Freeing up a drain or sewer blockage is a nasty business. When snake rooters can’t sufficiently un-clog a plumbing system, choosing to overlook the problem can lead to a contaminated water supply or water pressure problems. Fortunately, hydro jetting is a solution on the rise that makes unblocking a drain as simple as any other household chore.
What is Hydro Jetting?
Through hydro jetting, specialists can scour plumbing pipes’ interior surfaces using a high-pressure flow of water, removing scale, grease, debris, and other contaminants. Unlike rodding, through which a plumber powers a hole through the build-up using specific tools, hydro jetting can achieve a more comprehensive cleaning.
How Hydro Jetting Works
First, a plumber will insert a hose connected to a tank of water into the cleanout, an area of the plumbing system that allows specialists to access the pipes. A specialized machine will pressurize water from the tank, which the hose can easily withstand.
The specific water pressure a plumber employs will depend on the condition of the pipes. Typically, a plumber will pressurize water up to 5,000 psi or more, delivering as much as 20 gallons of water per minute.
There is gravity at play when removing build-up. Most home plumbing systems will use gravity to pull wastewater out of the home and into a neighboring sewer system. On the other hand, hydro jetting works from the bottom up. A plumber will insert the hose into the downstream portion of the system, working water upwards.
As water scours the pipes, it removes debris, moving them down with gravity and flushing them out of the system.
Hydro jetting can solve several common plumbing problems, such as accumulating debris, residue and grease, tree root infiltration, or mineral and scale build-up.
Precautions to Take with Hydro Jetting Solutions
In most cases, hydro-jetting plumbing solutions are entirely safe. However, it isn’t advisable to hire a novice plumber for hydro jetting when your system experiences significant tree root penetration.
A reliable plumber will first visually inspect the indoor plumbing system and sewer lines using video equipment to assess the underlying problem. If tree root infiltration has already caused significant damage or compromised your piping’s waterproof coating, hydro jetting can exacerbate the problem by clumping rocks and soil through perforated septic lines.
If your plumber deems hydro jetting an appropriate solution, they should perform another video inspection afterward to evaluate the pipes’ condition and the cleaning effectiveness.
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing a complex piping problem, its best to work with an experienced and licensed professional instead of alleviating the issue yourself. Using diagnostic tools, your plumber can effectively determine whether hydro jetting can clean out debris from your plumbing pipes and sewer lines.
At Rooter Drain Expert, we employ the latest technology and jet-rooter machines to remove even the toughest of clogs. We will first perform a sewer line camera inspection to diagnose the problem and effectively prescribe an ideal solution—whether or not that’s hydro jetting. We ensure that all our plumbing projects are up to code by employing only high-trained and licensed plumbers.
