Hydro Jetting 101: How It Works and Why You Need It

When the drain in your sink begins to run slowly, your first thought may be to grab the drain snake. While these may work for minor clogs that are near the drain, they may not work for more difficult clogs that are further down in the pipe system. What do you do at that moment? Your next step may be to consider calling a professional plumber to use a hydro jet on the clog.

You may have heard of this plumbing service called hydro jetting, but what is it exactly? Expert plumbers can use a hydro jet to break up more serious clogs that a drain snake may not be able to take care of. In this post, we will go over what hydro jetting is, how it works, the benefits of hydro jetting, and common signs that you may need hydro jetting services.

What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is a service performed by a professional plumber that uses pressurized water to flush out clogs in your home’s plumbing system. Think about when you use a pressure washer to clean off stuck dirt and debris on your driveway or sidewalk. Hydro jet plumbing works similarly to that pressure washer, in that pressurized water is used to clean out more stubborn grime from inside of your plumbing system.

However, it is important to keep in mind that hydro jetting should be left to professional plumbers. Without the proper equipment or training, an untrained individual can cause serious damage to older or worn-down pipelines with the pressurized water. A professional plumber knows how to use hydro jets safely without harming your plumbing, which is why homeowners should leave this chore to the professionals.

How Does It Work?

Hydro jetting works by first feeding a tube into your pipeline until it comes into contact with the culprit clog. From there, the professional technician will turn on the jet and send a stream of pressurized hot water into the pipe. The combination of the force and the hot temperature of the water will break up the clog and effectively flush it through your plumbing system. Not only does it break up any clogs, but it can also clean out your drains and plumbing to prevent clogs in the future.

Benefits of Hydrojet Plumbing

Why is hydro jetting a great alternative to treating clogs in your plumbing? Some of the benefits of hydro jetting include the following.

• Effectiveness: Hydro jetting uses hot water at high pressure to flush out severe clogs in no time, and it is effective against any type of clog.
• Environmentally Friendly: Since it only uses pressurized water, hydro jets are a more environmentally friendly alternative to using chemical clog treatments or other methods.
• Thoroughness: Because hydro jetting uses water to flush out clogs and stubborn debris, it makes sure that the clog is thoroughly cleaned out and your pipes are back to fully functional the first time.
• Safety: Hydro jetting is a safe and effective method of removing clogs that does not cause additional damage to your pipe system.
• Cost-Effective: Hydro jetting is an affordable and cost-effective clog removal and cleaning service that takes care of the problem the first time, without needing a second visit.

Differences Between Hydro Jetting & Drain Snaking

Why should you call a professional plumber to use a hydro jet to take care of your clogged drain when you can buy a drain snake at the store? Hydro jetting can clean out clogs more thoroughly than a drain snake and can reach the full radius of your pipes to completely flush out any debris causing the clog. They also do not use any chemicals to break up clogs, instead, they just use pressurized hot water.

On the other hand, drain snakes only use manual force to break up clogs without flushing them away. While they can take care of minor clogs, they are less thorough than using a hydro jet. They also require a chemical agent to break up the clog and partially dissolve it. 

Common Signs You Need Hydro Jetting

How do you know when it is time to hydro jet your sewer line or indoor plumbing? Some of the potential signs that you need hydro jetting to take care of your clog can include the following.

• Your plumbing system backs up regularly.
• Your bathroom or kitchen sink drain is noticeably smelly.
• You notice that your pipes are noisy or gurgling.
• You have to deal with frequent clogs in your plumbing.
• Your drains run slower than normal.

What Can Hydro Jetting Remove?

Using pressurized water at hotter temperatures, hydro jetting is strong enough to handle even severe clogs that would otherwise require pipe replacements. Regardless of the cause of the clog, a hydro jet can take care of it in no time. Hydro jetting can remove all types of clogs in your plumbing, including:

• Hair clogs
• Mineral deposits
• Grease and fat deposits
• Food
• Silt
• Sand
• Tree roots

Does Hydro Jetting Work on Tree Roots?

In certain cases, roots from trees around your home can actually penetrate your pipes and cause clogs and other plumbing problems. Luckily, if the damage is minor, hydro plumbing can take care of those pesky roots and restore your plumbing. However, if your inspection shows that the damage from the roots is substantial enough, or the waterproof coating of your pipe has been damaged, then hydro jetting may not be the best solution. 

In these instances, hydro jetting can make matters worse and cause more damage to your plumbing. It would be best then to get in touch with a tree maintenance professional to assess the damage and work with your plumber to determine the next steps.

Professional Hydrojet Plumbing Services with LimRic

Hydro jetting provides a safe and effective alternative method to taking care of clogs and stubborn drains in your plumbing system. Using power from pressurized water and hot water temperatures allows for hydro jets to flush away even stubborn clogs. These can be used both in the pipes inside your home as well as the main sewer line that travels to and from your home.

Looking to schedule an appointment with a plumbing expert? Our team at LimRic Plumbing, Heating, and Air is ready to get our hands dirty and help with all of your plumbing needs. Our technicians are trained and certified in hydro jetting services for effective results that do not damage the rest of your plumbing. We also have emergency services available at any time of day. Contact us online to schedule a free estimate of our services. We offer our plumbing services in the Lowcountry area of South Carolina including Charleston and the other surrounding areas.