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Hydro-jetting is currently one of the most-effective methods for clearing clogs from drainpipes. This process uses a high-pressure water blast to dislodge and wash away clogs inside a drainpipe. But is this method safe for cleaning old pipes?

In this post, we will explain how hydro-jetting works, what you should consider before you hydro-jet your old sewer lines and the alternatives to hydro-jetting.

How hydro-jetting works

Hydro-jetting is a non-invasive method for unblocking and cleaning pipes. The plumber does not have to dig a trench to access the pipe that is being cleaned. Instead of digging a hole in the ground, a powerful jet of water is shot into the pipe to remove all blockages inside it.

The hydro-jetting machine, also known as a ‘jetter,’ is made up of the following components:

A tank which holds the water to be used during the operation
A flexible steel hose that is mounted on a drum or comes in sections which can be joined to make them as long as desired
A range of stainless steel nozzles; the type of pipe and severity of the clog determines the proper nozzle to use
The mechanism for pressuring the water

To hydro-jet a line, the flexible steel hose is passed into the pipe with the nozzle attached to its end. The drainpipe is accessed through a cleanout or one of the drains in the home, explains the Peak Residential Management team. The drum is used to unroll and push the hose into the drainpipe while it is guided by the plumber’s hand.

While this is going on, a stream of water is shot into the drain via the hose and nozzle. The nozzle can direct the water forward, backwards, and against the pipe surface. It not only clears the clogs inside the pipes, the pipes are washed clean, as the debris inside them is carried away.

To do this, a hydro-jetting machine uses pressures of 1,500 to 5,000 psi (pounds per sq. inch). That is enough pressure to shear away any tree roots inside the pipes. For reference, when pressure-washing a brick wall, you are advised never to exceed 1,500 psi.

That is why before hydro-jetting a drain line, it is essential to conduct a visual assessment of the line first. That is typically done via a sewer camera inspection. Through this inspection, the plumber can check the condition of the pipes and determine if they can withstand hydro-jetting.

Should you hydro-jet old pipes?

Older pipes are more likely to have cracks and weak spots in them. The pressure of the water used in hydro-jetting can compound the existing issues with such pipes. For this reason, hydro-jetting is not always safe for old pipes. If pipes are fragile, do not hydro-jet them.

Old sewer pipes can be made from a range of materials, and as these pipe materials age, they may start to change in the following ways:

Cast iron: Despite its durability, the big issue with cast iron is its vulnerability to rust. A rusty cast iron pipe will not only slow your drain, it will become fragile.
Copper: Due to oxidation, copper pipes form pinholes over time and become vulnerable to corrosion.
ABS: Although similar to PVC, ABS is a polymer. It will become brittle if it is constantly exposed to low temperatures.
PVC: With frequent exposure to low temperatures, PVC will become brittle. This process does not depend on age; it can happen to PVC pipes of any age.
Clay: Clay pipes are particularly susceptible to root invasion. Tree roots can undermine the stability of the pipe.

Hydro-jetting old pipes will damage them if they are showing any of these signs. Before hydro-jetting a sewer line with old pipes, you should get a professional plumber to do a sewer camera inspection to determine if hydro-jetting is the best drain-cleaning option for you.

Alternatives to hydro-jetting

The best alternative to hydro-jetting is sewer rodding. That is a way to manually push or pull clogs out of the drain. Although no drain-cleaning method is 100%-safe, sewer rodding offers more control than hydro-jetting. A rodding machine can be maneuvered such that it doesn’t touch the pipe walls.

Sewer rodding is similar to hydro-jetting in some ways. When rodding a pipe, a long flexible tube (known as a ‘plumber’s snake’ or ‘drain snake’) is inserted into the drain. This tube contains a cable, the end of which is attached to a corkscrew auger that resembles a coiled spring or drill bit.

The tube is then hand-cranked to spin the corkscrew. A combination of twisting, pulling and pushing movements are used to snag any clog inside the drain and pull it out. Although it takes more time than hydro-jetting, a sewer rodding service is decidedly the better option when working with fragile pipes.

In Conclusion

Is hydro-jetting acceptable for old pipes? It depends on the condition of the old pipes. Before hydro-jetting old pipes, do a camera sewer inspection to determine their ability to withstand high water pressure. Depending on the inspection result, you may use or reject hydro-jetting.

The plumbing system is one of the most extensive and most used systems in the home. Almost every room in the house has water running through it, and a wide range of activities done in modern homes require water.

On average, one person in the home uses 80 – 100 gallons of water a day; that’s just one person. When you work out the amount of water used by the entire family, you can start to see just how much work the plumbing in your home does.

That is why plumbing leaks are easily the biggest maintenance issue in the home. The fact that water is very mobile and present in every part of the home means plumbing leaks can happen in any area on the property, warns McCaw Property Management. Moreover, these leaks can be incredibly complicated to detect.

Why are plumbing leaks so hard to find?

The reason is that most plumbing system components are invisible inside the walls, flooring, basement, and ceiling. It protects them from damage and preserves the aesthetic appeal of the home.

The second reason is that plumbing leaks rarely happen as we imagine them. Instead of water cascading down the home’s wall, most leaks occur as small continuous drips from damaged pipes or fixtures. These can go unnoticed for a long time.

But the long-term effect of these small leaks can be devastating to your wallet and the physical structures of your building. The costliest plumbing leaks in your home are not those that often flood your home, but the ones that secretly damage your building.

How do you detect those types of plumbing leaks early?

The following are the different ways to detect plumbing leaks in your home even before the effects of the problem become apparent. A leak detection system built on these strategies will save you thousands of dollars.

Monitor your water bill for changes

You should know the average amount you pay for water every month. If you notice large and sudden spikes in your water bill without any significant changes in your family’s use of water, you may suspect a leak. That will not tell you where the leak is, but it will help you be aware of the problem.

Measure your water usage

A family of four will not use more than 12,000 gallons of water a month. That is according to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency. If you check your water usage and it exceeds this average by a wide margin, you can be sure there is a leak somewhere in your plumbing.

Watch your water meter

The dial of your water meter should stop moving when all the water in your home shuts off. With all the faucets in the house turned off, the reading on your water meter will only change if there is a leak in the system. Turn the faucets off, note the reading on the meter, wait one hour and observe the reading again.

Check the toilet for leaks

Toilets are notorious for hard-to-detect leaks. The tank may be leaking water into the bowl for years without any indications of the problems. To check if the tank is leaking, put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait ten minutes and check to see if the color has appeared in the toilet bowl.

Inspect problem areas

Some parts of the home are notorious for hiding plumbing leaks. These include toilets, under the sink, and dripping faucets. Along with checking these areas, you may also look for signs of mold and moisture. Another sign to look for is a musty smell.

Check water sources outside the home

Exterior faucets and water spigots are also a crucial source of leaks. Since they are outside the home, they don’t get enough attention when homeowners look for plumbing leaks. If there is an area outside the house that is constantly wet, there might be a leak in the area.

Look for patches of green grass

If an area of lawn grass is greener than surrounding areas, it could indicate that that part of your lawn is getting more water than other parts. That is not always an indication of a water leak; it could also happen if your home’s sewer line is leaking and requires repair.

Check appliance and fixtures

Water-utilizing appliances may also contribute to your high water bills. Dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators can all leak. Check the connecting hoses for these appliances to ensure they are not leaking.

Look for clues of leaks around the house

Leaks will often leave behind a range of signs. Stains on the wall show that water is leaking behind the drywall. These stains can show on ceilings and walls. Bubbly and bulging paint also shows the surface behind the paint is wet. The musty smell around the home is another indication of leaks.

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A Professional Perspective on the Safety of Hydro Jetting for Old Pipes