Is Hydro Jetting the Drain Cleaning Solution You Need

Clogged drains and pipes stink – and not just literally. Blockages in the drains mess up the internal plumbing in your home, reduce water flow, and slow down drainage. This can lead to water backup – which could overflow and lead to some horrible situations. Prolonged blockages can also damage your pipes, cause leaks, or even make them burst!

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to prevent this – one of which is hydro jetting drain cleaning.

While there are some ways to prevent drains from building up and getting clogged, it is fairly impossible to ensure that nothing but clear water goes down your pipes. Drains are most commonly clogged by:

• Hair
• Mineral buildup
• Soap
• Grease or oil
• Particles of food, leaves, dirt, and anything else washed down the drain

The best way to remove this buildup before it causes major clogging issues is to wash it away.

So, why is hydro jetting the best option for drain cleaning?

Let’s discuss this.

What Is the Hydro Jetting Procedure?

Hydro jetting is a plumbing cleaning method that creates a stream of high-pressure water from a specialized hose.

This is threaded through plumbing systems to blast blockages away and clean the inside walls of the pipes. Hydro jetting apparatuses create a pressure of up to 5,000 psi (pound-force per square inch), which is strong enough to remove buildup and break down common obstructions. This hose is attached to a specialized machine with a water tank, which builds up the desired PSI pressure.

A specialized nozzle is attached to the end of the hose to create this high-pressure water stream. The nozzle’s size or design can be switched out depending on the pipe’s size or blockage type. It is sometimes used in conjunction with a pipe snake to remove excess buildup before the hydro jet hose is inserted.

Why Is Hydro Jetting a Better Option?

Hydro jetting for drain cleaning is a great alternative to other pumping clogging treatments for numerous reasons. Here are some of the big ones.

No Dangerous Chemicals

Many household remedies involve using strong chemicals that break down materials clogging up the pipes. While these can be effective for smaller blockages, they can actually lead to more issues over time. The strong chemicals can make the pipes more brittle and cause them to crack, especially if the pipes are old and corroded. It can also dissolve the glue used to seal pipes together, which can lead to leaks.

Hydro jetting solely uses water pressure to force clogs out of pipes – no chemicals necessary.

Eco-Friendly

Hydro jetting is an environmentally friendly way to clean out pipes – as it only uses water with no dangerous substances. The water can often be reused and recycled, as long as it is not used to remove clogs from toxic materials.

Quick Cleaning

A drain cleaning service can clean out clogged pipes in a very short amount of time with hydro jetting. Since the flow is extremely powerful, it will quickly blast away any blockages. It generally takes just a few hours for the entire process to be completed.

Removes Build Up

Regular hydro jetting can help to remove scum, grease, and buildup of excess minerals that can cause issues later on. By having your pipes cleaned regularly with this method, you can reduce the risk of major blockages and keep your pipes cleaner and less prone to corrosion or weakening.

How to Choose a Drain Cleaning Service?

Technically speaking, there is a difference between a plumbing company and a drain cleaning service.

Plumbers generally deal with connecting a building to a fresh water source, so there is clean water flowing where it needs to go. Drain cleaning services help to remove waste water and flush out blockages. Now, many plumbers also offer drain cleaning services.

You need a drain cleaning service if you experience issues such as:

• Clogged drains connected to the toilet, sink, shower, or washing machine
• Sewer line issues, including leaks, blockages, or tree root obstruction
• Grease trap clogs

If you are having any of these troubles, you need to contact a drain cleaning service as soon as possible to deal with the problem before it becomes worse.

Can You Do It Yourself?

While there are some ways to save money with DIY plumbing projects, it is not recommended that you attempt hydro jetting for drain cleaning on your own.

But why not?

It Requires Specialized Knowledge

First, hydro jetting uses equipment that requires specialized training for operation. If you do not know how to use it properly, you could end up damaging or even bursting your pipes.

It Can Be Dangerous

Secondly, you could seriously injure yourself or others with the equipment. Drain cleaners wear protective gear when hydro jetting, since the high pressure can cause serious injuries if the water stream comes in contact with skin or eyes.

It Is Expensive to DIY

Finally, it is simply not cost-effective to try hydro jetting on your own. The equipment is quite expensive to purchase – and with proper cleaning and maintenance, you should not need to hydro jet your pipes more than once a year.

Make Sure Safety and Service Is a Top Priority

Hydro-jetting can be a dirty job, so you definitely want to hire a service that takes cleanliness seriously. Further, it is important that you only hire a business that follows current safety precautions to keep you and your family safe.

At Duncan Plumbing, we require all of our staff to wear personal protective equipment while on the job, including masks, gloves, and shoe covers. They are also required to practice social distancing while in client’s homes. This is to ensure that both our customers and our employees are completely safe and following the current COVID-19 precautions.

Look for verification that all staff has received adequate training and certification. Hydro-jetting for drain cleaning can cause issues if it is not done properly, such as cracked pipes or flooding. You should only hire a drain cleaning service that can ensure you that all employees are certified for hydro-jetting.

Look for Experience

Finally, look for a service that has a lot of experience with drain cleaning in your area.

Each city has its own set of variables impacting the water – and, therefore, the drainage system. For instance, some areas have higher mineral content, which can lead to calcium buildup and brittle pipes. A cleaning service that has been in the area for years will know this and use lower water pressure to clean more brittle pipes.

Conclusion

Hydro jetting is a great way to clean out your drains and prevent future buildup – but you need to hire a trustworthy expert to get the job done right.

Duncan Plumbing has been servicing the Santa Cruz, CA area for 20 years. We offer emergency services, along with special offers for your first hydro-jetting service.

Give us a call today at 831-476-1712 or send us a message to book your drain cleaning service appointment!