jetting
- The same drain clogs again weeks after it was cleared.
- Several drains are slow at once, or the toilet gurgles when the washer drains.
- Sewer smells from drains.
- Water backs up into a tub or floor drain when you use another fixture.
- A restaurant or commercial kitchen with grease in its lines (see commercial hydro jetting in Mesa).
- Hard water scale narrowing older drain lines.
Is hydro jetting safe for your pipes?
For pipes in sound condition, yes, when it's done right. The key is looking first. A camera inspection shows what's in the line and what shape the pipe is in, so the plumber can pick the right nozzle and pressure for that pipe.
If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or broken section, or roots breaking through a joint, jetting may not be the right fix, and the pipe itself may need sewer line repair. A good plumber tells you that before running the jetter, not after.
How long do the results last?
Because jetting removes the buildup instead of poking through it, the line usually stays clear longer than after snaking. How long depends on what goes down the drain: a kitchen line that gets grease every day builds up again faster than a bathroom line. For businesses, a camera check shows how fast buildup is coming back, so you can set a cleaning schedule instead of waiting for a backup.
Keep your lines clear longer
- Don't pour grease or oil down the kitchen sink. Wipe pans and toss it in the trash.
- Use drain screens to catch hair in showers and tubs.
- Only flush toilet paper: "flushable" wipes don't break down like paper.
- Skip chemical drain openers on a stubborn clog. Call a plumber instead.
Hydro jetting in Mesa and the East Valley
OX Plumbing jets drain and sewer lines for homes and businesses, starting with a camera look at the line. Learn more about our hydro jetting service or drain cleaning, or call us 24/7.