Most every homeowner has dealt with clogged pipes or slow drains at some point. It can be incredibly annoying – especially if you have to bring in a plumber to fix the problem or waste a lot of time and money on do-it-yourself solutions.
However, there is one option that can correct clogs and buildup at once – hydro jetting. This method can address deep clogs and clear scale and debris that accumulates on the walls of your pipes, preventing bigger clogs in the future.
What is Hydro Jetting?
Sewer lines are designed to flush wastewater from your household drains to the public sewer system. The wastewater from multiple households flows into those lines, so they can get buildup or clogs pretty easily. The worse a clog becomes, the more of a hassle you’ll have to deal with.
Hydro jetting – or hydro flushing – is an eco-conscious and economical solution that can clear both plumbing blockages and buildup at once to prevent future problems. It uses a high-pressure stream of water flowing through the pipes to break up the buildup on the pipe surfaces or the clogs and flush them into the sewer system.
How Does Hydro Jetting Work?
The process begins with a plumber performing a detailed inspection of the plumbing system to find any damage. If your system is in good condition for pressurized water, the plumber will use a jetting hose in your pipes to pump water throughout. This will scour your pipe walls and remove buildup and scale to flush out of your home without damaging your pipes.
Hydro jetting should always be done by a professional, due to the specialized tools and the knowledge required for the process. Though this method is completely safe, an untrained DIYer with a hose could potentially disconnect areas of the pipe or run pressurized water through a pipe with cracks or damage.
Is Hydro Jetting Different than Snaking?
Drain snaking is a common and approachable solution for homeowners. Drain snakes can be found at home improvement centers and offer an affordable option that’s easy to use. Most drain snakes are a cable with an electric motor and blades that push and pull, removing clogs.
Snaking only works on clogs that haven’t made it past the P-trap. Hydro jetting flushes out the entire system, ensuring the deepest clogs are removed and pushed into the sewer system.
Is Hydro Jetting Safe?
Hydro jetting is a perfectly safe and effective way to clean out your plumbing system, no matter the pipe material, and remove clogs or buildup. Because it’s only pressurized water, there’s a low risk of damage when the process is done by a professional plumber. Hydro jetting is also safe for the environment because it doesn’t use any chemicals.
When Would I Need Hydro Jetting?
Here are some warning signs that you may need hydro jetting:
Frequent Backups (Even After Snaking)
Recurrent clogs and backups are not just annoying, but they can be costly. If you’ve been trying to fix the problem with drain cleaners, drain snakes, and other methods, you could be damaging your pipes without addressing the deep-set clog or scale buildup.
Whichever problem you’re dealing with, hydro jetting is a comprehensive option that can flush it out and clean your pipes.
Sewage Smell or Backup
If you smell sewage or have backup, you could be dealing with a number of problems. Sewer backup may be caused by an empty P-trap, which is the curved pipe section that keeps water at all times and prevents sewer gasses from traveling back into your home.
Sewer gasses are anything but harmless, however. These gasses pose a health risk, so if you have a backed up sewer line, it’s important to contact a plumber as soon as you can. You could also have wet spots or dampness in your home that could cause mold or water damage.
Slow Drains
Slow drains may be annoying, but many homeowners choose to let it go until it gets bad enough to warrant intervention. Drain cleaners, such as Drano, are often used to address the clog, but they aren’t the most effective solution. They also cause damage to your pipes if you use them regularly.
You should never neglect a slow drain. Though it may not be much of an issue now, it can get worse and lead to a big clog and more of a mess to fix. Hydro jetting can be used to flush out clogs and remove the buildup on the walls of your pipes.
Fixtures Backing Up into Other Drains
If you flush the toilet and end up with water backup in the shower or tub, you could be dealing with blocked sewer lines or a clog in the shared drain between the toilet and shower.
The first step is to plunge the toilet and see if it stops the backup. If not, you could have a deep clog or buildup in the pipes that’s causing it. Hydro jetting can be used to remove the blockage in the pipes and prevent the backup from occurring.
Dealing with a plumbing problem? Contact us at Moore Home Services to schedule an appointment!
