Hydro Jetting in Reading, PA
A cable machine punches a hole through a clog. Hydro jetting does something different, it uses high-pressure water to scour grease, sludge, scale and soft roots off the pipe walls so the whole line is clean, not just cleared. On older or fragile pipe we camera the line first.
A Hole Through the Clog Is Not a Clean Pipe
When a drain keeps clogging, the problem is usually not a single object sitting in the pipe. It is buildup coating the walls. Grease cools and sticks, sludge layers on top of it, and scale narrows the opening until the pipe is half its real diameter. A snake punches a channel through that buildup, the water flows, and a few weeks later the channel closes up again.
Hydro jetting sends a stream of high-pressure water in every direction inside the pipe. It cuts the grease and sludge off the walls, breaks up soft scale, and flushes the debris down the line. The pipe is restored to its full diameter instead of being cleared just enough to pass water. For lines that keep clogging, jetting is often the difference between a fix and a recurring bill.
When a Pipe Is Begging to Be Jetted
- The same drain clogs over and over after snaking
- A kitchen or grease line is slow but not fully stopped
- Recurring backups in a commercial kitchen line
- Foul odors rising from a drain that still technically drains
- Grease or sludge buildup confirmed on a camera inspection
- Soft root mass and sludge filling a sewer lateral
Where the Buildup Comes From
Grease is the biggest culprit. Anything oily that goes down a drain cools as it travels and sticks to the pipe walls, then collects food particles, soap and debris until the opening narrows. In older cast iron pipe, mineral scale and corrosion do the same thing from the other side, rough, narrowed walls that grab everything passing through.
In sewer laterals, soft roots and the sludge around them coat the walls after a root mass is cut. Any of these leave the pipe restricted even after the main clog is gone, which is why a jetted line drains noticeably better than a snaked one.
The Jetting Process, In Order
- 1
We camera the line first
On older, fragile or unknown pipe, we run a camera to confirm the line is intact. Jetting pressurizes the pipe, so we will not jet a line that is cracked, collapsed or broken without flagging it first.
- 2
We access the line
We use the cleanout or access point that lets the jetter reach the affected section. If there is no cleanout, we talk through the options before we begin.
- 3
We run the jetter
High-pressure water scours the pipe walls, breaking loose grease, sludge, soft scale and debris and flushing them down the line.
- 4
We camera to confirm
After jetting we run the camera again to show you the pipe walls are clean and the line is open end to end.
For Homes
Residential jetting usually targets a kitchen branch with grease buildup or a sewer lateral clogged with soft roots and sludge. We camera first on older pipe.
For Businesses
Commercial kitchen grease lines are the most common jetting job we run for businesses. Jetting keeps a busy line flowing without the disruption of excavation.
When We Will Not Jet
We do not jet a line that is collapsed, badly cracked or full of thick woody roots. High pressure can worsen a broken pipe, and roots that thick need a mechanical cutter. If a camera shows the line is damaged, we stop and tell you before we do anything else. Jetting is the right tool for buildup, not for structural failure.
Pairs Well With
Hydro Jetting, Answered
When does hydro jetting beat snaking?
Jetting beats snaking when the clog is buildup coating the pipe wall, like grease or sludge, rather than a single solid blockage. A snake punches a hole through the clog. Jetting washes the entire pipe wall clean so the buildup does not return as quickly.
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
It can be, but on older, fragile or cast iron pipe we run a camera first to check the pipe's condition. If the line is brittle, cracked or collapsed, jetting can worsen the problem, and we will tell you before we proceed.
Will jetting cut through tree roots?
Hydro jetting clears soft root masses and the sludge around them, but thick woody roots usually need a mechanical cutter. We often combine jetting with root cutting, then camera to confirm the pipe is open.
How long does a jetted line stay clean?
It varies. A jetted line is scoured back to full diameter, so it drains far better than a snaked line. How long it stays clean depends on what goes down it, grease from a kitchen returns faster than hair from a bathroom.
Do you jet commercial kitchen grease lines?
Yes. Commercial kitchen lines are a common jetting job. Grease coats the walls and hardens, and jetting is the most effective way to restore full flow without digging.
Buildup Keeps Coming Back?
Jetting scours the pipe clean. Call Drainmasters inc and we'll get it flowing right.
Call (610) 914-2564Areas we serve: Reading and Berks County. Outside our main area we serve the rest of Berks County with a trip charge.