From grease and hair to mineral deposits, there are numerous substances that can clog the drains in your home. If a clog becomes too severe, a leak could develop. In the meantime, you’ll need to deal with low water pressure until the issue is fixed. While plumbing snakes, chemicals, and plungers can remove some of the substances that cause clogs, these solutions are only temporary. A more lasting answer to this problem is hydro jetting.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting is a process that involves sending jets of water through the pipes in your home. The water is emitted at a high pressure, which helps to clear debris from pipe walls. This is the most intense cleaning solution on the market. Because of how thorough it is, hydro jetting reduces the risk of future backups and clogs.
How Hydro Jetting Works
Hydro jetting is an in-depth process that begins with an inspection. Your plumber will look at the pipes to identify the best spot for the hose. Once the hose is connected, they will pump the water. This process continues until water flows out of the pipes smoothly.
While hydro jetting might appear to be simple, it’s a complex cleaning technique that must be performed correctly to keep your pipes from being damaged. If the hose isn’t inserted correctly, your pipes could break. Plumbers have the experience and tools needed to perform this job without issue. The initial inspection is done by sending a small video camera through your pipes, which ensures that all blockages will be identified before water is sent through the system.
Your plumber should also inspect the piping to make sure it’s durable enough to withstand the high pressure of the water. If the pipes are brittle or too old, hydro jetting may not be possible. In this situation, your plumber may decide to snake the drain. If there are any tree roots in the pipes, an auger can be used to break them up. When hydro jetting isn’t possible, new pipes may be needed.
Once access points are found and hoses are inserted, the hydro-jetting machine is turned on. A high-quality system can emit water at around 30,000 to 35,000 psi. However, the durability of your system dictates which pressure is used in your home. After the water is turned on, the hose will move slowly throughout the system to get rid of the debris.
When to Obtain Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting is highly recommended in many situations. Clogs can be a regular occurrence in any household. However, the same drain shouldn’t become clogged every other week. If you notice that your shower or kitchen drain is becoming clogged regularly, hydro jetting may be the only solution that can provide long-term relief. When a drain becomes severely clogged, a plumbing snake or chemical solution might only remove some of the debris. The types of substances that hydro jetting can remove from pipes include the following:
- Grease
- Food deposits
- Hair clogs
- Mineral deposits
- Sand
- Silt
- Small tree roots
You can use hydro jetting to get rid of multiple layers of dirt on pipe walls. It can also clear out sludge, remove calcified scale, and smash through ice. It’s highly recommended that you consider hydro jetting if you live in an older building. While historical buildings still have their advantages, older pipes don’t last forever. If the pipes in your home haven’t been cleared of buildup in decades, hydro jetting may be necessary to keep additional issues at bay.
Hydro jetting is often used in municipal pipes as well. While snakes and plungers can be helpful in a small business or residential home, municipal sewer lines often consist of more compact debris that only hydro jetting can clear. This service can cover a large space with high-pressure water, which means that the size of the pipe doesn’t matter.
How Often to Schedule Hydro Jetting
If your home was built recently with completely new pipes, hydro jetting may not be necessary on a regular basis. However, it’s a good idea to schedule this service annually.
There are a few factors that determine how often hydro jetting is needed. For example, it may be required twice each year if you have old pipes that are prone to clogging. It’s also recommended to obtain hydro jetting more often if you routinely dispose of grease, oil, and other substances in your sinks. If you’re uncertain about the need for this service, ask a plumber for their recommendation.
Hydro-jetting Benefits
Hydro jetting provides you with many benefits that can’t be had with some of the more temporary solutions. The main benefit of hydro jetting is that it’s proven to be highly effective. Most clogs will immediately dissipate when faced with extremely high water pressure. The process can also be done quickly, which means that your schedule shouldn’t be negatively impacted.
Hydro jetting is safe as well. While chemicals can get rid of some clogs, using them is dangerous to your health as well as the quality of your piping. This solution is Eco-friendly. There aren’t any enzymes or chemicals placed in the water. If a leak occurs during the hydro-jetting process, only water will seep out of your home’s plumbing system.
Hydro jetting is also the most thorough solution at your disposal. While snaking can be effective at removing clogs, it doesn’t do well at eliminating the buildup along the pipe walls. Snakes can attack the center of the clog. In comparison, hydro jetting sends pressurized water through every portion of the pipe, which means that very little residue should be left behind.
Hydro-jetting Risks
While hydro jetting comes with many advantages, there are a few risks associated with this service. For example, hydro jetting shouldn’t be performed by an inexperienced plumber. A professional who doesn’t have a lot of experience might be unable to identify the right access points. They could also use the wrong tools for the job or place the hydro-jetting system at a pressure that your pipes can’t withstand.
If your pipes have been damaged by roots, hydro jetting might not be the best option. Root intrusion causes cracks to form and materials to become more brittle, which means that pressurized water could cause additional damage. It’s also possible that the waterproof coating is no longer intact. Weigh the risks against the benefits when deciding if hydro jetting is right for you.
Are the pipes in your home constantly becoming clogged? Here at Bumble Bee Plumbing, we provide powerful and efficient hydro-jetting services to Glendale homeowners. No matter how stubborn the clog is, our hydro-jetting process can remove the blockage to ensure smooth drainage. By requesting hydro jetting for the pipes in your home, you can bypass the need for full re-piping services. We also offer drain cleaning and inspection services. To schedule hydro jetting or learn more about the financing options we provide, call Bumble Bee Plumbing today.
