Services
Hydro Jetting
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What Is Hydro jetting?
Most clogged drains can be eliminated with the use of augers or pipe snakes. However, some clogs, like those located beyond the reach of an auger, or those caused by the overgrowth of roots from nearby trees into the sewer line require a special solution.
Hydrojetting uses water sent through the pipes under up to 4,000 pounds per square inch of pressure to blast away any built-up clogs and tree roots and wash away the debris, leaving behind clean and unobstructed drain pipes.
When Is Hydro jetting Required?
Grease and fat from your food that gets sent down the drain can cause super-clogs over time. An accumulation of sticky goo along the inside of your drain pipes traps hair and other solids, restricting the flow of wastewater; eventually leading to a complete blockage. Such clogs are often impervious to store-bought drain cleaning products and require a professional.
Certainly, not all clogs necessitate hydrojetting. The determination of the best solution to address your particular clog is best left up to the professionals at Expert Plumbing and Gas Solutions. Once we arrive at your home or business, our service technician will use the latest in pipe inspection technology to determine the exact nature of the blockage. Some of the equipment frequently used includes special tiny video cameras mounted on a flexible rod that can travel through the pipes to the site of the blockage, allowing us to visually determine exactly what is going on.
Hydrojetting As A Preventative Measure
A blockage and the ensuing possible backup of wastewater into the building can have serious and even disastrous repercussions, both from a financial and reputational perspective. For that reason, many of these businesses opt to schedule the hydro jetting of their pipes on an annual basis to keep them clean and unobstructed at all times.
Hydro jetting uses a specialized hose and nozzle to shoot water through your pipes at a force of around 1500 psi on average (although that number can rise to 5000 psi), which is one reason you need a skilled plumber to do the job.
That level of force blasts away anything clogging your plumbing, including the grease and soap scum mechanical drain cleaners just can’t handle. Hydro jetting even knocks tree roots out of the way, and leaves the inside of your pipes looking brand new.
Before they attack your blockage with a hydro jet, your plumber inspects the system using a small camera, looking for damage and the type of obstruction that needs to be cleared. From there, they can determine the appropriate treatment.
How Hydro Jetting Works
This specialised nozzle includes multiple jets that spray water in different directions, which is how the hydro jet is able to clean pipes so thoroughly. The nozzle connects to a hose capable of withstanding high psi forces, which connects to a water tank that in turn pressurises the water via a specially designed machine.
The plumber determines the pressurise rate according to what the camera reveals. Around 1500 psi is normal, but it may go up to 5000 psi (or around 60 litres of water per minute), depending on the severity of the blockage. For example, restaurants with years’ worth of grease buildup typically require much more force than the average household.
The condition of the pipes themselves also plays a role in determining psi. Older pipes cannot handle the same level of force, although hydro jetting is much safer for them than a plumber’s snake is.
In addition to highly pressurised water, gravity also plays a role in hydro jetting. Typically, the technician inserts the nozzle into a downstream area of the system. The water blasts upstream, scouring pipes clean and dislodging the obstruction. Gravity then takes over, pulling the water and debris down and out through the cleanout created by the plumber.
Benefits of Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting is one of the safest, most effective means of clearing blockages from your plumbing and sewer systems. Compared to mechanical drain cleaners, the risk of damage is much lower, particularly for older pipes. And, it cleans pipes much more thoroughly while dramatically reducing the chances of reoccurrence.
Clean, Don’t Just Unclog
Over time, a variety of debris accumulates in your pipes, including grease and other fats, soap, dirt, silt, and mineral deposits. These all combine to create not only blockages but also a sludge-like substance that often coats the inside walls of your pipes.
A snake usually dislodges the blockage, but it does nothing to clear away the sludge coating the pipe’s walls. And, it doesn’t clear all types of blockages, particularly soft ones, such as grease and soap scum, and truly nasty ones, like tree roots.
As an added bonus, when your pipes are truly clean, they not only drain better, they smell better, too.
Accurate, Powerful, Efficient Cleaning
Hydro jetting allows great precision, letting you clear blockages without digging up your yard or inflicting any damage on your infrastructure. It also lets you penetrate deep into blockages and blast away the sludge coating your pipes. And, with varying sizes and forces available, a skilled plumber can handle a variety of issues.
Better for Your Wallet
Clearing your pipes with hydro jetting keeps them clean about four times longer than mechanical drain cleaning methods, leading to big savings. Instead of cleaning your drains every six months, you can typically go three or four years between hydro jet visits.
A Word OF Caution About Hydro Jeting
Hydro jetting is safe and effective when performed by an experienced plumber. In the hands of a novice, though, the likelihood of complications increases dramatically, particularly when the blockage is the result of tree roots. An experienced plumber always performs a visual inspection of both the sewer lines and the indoor plumbing system, both before and after treatment.
Before treatment, the camera reveals potential issues, such as damage to the pipe or its waterproof coating. If the plumber fails to complete the inspection and performs hydro jetting when that type of damage is present, you risk debris entering the septic lines (or worse). After treatment, the camera reveals whether the treatment worked.
If you have recurring drain issues, call Expert Plumbing and Gas Solutions at 0488 662 889 today. We include a free camera inspection with every hydro jetting, as well as a 90-day warranty.