Tired of recurring drain clogs and the dread of a plumbing emergency? While plungers and drain snakes offer temporary fixes, sometimes your home’s pipes need a truly deep clean. Now presenting….hydro-jetting, also known as hydro-scrubbing or hydro-cleaning. This advanced technique isn’t your average DIY solution; it’s a powerful, effective method that uses highly pressurized water to eradicate stubborn blockages, grease, roots, and mineral deposits from your sewer lines by scouring the side walls of the pipes.
It’s a far more robust solution than traditional mechanical augering. This method of clearing the pipes ensures that they are not just open, but truly clean. Read on to discover how hydro-jetting works and how this professional service can keep your plumbing flowing freely.
How Does Hydro-Jetting Work?
Hydro-jetting equipment is surprisingly straightforward yet incredibly powerful. It typically consists of:
- A specialized, high-pressure hose
- An engineered water nozzel to direct the flow
- A machine that pressurizes the water
Water is blasted into your sewer pipes through a “cleanout” – an access point designed into every plumbing system specifically for maintenance and cleaning, typically found in the front of most of the North Texas homes. Flowing at a rate of 18 to 20 gallons per minute, the water can reach pressures of up to 5,000 PSI (pounds per square inch), an intensity that is enough to cause severe injury and possible amputation if mishandled.
The professional plumber inserts a specialized nozzle at the downstream end of the system. This nozzle delivers powerful blasts of water that propel forward, breaking apart and flushing out debris. Thanks to gravity, all the dislodged waste and water efficiently exit the system through the normal gravity flow sewer lines and into the city main sewer system.
Crucial Note: Hydro-jetting is a job for experienced professionals only! Attempting this without the necessary expertise can lead to significant damage to your home’s plumbing system and personal injury. Professional plumbers are trained in and understand precisely what pressure settings are appropriate for different pipe materials and blockage types, thereby ensuring effective cleaning without causing harm to themselves or the property.
When Is Hydro-Jetting the Right Solution?
Before deploying the power of hydro-jetting, a skilled plumber will perform a video camera inspection of your pipes. This crucial step allows them to pinpoint the exact location and nature of the blockage and the condition of the pipe, ensuring hydro-jetting is the most effective and recommended solution for your specific problem.
- Resource: Learn more about the difference in augering and hydro-jetting.
Here are common issues where hydro-jetting excels:
1. Eliminating Stubborn Obstructions and Restoring Water Flow
Over time, various substances accumulate and harden within your pipes. These often include:
- Grease and Fats: A common culprit in kitchen drains. ***Special note: Here in North Texas alot of the homes have both the washing machine and the kitchen on the same drain. Therefore, if the laundry line is not working, the kitchen sink and dishwasher may also be stopped up.
- Dirt and Mineral Deposits: Especially prevalent in areas with hard water or high total disolved solvants (TDS). In this area, Highland Village historically has high TDS levels in the water. Check out your city’s annual water quality report for your city’s water condition.
- Tree Roots: A notorious problem for outdoor sewer lines. When homes are built, the builder often does not concern themselves with the placement of trees and bushes over the sewer lines. Therefore, after several years of growth, the plants look to the lines for water and nurishment-great for plants but bad for homeowners.
- Other Sludge and Debris: Accumulation from everyday use. Never use your drains to dispose of things like concrete, sand, paint or other DIY home project materials. They will reak havoc on your pipes!
As blockages grow, they restrict water flow, leading to slow drains, backups, unpleasant odors, and even potential home flooding. Hydro-jetting is incredibly effective at dislodging and removing these hardened piles, often without the need for disruptive digging, ensuring your home remains flood- and odor-free.
2. Ridding Your Pipes of Harmful Bacteria and Foul Odors
A persistent, foul odor emanating from your drains can be more than just unpleasant; it can indicate a buildup of bacteria within your plumbing lines. This bacteria thrives on the organic matter and mineral deposits present in wastewater. As bacteria grow, they release various gases into the air, which can not only smell terrible but, in some cases, negatively impact your family’s health. By thoroughly clearing out wastewater and its associated sludge, hydro-jetting effectively removes these harmful bacterial colonies, contributing to a healthier home environment. Also, using a Biological Drain Aid can help keep these colonies under control. Contact CW Service Pros if you are in need of a non-chemical and safe to use maintenance product.
Why Is Hydro-Jetting a Superior Cleaning Alternative?
While many plumbing problems have multiple solutions, hydro-jetting often stands out as the superior choice due to several key advantages:
- No Harsh Chemicals: Unlike many conventional drain cleaners, hydro-jetting relies solely on highly pressurized water. This means no corrosive chemicals are introduced into your plumbing system, protecting your pipes from potential damage and eliminating health and environmental concerns-the most important reason to avoid caustic chemical drain cleaners.
- Resource: The EPA provides valuable information on reducing chemical use and protecting water quality.
- Safe for Various Sewer Systems: Hydro-jetting is a versatile and safe option for nearly all types of sewer lines. Its effectiveness in clearing even the most stubborn blockages is remarkable, and the thorough cleaning it provides significantly reduces the likelihood of clogs returning in the near future. It’s a highly time-efficient solution for even major pipe obstructions.
- Cleans the Entire Pipe: Traditional methods like rotating drain snakes often just bore a hole through the center of a clog, allowing water to flow again but leaving much of the debris adhering to the pipe walls. This means clogs can quickly reform. In contrast, hydro-jetting, blasts debris away from the entire circumference of the pipe, leaving it remarkably clean and greatly extending the time before another clog might occur.
- Resource: For a deeper dive into drain cleaning methods, This Old House offers insights into various other drain clearing approaches: How to Use a Drain Snake (while this specifically covers augering and not hydro-jetting, it contextualizes the difference).
When to Call a Plumber for Hydro-Jetting
Knowing when to call in a professional is key to preventing minor issues from escalating into major headaches. Here are clear indicators that hydro-jetting might be the solution for your home:
- You Can’t Clear the Clog On Your Own: If you’ve tried common DIY “green” alternatives like using baking soda and vinegar mixtures, and following it with hot water and the problem persists, it’s time to call a professional.
- Resource: For safe, DIY drain cleaning alternatives, The Spruce offers an excellent guide: How to Unclog a Drain With Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Persistent Foul Odors: As mentioned, foul odors, especially those reminiscent of sewage, are a strong indicator of a significant clog, a serious bacterial buildup in your plumbing system, or a leak in the sewer system that is leaching dangerous gasses into your home. Don’t ignore these scents; contact a plumber immediately!
- Recurring Clogs: If a particular drain or area of your plumbing experiences frequent clogs despite your best efforts, hydro-jetting can provide a long-term solution by thoroughly cleaning the pipe and addressing the root cause of the recurring issue. Whether roots, grease, or other common household clogs, hydro-jetting may be a great option for a long-term solution.
- Multiple Slow Drains: When several drains in your home are slow or backed up, it often signals a blockage in a main sewer line, which is typically a job for professional plumber for augering, performing a camera inspection, and hydro-jetting.
After a plumber completes a hydro-jetting service, they will often perform another video camera inspection to confirm that the clog or issue has been completely resolved. While other solutions might offer a temporary “bandage,” hydro-jetting aims to thoroughly address the underlying cause of your plumbing problems, giving you peace of mind and lasting results.
Don’t Wait!
Keep your pipes happy and your wallet happier-address your slow drain today. If you think you’re experiencing a problem that requires the use of hydro-jetting or you have another plumbing issue, call or book online with CW Service Pros-your local hometown heros! 972-395-2597.
