All About Hydro-Jetting and Why You Need It

Most people know that when their drain is clogged, it's time to call a Richmond Hill plumber. Did you know your plumber may suggest hydro jetting? There are some great reasons to consider it, too.

What is hydro jetting, and how does it help? Let's explore that and more. We'll help you as a homeowner, understand the benefits, and why you need to do it soon.

What is Hydro Jetting?

If you've lived in your home for a while and noticed clogs keep recurring, it's a sign. Hydro jetting can help. If you're not sure what that is, hydro jetting is the method of using a high-pressure stream of water to clean the inside surfaces of plumbing pipes.

This process eliminates scale, grease, and other debris that have accumulated inside the pipe walls over some time. It is different from rodding, where a plumber uses a tool to power a hole through the buildup, and hydro jetting achieves a thorough cleaning of the pipes.

Why Should You Hydrojet?

Whether you've built a new home, are buying an existing home, or have lived in your house for years, your sewer drain needs to be cleaned from time to time. Otherwise, you could be in for a costly wake-up call in the form of a broken line. A compromised line caused by toilet paper and waste solids creating a dam and backing up into the house is also a possibility.

Some of the causes include deterioration of the line or if roots have begun growing into it.

Now before you become overwhelmed with your sewer line or clogged drain issue, let's take a more in-depth look at why hydro jetting could be the answer.

Hydro jetting is a long-lasting solution and comes with other benefits aside from a clean drain. Here are a few before you schedule an appointment.

Very Effective

You can handle a minor clog with a plumbing snake, but for a severe clog, it is too much. With hydro-jetting, there isn't a clog that can withstand the force of that powerful blast of water. It completely opens the line, clearing all the debris and buildup, and scouring the inside of the pipe clean.

Cost Savings

Of course, hydro-jetting will cost a little more than your regular drain cleaning services. Yet, in the long term, it will save you money. This method clears the entire pipe, eliminating problems for years into the future, and that saves you time and money without a doubt.

Sanitary

Sanitation is crucial in every home. With traditional cleaning techniques, there is a possibility that debris and sewage will invade and affect your home. With hydro-jetting, that prospect is brought down to zero. The speed and efficiency of this method will prevent any possible contamination.

Environmentally Friendly

Hydro-jetting does not use any harsh substances or create waste; it's a powerful blast of pure water down the drain. That makes it entirely harmless for homes and buildings located near water sources and for homeowners who are enthusiastic about keeping green.

Versatile

In essence, hydro-jetting is versatile. It's not only for business properties as many people imagine, but it's for residences as well. Regardless if it's a big or a small job, maintenance, or drain cleaning of the entire home, hydro-jetting is the solution.

Symptoms That Your Home Needs to Be Hydro-Jetted

As well all know, drain problems are not just costly; they can shut a home down in a swamp of actual waste. Astute homeowners can prevent most problems with routine preventative maintenance and keep aware of the warning signs.

Here are a few to keep an eye on:

Slow Draining Pipes

It may seem to be common sense, but often homeowners fail to notice a developing problem since a drain might drain progressively slower over some time. With a localized plumbing problem, a slow-draining pipe, or suggest a more significant concern.

For example, the blockage could be something as manageable as a problem with your garbage disposal failing. It can be a pipe blockage at the bottom of the toilet floor drain. The possibilities are endless.

Noisy Drain Pipes — Hissing, Sqweaking, Gurgling and Ticking

Sounds mean there's air in the system, and it shouldn't be there.

It's not a rattler in your residence. These odd noises could be telling that you might have a clogged or blocked vent stack.

The vent stack is a frequently overlooked part of a plumbing, sewer, and drain system. This pipe extends to the roof, from the sewer system, releasing harmful gases and keeping water pressure flowing smoothly out to the sewer line. Don't forget to clean the vent stack, as this might be the root of the problem.

The bathroom or Kitchen Sink Drain Smells Bad

Pungent smells generally mean something is wrong no matter where you find them.

It could be something as simple as an empty P-trap; if so, count yourself lucky. The P-trap puts a moisture barrier in place that blocks odor from backing into the home. Perhaps you were away during a long summer weekend, and the moisture evaporated.

Try running the water for a few minutes; it can be a simple fix, so long as the water is running normally and not restricted. If the drain seems slow or the water wells up in the sink, there can be a further blockage beyond the trap.

Moisture, dampness, and dried water marks beneath the bathroom or kitchen sink indicate a leak that could be made by excess pressure from a clog. Looking in cellars and crawlspaces may distinguish other places where pressure buildup from a blocked drain line is pushing water and waste out.

Water Bill Increases

It's not generally related to your drains, but a sign you have a plumbing issue, so it feels essential to put this in here. If your water bill is rising, it's probably good to have a licensed plumber come to do an inspection. It's reasonable to have it run on your whole system, from the point of use to the sewer line on the road.

Old, Deteriorating Plumbing Pipes

Older homes are much more likely to have problems with older pipes. Metal pipes have a life of up to 80 years. Brass and cast iron can go up to 100 years. PVC pipes will generally last approximately 40 years, but many will need to be replaced 25-30 years in or earlier.

Is Snaking or Rodding a Better Choice Than a Hydro-Jet Cleaning?

A certified Richmond Hill plumber will help you decide which of these is a better choice for your situation. Here are a few things to be mindful of.

The age and health of your pipes is a primary factor. While a hydro jet can clear more waste and debris out of the system than a drain snake, it can also cause additional damage to weak pipes.

The drain snake is also called an auger and is only as good as the width of its tip. The tip will meet the main drain and then flushes out to the sewer pipe, and the auger can't get any wider, although the pipes do. Therefore, it isn't always a total fix.

If you have a newer pipe or are not worried about root penetration, then the hydro-jet technique is more of a complete drain service for a more moderate plumbing problem.

Should You Use a Plumber for Hydro Jetting?

Without a doubt! Don't be shocked if a store-bought drain cleaner doesn't fix the problem. You could purchase or rent drain pipe auger tools at a local hardware store and give it a try.

It may not be as useful or long-lasting as having a professional hydro-jetting service. Bear in mind, a professional plumber doesn't only have the right tools, and he is trained to find the clogs and control the snake for better cleaning.

So, while snaking the drain might not thoroughly clear away all the sludge and muck from the main pipe, a skilled plumber can take the snake from the toilet or kitchen sink and get it through the most challenging areas. Places where a homeowner trying to do it themselves might get stuck and force the matter.

Believe us, the last thing you need is to break the snake in a blocked section or put a hole in the weak sewer drain, since you were stressed and tried to push it through.

Facts About Hydro-Jetting

Generally, hydro-jetting to clean drains is simple to describe. Water placed under high pressure is blasted through a directional spout at the end of a long hose. A plumber pushes this hose down into a drain or pipe to give full scouring power along their insides, the pressure of the water removing all types of debris and buildup.

There are more facts about hydro-jetting, still, you may find these interesting.

Hydro-jetting has existed for more than eight decades. For much of that, it wasn't affordable for most homes and small businesses. The gear was massive, and it took many plumbers to manage the job. Today, a single plumber can manage drain cleaning needs for homes and smaller businesses on their own.

Although safe for pipes, hydro-jetting can be hazardous to people: the water pressure bursts are harmful. It is why only professional plumbers should always perform hydro-jetting. Plumbers wear protective gear during hydro-jetting, like padded aprons and helmets that shield the eyes.

There is a wide range of water pressures for hydro-jetters, and plumbers match the load to the plumbing. The pounds per square inch (psi) of hydro-jetters is from 7,000 to 60,000 range. At high pressure, like 60,000 psi, the water bursts can cut through metal.

The different nozzles are a crucial part of the cleaning process. The nozzles are made to direct the spray ahead and behind the hose for fuller coverage. Plumbers will choose a directional nozzle that can do the best job. For example, when handling a thick clog, they will select a nozzle that gives a more forward, focused spray. There are even rotating nozzles for a more thorough cleaning coverage.

Hydro-jetting is environmentally friendly. Unlike other drain cleaning techniques that use silica sand or other chemicals, it is much safer. Hydro-jetting doesn't put any harmful materials into the wastewater system.

Picking A Method

While both snaking and hydro jetting can clear basic clogs and improve drainage speeds, hydro jetting is a more robust and versatile technique for sewer cleaning. Hydro-jetting doesn't only remove clogs but can also minimize the natural buildup of grease and minerals lining the inside of any sewer line. No matter if your sewer is completely blocked, or just draining slowly, hydro-jetting works in all cases.

You want to do right by your home, after reviewing your options, let a professional guide you to the best solution.

Hiring a Plumber

Hiring a trusted Richmond Hill plumber is an important step, and it shouldn't be taken lightly. Plumbers are responsible for repairing some of the most critical parts of the home. So, failing to hire quality or experienced plumbers can have costly and dangerous results.

Professional Hydro-Jetting Services

If you're undergoing problems with your plumbing system, work with an expert, trained Richmond Hill plumbing specialist. Using diagnostic tools, hydro jetting allows plumbers to correctly and adequately clean out debris from a plumbing system and sewer lines.