Our first instinct when faced with a malfunctioning toilet is often to grab the closest plunger we can find.
However, if the problem is a buildup in your home’s main sewer line, standard plunging or pouring batches of drain cleaners will hardly make a difference.
When this happens, you can even end up with plumbing issues all over your home, from backups to overflows and, in the worst case, flooding!
To prevent serious damage, you may need to call plumbing professionals to perform hydro jetting to clean up your clogged sewage pipes.
But what is hydro jetting and when do you need it? Learn everything you need to know about this home plumbing solution below.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting, also called high-pressure water jetting, is a trenchless clogging solution. It uses a high-velocity water stream to clear up grease, minerals, food particles, and debris buildup blocking or slowing down your sewage line’s drain.
Think of it like power washing, but instead of your driveway, you’re blasting the pressurized water down your home’s plumbing to eliminate stubborn blockage from your septic system.
However, before calling in a contractor, be sure to check with your local plumber whether your sewage pipes need or can withstand the intense cleaning.
It’s a highly accurate procedure and doesn’t work on broken plumbing. Additionally, if your pipes are old, they may break from the water pressure. Hydro jetting would be a poor solution in both of these cases.
How Does Hydro Jetting Work?
Despite the high-tech lingo, hydro jetting works fairly simply. It uses a device called a jetter, which consists of a water tank, a nozzle, and a pressure pump. Most professionals also bring other waste-handling equipment.
The jetting pump typically squeezes water at 4,000 to 60,000 PSI. That’s over 100 times stronger than your typical household water pressure. This intense water force flows through the sewer system, pushing the blockage out of your home’s plumbing.
That said, while it sounds easy—sticking in a hose and spraying in water—hydro jetting requires precise control to prevent damaging your plumbing.
A professional plumber will know the right amount of pressure needed to clear away the toughest debris without harming the system. Getting it wrong can mean a hefty repair bill, so it’s best you leave it to the experts!
Who Needs Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting is an effective and quick sewer maintenance solution for many circumstances. Old houses, restaurants, and commercial sewers with heavy buildup from frequent use may need some of this tough cleaning.
But how do you know when you need it? Here are several early signs to watch out for to know whether your home’s plumbing system requires hydro jetting:
Slow Draining Plumbing
Slow-draining pipes are one of the first signs of a malfunctioning sewer system. But it can be hard to spot, as it doesn’t happen overnight and becomes progressively slower over time.
The problem can start as simple as a puddle in your sink or shower. Left unattended, these seemingly minor inconveniences can escalate and flood your home.
Gurgling Sounds Coming From Pipes
If you hear sounds from your pipes and drains, that’s a huge red flag of a clogged plumbing system. It can be any noise, from gurgling, squeaking, ticking, or hissing.
A normally functioning drain should be dead silent. If a pipe becomes noisy, it means there’s air in the system, an element that shouldn’t be there.
Always take note of unexplained sounds around your home. If it’s coming from your toilet, that almost always means a tide of blocked sewage is close behind!
Foul Odor Drifting From Sewer
Besides odd noises, foul odor wafting from drains is another dead giveaway of a nearly clogged sewage system.
Unfortunately, this is not something you can solve with an air freshener. So, if you’re scrunching your nose every time you’re on a bathroom break, it may be time to call a plumber for a much-needed jetting.
Hydro Jetting Procedure 101
There are two steps to hydro jetting. First comes the inspection, where your licensed plumber uses a camera to find the major sources of blockage and areas of heavy buildup.
This step also ensures your pipes are strong enough and don’t have any damage to tolerate high-pressure water without breaking.
If your sewage pipe’s condition is too weak to tolerate hydro jetting, they may recommend other cleaning solutions, such as snaking. Tree roots growing too close to your pipes may also require augering.
Once they find the right access points, they’ll drop the hose nozzle first and begin pumping pressurized water into the sewage pipes.
Jetting nozzles come in many shapes and sizes depending on the severity of the clogging. For instance, your plumber may use a chisel jetting nozzle, shaped with sharp edges to scrape off deep-seated blockage.
As the water runs, the hose moves through the plumbing dislodging stuck debris, buildup sludge, calcified particles, and clearing the system.
Cost of Hydro Jetting a Sewer Line
The cost of hydro jetting a sewer line depends on the type (residential or commercial), the severity of blockage, and your sewer’s accessibility.
Residential sewer lines typically cost as low as $300 for simple obstructions, especially if the blockage is easily accessible for cleaning. On average, homeowners pay $700 for hydro jet plumbing maintenance.
On the other hand, commercial sewer lines are larger than residential sewage systems. They hold more wastewater, have more intricate plumbings, and are more prone to damage that requires risky maintenance.
If you own a commercial building needing hydro jetting to solve clogging toilets, expect to pay between $600 to $3,000.
Hydro Jetting Safety (Is It Safe?)
Cleaning sewers with pressurized water is generally safe as long as your pipelines are well-maintained. It can also be used for most types of pipes, including PVC, HDPE, ABS, cast iron, transite, and clay plumbings.
The only time you should be concerned is if your sewage systems are old or already damaged. Your plumbing’s age is crucial for hydro jetting, as the intense pressure required for cleaning can burst outdated pipelines.
That’s why it’s important for a professional to inspect your sewer lines’ health before considering hydro jetting. This doesn’t mean you can’t clean older plumbings, though. They simply take extra precautions to prevent unnecessary costs.
Is Hydro Jetting Better Than Snaking?
Hydro jetting and snaking are the two main ways plumbers clean your sewers. Whether one is better than the other depends on your plumbing situation.
Snaking involves sticking a long, flexible metal rod into the sewer lines. At the tip of this rod are rotating sharp blades designed to cut and clear away clogs, such as tree roots, human hair, and food debris.
This cutting method is often the best choice for older and weakened pipelines as it doesn’t apply pressure that may cause damage.
However, hydro jetting typically does a better job of deep cleaning your plumbings. It’s safer for the environment, too, as it uses only water, unlike other cleaning methods that use harsh chemicals to break down grime.
Final Thoughts
A clogged toilet is a one-way ticket to a ruined day. But if it happens more than once, you may want to put aside that plunger and call for a professional instead.
Your sewer system demands the same care as any other part of your home. So, don’t hesitate to reach out if you think your sewage lines need some tough cleaning with hydro jetting!
