When snaking doesn’t cut it, there’s hydro jetting.
Every household deals with a clogged drain at some point, and solutions like drain snaking are common. It helps to have a backup plan, though. Hydro jetting is the best option for stubborn or recurring drain clogs that just keep coming back.
Such clogs happen for lots of reasons, from mineralization and soap scum to food waste and fat buildup. Hydro jetting works especially well if there’s a clog deeper in the pipe. Regardless of the scenario, you may need hydro jetting drain service to address your clog.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Residential hydro jetting typically involves a stream at 3,500-4,000 psi. Our plumbers use a special nozzle to handle the pressure and to target affected parts of the system. The nozzle also sprays in multiple directions, ensuring maximum coverage as we clean the pipe.
This works well for cleaning grease, sludge, soap scum, mineral deposits, and even some types of root intrusions. It also cleans the full pipe diameter. Consequently, it usually takes a while for a jetted pipe to clog again. This also makes it good for use in commercial settings in addition to homes.
How Drain Snaking Works
It is fair to consider drain snaking vs. hydro jetting. A typical professional drain cleaning company offers both. Drain snaking is useful for minor clogs, such as hair or paper.
Snaking is best for small, localized clogs. This means that the problem might be in the sink trap or somewhere nearby. Our plumber uses a cable with a head that goes into the drain to break up the clog. This restores functionality quickly, making snaking popular as a first option.
When Snaking Isn’t Enough
Notably, snaking is good when the clog is isolated to one drain. However, if you’re seeing trouble with more than one drain, you can almost bet that hydro jetting would be a better answer as far as clogged sewer line solutions go. Multiple concurrent clogs indicate that the issue is either deep in the lines or in the sewer line close to where your sewer system connects to the larger municipal design, too.
You should also consider hydro jetting if you believe grease or sludge is the culprit. Gooey clogs often don’t respond well to snaking because they can reseal themselves.
Another sign you may want to consider jetting is if there are odors after snaking. This indicates there may be a problem further along in the system. Snaking just doesn’t reach far enough to work.
You should also request jetting if clogs repeatedly occur, especially after drain snaking. Repeated clogs indicate that the smaller hole from the snake isn’t encouraging the blockage to clear.
Problems Hydro Jetting Can Address
A lot of issues can go one way or the other regarding drain snaking vs hydrojetting. Several problems lend themselves specifically to jetting. These include heavy grease buildups in kitchen lines, soap scum, sludge, and accumulated debris in the trap. In this part of Ohio, mineral scaling is a common problem, too. Jetting handles it well.
There is an edge case where jetting also works for root intrusions. However, it tends to work best when the roots that are breaking into the pipe are still small.
Benefits of Hydro Jetting
The top benefit is confidence. Hydro jetting sprays the entirety of the pipe. This means you can relax, knowing that nothing should accumulate around some nasty stuff in the drain.
Hydro jetting improves drain flow, making it a good choice for slow drains, too. Oftentimes, a slow drain has lots of accumulation from years of neglect without professional drain cleaning. A slow drain is often just a backup that hasn’t reached its full destructive potential. Jetting is a good way to push that risk off for a while. Getting all the residue out of the pipe ensures additional materials won’t cling to anything and restart the clog.
The absence of chemicals is another major selling point. If you’re dealing with a clog in a house with a septic tank, you don’t want to risk chemicals. Using pressurized water keeps chemicals out of the tank, reducing the odds of problems. Likewise, houses with older pipes may respond poorly to chemicals. Corrosion can create weak points that fail and cause leaks when exposed to certain products. This approach is environmentally friendly, too.
Signs Your Plumbing System May Need Hydro Jetting
Choosing between drain snaking vs. hydrojetting is usually fairly easy. It helps to know the signs that the problem doesn’t lend itself to snaking anymore.
Note any gurgling sounds from sinks, toilets, bathtubs, and showers. This is a sign that trapped air is somewhere in the sewer line, especially if there’s a partial clog near a critical bend in the pipe that can trap air. When water comes down the line, the air releases and comes back as bubbles and gurgling.
If you’ve already made repeated service calls for a drain, we recommend jetting. This just affords a higher level of assurance that the pipe is clean.
Sewage odors coming up from the pipe are another sign. Also, note sewage odors in other parts of your house. Sometimes, a blockage can cause a bit of an odor backup through something like a drain hole in the basement.
Problems with multiple drains are always a sign that you should arrange hydro jetting. The odds are fairly low that several drains clog individually all at once for different reasons. The answer is to get a hydro jet in the pipe to clear out a deep clog.
Why a Camera Inspection Is Often Recommended First
A camera inspection provides information regarding the type of clog. The response to a hair clog in the sink trap is going to be different than the one that runs out into the sewer line.
It is also wise to verify that the pipes aren’t the problem. A sewer line collapse, especially a partial one, can behave just like a clog. We can check that the pipe is still in good enough condition to survive the high pressure of the jetting process. If there might be corrosion or cracks, then you can start looking at other solutions. Tree roots present similar problems.
Is Hydro Jetting Safe for All Pipes?
Hydro jetting is safe for all modern kinds of pipes, which typically means PVC or ABS. However, some homes still have copper or iron pipes. As long as the metal pipes aren’t corroded or cracked, jetting should be fine. The pressure can damage compromised pipes, turning professional drain cleaning into a line replacement project.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Seek our help if basic sewer line cleaning isn’t getting the job done. Plunging, chemicals, and even snakes often resolve the issue. If they don’t, professional drain cleaning is the next step, and hydro jetting follows. Reach out to us if you suspect any sewer line has problems. If you notice issues with multiple drains, let us know.
Get to the Root of Recurring Drain Problems
Drain snaking often solves minor problems, but Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical can help with hydro jetting. We offer professional inspections, and our plumbers are available 24/7 for emergencies. Our plumbers serve Medina, OH and other areas of Northeast Ohio.
Contact Gene’s Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical today to learn if hydro jetting is a good choice for the drain system in your Medina home.
