If you deal with annoying clogged drains regularly, then high-pressure hydro-jetting could be a good solution for your home.
If you deal with annoying clogged drains regularly, then high-pressure hydro-jetting could be a good solution for your home.While hydro-jetting sounds like an exciting water sport or an extreme way to carve stone more efficiently, you might find it slightly less exciting. That is, unless you really appreciate a clean drain line.
Hydro-jetting is one of the best ways to clear clogged drains, stop persistent stinks in your pipes, and keep a clean drain system.
Still, just because hydro-jetting involves plumbing, that doesn’t mean that it’s boring.
Why Hydro-Jetting Is the Coolest Way To Clean Your Pipes
Before we get into how you can hydro-jet your clogged shower drain or your kitchen sink, let’s go over the basics.
Hydro-jetting is the process of feeding a pressurized water hose down your pipes and then releasing high-velocity water that blasts the insides of your pipes until all of the collected gunk and grime gives up the ghost.
The whole process of jetting used to be considered highly futuristic in the world of plumbing. However, the cost of jetting equipment has decreased. Over time, hydro-jetting has become more and more common.
Hydro-jetting is now known to be good at cleaning and preventing blockages in water lines and sewer lines – it can even prevent tree roots from breaking in.
That said, if a tree root has already cracked your pipes, then hydro-jetting is probably a bad idea. Pipe replacement is the best course of action in that scenario.
Is It Dangerous?
Like most activities that involve highly pressurized water, hydro-jetting can be dangerous for your pipes if you over-pressurize the line. That’s why we always recommend either hiring an experienced plumber or that you keep your pocketbook handy (just in case).
Still, even though this cleaning method can be destructive, you should be in very little physical danger. The biggest concern when hydro-jetting a clogged sink drain, sewer line, or other pipes around your home is that you will crack your pipes with too much pressurized water.
Any plumber worth their salt will be able to safely hydro-jet your pipes with little to no danger to themselves, to you, or to your pipes.
Is Hydro-jetting is Eco Friendly?
Hydro-jetting is as eco-friendly as whatever you’ve been putting down your drains.
Think about it. Jetting adds nothing except water to your clogged pipes and drains. Hydro-jetting machines don’t use harsh chemicals like Draino, lye, or other toxic compounds drain clog removers can tend to carry. It’s just water and nothing else.
That means that you won’t be harming the local groundwater with your plumbing procedures on the off chance that a pipe breaks (unless you poured a whole gallon of chemical drain cleaner down right before).
Common Signs That You Need to Jet Your Pipes
So, how do you know that it’s time to hire a plumber to hydro-jet your drains?
Well, there are a couple of common symptoms that you can be on the lookout for.
Your Pipes Keep Clogging
Hydro-jetting is commonly used to clear out drains that are repeatedly clogging.
When your pipes keep clogging, it’s usually a symptom of a lot of build-up around the inside walls of your pipes. So, while you might be able to remove any large obstructions from your pipes with a drain snake, you almost certainly won’t be addressing the root of the problem.
To completely clean inside your pipes, you’ll need to treat them to a hydro-jetting session. This will clean all of the crud that your snake can’t reach.
You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Cleaned Your Lines
It seems like a no-brainer when we say it out loud but think for a second. When did you clean your sewer lines last? When was the last time you even thought about your sewer lines?
Obviously, we don’t want you to have your pipes in mind 100% of the time, but we recommend regular maintenance. You should consider hydro-jetting your sewer lines, and other high traffic drains once every couple of years to avoid a plumbing emergency.
Hydro-jetting is a long-lasting solution, so once you start your regular maintenance, you shouldn’t have any more problems.
Your Pipes Aren’t Draining Like They Used To
Is your bathroom sink not draining like it used to? Do you fill-up the shower tub without putting in the plug?
If that’s the case, it’s time to call a plumber! Sounds like those pipes need to be hydro-jetted.
Slow drains are a possible symptom of build-up in your pipes that you don’t want. Slow drains could also be a symptom of a more extensive blockage. Either way, if your pipes are acting up, it’s time to contact a pro.
Your Pipes Are Hissing or Making A Lot of Noise
If your pipes are hissing at you, you probably have an air problem.
You can get air in your pipes in a couple of different ways. Air can enter your pipes through cracks caused by roots, or it can be trapped inside by a clogged vent stack.
If your pipe is cracked, don’t hydro-jet. You can make matters worse. However, if your vent stack is clogged, then that’s your go-ahead. Blast those pipes to your heart’s content.
If you don’t know what a vent stack is, we’ll explain it to you.
A vent stack is a pipe that extends from the sewer system, up through your house, and out through the roof (or sometimes out into the drainage field if you live in the country). Your sewer system needs a very small amount of air to enter into it for wastewater to flow, and a vent stack allows that to happen.
If your vent stack becomes clogged, then water can’t flow, and suddenly your whole system is out of whack!
Schedule a Hydro-jetting Appointment Today!
There you have it! Hydro-jetting isn’t that scary, so long as someone who knows what they’re doing is running the show.
So, if you notice any symptoms of clogged drains popping up in your home, give us a call at (402) 731-2727. We would love to talk with you about hydro-jetting and caring for your pipes.