Tag Archives: hydro jetting

Nov '22

How Commercial Hydro Jetting Works in Chicago

Commercial plumbing systems see more use than those in a typical home. Where the plumbing in a single-family home may only have six people using it, explains Pro X Management, commercial systems often have to serve the needs of hundreds of people within a single hour. As such, commercial plumbing systems are appropriate for commercial properties.

This heavy usage makes commercial plumbing systems prone to blockages. Also, while it is easier to control how people use the plumbing in a home, commercial plumbing is more likely to have unknown materials inside it due to the sheer number of people using it.

That is why you need a timely and cost-effective way to deal with issues in your commercial plumbing system. Delays in solving problems can affect the operations of the businesses on the premises, impose hardships on their employees and drive away customers.

Hydro-Jetting: The Ideal Solution for Commercial Plumbing Systems

Hydro-jetting is a powerful solution uniquely suited to the needs of commercial plumbing. Hydro-jetting clears clogs from drains and sewer lines in the most efficient manner. It can also be used as preventative maintenance to keep pipes clean and in good working order.

What is Hydro-Jetting? And How Does it Work?

Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to clear clogs and waste buildup inside plumbing pipes. It is a gas-driven pump that pulls water from a large tank and pressurizes it before sending it through a specialized nozzle fed into the drainpipe.

A hydro-jetting system comprises the following:

A gas pump or motor
A large water tank
A set of specialized nozzles
A long hose

The procedure for hydro-jetting a clogged drain follows these steps:

Step one

Typically, the line is first snaked to make it easier to do a video camera inspection of the pipes. The snake pokes a hole in the material that clogs the pipe to let a video camera pass through.

Step two

A video camera inspection of the sewer line follows. That involves inserting a cable into the drain with a special video camera attached. The camera captures the pipe’s interior as the cable is fed into the line. It sends the live feed to a screen that the plumber is monitoring. That helps to see the pipe’s condition, locate the clog, determine its cause and decide the best way to handle it.

Step three

Fill the tank with water and attach a nozzle at the end of the hose to hydro-jet the line. The correct nozzle for the operation depends on the type of clog. Commonly-used nozzle types are flat jet nozzles for a fan-shaped spray pattern, point jet nozzles for a focused jet, and rotating nozzles for cleaning pipes.

Step four

With the nozzle attached to one end, the hose is fed into the drain pipe or sewer line before the pump is switched on. A jet stream of water is then sent into the pipe with the water pressure ranging from 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) to as high as 60,000 psi (414 MPa). The proper pressure for the operation depends on the type of blockage and the pipe’s condition.

Step five

This stream of water is powerful enough to cut tree roots, remove rocks and gravel, and clear away hair clogs, sand, or silt. The hose is fed into the drain until it passes the clog’s location and washes the dislodged debris into the main sewer in the street.

plumbers getting ready for a commercial hydro jetting in chicago.

Hydro-jetting is a powerful solution uniquely suited to the needs of commercial plumbing. Hydro-jetting clears clogs from drains and sewer lines in the most efficient manner.

What are the Benefits of Hydro-Jetting?

Compared to other drain-cleaning methods, hydro-jetting offers the following advantages:

Lasting results

Hydro-jetting is highly-effective – the effects of hydro-jetting your pipes will last a very long time. Due to the extremely high pressure of water used in hydro-jetting, this method cleans pipes better than any other. Clean pipes are less likely to accumulate debris because of their smooth inner surfaces.

No toxic chemicals

Hydro-jetting uses the mechanical force of moving water to clear away debris. Unlike drain cleaning chemicals, hydro-jetting does not leave a cocktail of toxic chemicals inside your pipes. There is no chance of toxic fumes seeping out from the pipes to harm humans or the environment.

Pipe safety

Despite the high pressure of the water used to hydro-jet the commercial drain pipes, the operation doesn’t harm the pipes. Pipe walls and other plumbing components will not be damaged by this method. During the sewer camera inspection, if the pipes appear to have cracks or weak sections, this will be taken into account when hydro-jetting.

Versatility

This method can be scaled up or down to meet the needs of any commercial property. You can alter the type of nozzle used during the operation to suit particular problems with the plumbing. You may also use Hydro-jetting as routine maintenance for the plumbing.

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Are you in need of commercial hydro jetting services in the Greater Chicago area? Contact us at 773-599-9181 or by form below!

Jun '22

How Can Hydro Jetting Benefit Your Restaurant?

How Can Hydro Jetting Benefit Your Restaurant? – For buildings of all kinds – commercial as well as residential – periodic hydro-jetting is one of the most effective ways to maintain the function and structural integrity of the drain systems. This is especially true when that building is a restaurant or commercial kitchen.

In a typical day’s work, massive amounts of broth, grease, and food waste find their way into your restaurant’s drain system. But just because the grease and food you flush into the drain disappear from view don’t mean they actually go away.

Most times these materials settle inside the drainpipes and eventually clog them, making it hard for water and other materials to pass through. As the Dodson NOVA team explains, short and long term effects of clogged pipes are drain blockages, unsanitary conditions, and pipe damage.

The buildup of grease and other materials inside your restaurant’s drains will cause the following problems:

Inefficient drains:

The drains in a restaurant will become slow and make strange noises when they are clogged. This doesn’t do any good to the image of your restaurant because customers view such things as signs that a business is not well-managed.

Sanitary problems

Clogged drains draw pests – rats, mice, roaches, and ants – into the building. The possibility of bad odors from the drains also increases with clogs. The worst sanitary issue from clogged drains is when you start to have drain backups.

Clogged drainpipes hurt your business because you may eventually have to close shop to deal with the issue. If that doesn’t happen, you may get into trouble with the authorities if customers complain about your restaurant. Either way, you lose time, money, and customers.

Hydro jetting your pipes on a schedule can help you avoid everything from slow-running drains to sewer line blockages.

Hydro jetting your restaurant’s drains

It is a good practice to clean the restaurant’s drain on a schedule, even when there are no visible signs of problems with your drain system. But when cleaning your restaurant’s drains, you will be faced with the option of using drain cleaners, drain snakes, or hydro-jetting.

What is hydro jetting and why should you use hydro jetting in place of these other methods of drain cleaning such as a sewer rodding service? There are several reasons why drain snakes and liquid drain cleaners will not work when cleaning your restaurant drains.

Drain snakes are ineffective

Drain snakes are only useful for removing obstructions that are near the opening of the drain. If the problems lie deep inside the drain system, drain snakes are often useless for solving the problem. Moreover, drain snakes cannot remove drain clogs caused by sludge. The most the drain snake will do is poke a hole in the grease.

Liquid drain cleaners are dangerous

When dealing with minor problems in the home, liquid drain cleaners may work, but they are completely useless when you are trying to remove heavy grease buildup inside restaurant drains. Moreover, drain cleaning solutions will damage your drainpipes and the toxic fumes they emit can cause health problems for your staff and customers.

Hydro jetting, on the other hand, is ideal for dealing with the heavy grease buildup found in restaurant and commercial kitchen drains. This method will clean your drains without subjecting your pipes to the risk of damage. The way hydro jetting works makes it the best method for cleaning restaurant drains sustainably.

Benefits of hydro jetting your restaurant’s drain

Hydro jetting uses a stream of high-pressure water to blast debris away from inside your drains. To hydro-jet, the drain, a high-pressure hose with a special nozzle is fed into the pipes. One end is attached to a pressurizing machine that sends a jet of water – up to 8,000 PSI – to directly blast away grease, sludge, soap scum, and even tree roots from the pipes.

Hydro jetting can benefit your restaurant business in the following ways:

Saves you money

Hydro-jetting your drain prevents plumbing failure. Small problems that are easily solved by hydro jetting pipes can escalate until they result in sewer line blockages and plumbing failure. Hydro jetting makes it easier for your plumber to spot problems with a sewer camera inspection service and deal with them quickly.

Augments your waste management system

Even with the best waste management protocol in place, your drain systems will struggle to deal with certain types of waste. This can happen despite a grease trap installed in the system. Hydro jetting your drains improves the efficiency of your existing system by preventing malfunctions and complications.

Resolve neglected grease traps

If your grease trap has been neglected for a long time, removing the accumulated debris at the bottom of the grease trap will not solve the problem. This is because the drain lines connecting to the trap would also have become clogged with debris and will need hydro jetting to clear out the obstructions.

Easy preventative maintenance

Hydro-jetting your drain at least twice a year is the most cost-effective program for protecting your drain system. Hydro jetting your pipes on a schedule can help you avoid everything from slow-running drains to sewer line blockages.

May '22

Sewer Back Up Causes and Quick Fixes

The sewer system is necessary for urban infrastructure because it helps maintain a healthy and safe environment. Carrying away wastewater helps keep the environment secure from flooding and helps stop the spread of water-borne diseases. Therefore, it could be troublesome if a sewer backup is in your home.

The sewage system is a vital component of your commercial building since it is responsible for adequately disposing of wastewater away from the property. By strategically discarding waste, it is crucial to keep it well-maintained to avoid issues affecting its functionality.

Although the primary function of a sewer is to circulate wastewater, a commercial system is complex and requires maintenance and professional services. Installing plastic access doors and panels will allow convenient access to these critical fixtures whenever there is a need for repairs and maintenance.

But what are the common causes of backed-up sewers, and what can we do to fix and prevent it from happening again? Keep on reading to find out more!

Cause #1 Clogs or Blockages

Does your sink drain water slowly? Are there unfamiliar gurgling noises when you flush the toilet? These common signs could indicate clogged drains. Clogs mainly develop over time and are a product of a blockage that restricts the water flow from your drainpipes, impacting the plumbing throughout your entire home or establishment.

Clogged drains can affect multiple fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers, bathtubs, and sprinkler systems. Raw sewage could travel back into your drainpipes and your plumbing fixtures from the septic tank or the main sewer lines if the clogs become severe. The situation can get messy, and you would want to contact a plumber right away for professional hydro jetting service.

Drain clogs are usually a long process of material buildup in your drains. Here are some of the common materials that can clog your pipes:

Hair
Solidified grease
Baby wipes and feminine hygiene products
Extra-thick toilet paper, facial tissues, towels, and other wiping products.
Dental floss and cotton swabs
Products labeled non-flushable

You can place a drain strainer in your bathroom drains or sinks to prevent materials from falling into your drainpipes to prevent clogs from occurring. Also, make sure to dispose of hygienic products properly and, as much as possible, minimize the amount of toilet paper that you flush down your toilet.

Cause #2 Tree Roots

Tree root invasion happens when trees roots penetrate your sewage lines, growing through your plumbing pipes or crawling around and crushing the lines, searching for the water that flows inside.

The tree root invasion process is usually slow, but it could speed up if your lines are in bad condition, with holes or cracks that conveniently allow the roots to enter the drain.

To prevent yourself from dealing with this situation, you should estimate the suitable area if you’re planning to plant a tree within your property. It will vary depending on the type of plant and its growth rate. Ensure that the site you choose will not interfere with your plumbing pipes.

Cause #3 Main Sewer Line Blockage

A blockage in your sewer system usually occurs in the main sewer line owned and maintained by your city. The sudden backup caused by a clog is similar to what you experience during a household blockage. It can also be due to insufficient design capacity if your area encounters serious growth.

The problem becomes prominent if a community has difficulties with the sewers after heavy rainfall. The main sewer blockage will continuously affect your plumbing in the entire house or establishment, rather than affecting just one drain.

To decrease the damage, once there is a block in your main sewer line, shut off all water supplies in your home or establishment and shield drain openings with material that can absorb the liquid.

Final Thoughts

Although these valuable tips are practical and helpful, you should immediately contact a professional sewer line cleaning service if nothing changes. There could potentially be a more severe cause for the blockage, which would require a possible sewer line repair or replacement.

Mar '22

Why Hydro Jetting is Important Before a Sewer Line Repair

The sewer lines in your home are designed to last a long time. It is not uncommon to find fully functional sewer lines that are twenty years old and over. This is because sewer systems, due to the type of content that passes through them, are designed to be sturdy.

However, even the most well built sewer line will eventually have problems. These issues can come from several sources. The sewer line in your home can get damaged because of misuse, warns Jilsa Management. Or it can lose some of its function through wear and tear or a natural accident.

Regardless of the origin of the issues in your sewer lines, you want to solve the problem and make sure it does not return. To get this result, you should know the best practice for fixing a damaged sewer line; the sewer line repair should be preceded by hydro-jetting.

What is hydro-jetting? What does it do? And why is hydro-jetting important during sewer line repair?

What Is hydro-jetting?

Hydro-jetting is a drain cleaning method that uses high-pressure water to blast away clogs and blockages inside the sewer lines. Water is delivered at a pressure of up to 6000 PSI, which is enough force to remove tree roots, sludge, and other materials lodged inside the pipes.

The process of hydro-jetting is as follows:

As a first step, the plumber conducts a sewer camera inspection by installing a small camera on one end of a cable and inserting it into the sewer line.
The camera travels through the sewer line and sends back images of the interior of the pipes to a computer screen monitored by the plumber.
This initial process helps the plumber pinpoint the location of the problem and determine its severity. The inspection also tells the plumber if it is safe to go on with the next step.
If it is safe to proceed – that is, there is no possibility of the sewer line collapsing – the actual hydro-jetting process can now begin.
Hydro-jetting equipment consists of a large tank filled with water, a specialized high-pressure water hose, a super-strong nozzle, and equipment for pushing the water through the nozzle at high pressure.
The high-pressure water hose, with the nozzle at its head, is inserted into the sewer line until it reaches the point of the blockage.
The clog is blasted with just enough water pressure to break up the obstruction inside the pipe. Hydro-jetting can deliver enough water pressure to shear away plant roots.
The dislodged material is washed down the pipe and into the city’s main sewer lines.
Finally, another sewer camera inspection is done to view the results of the process and determine the condition of the pipes.

Hydro-jetting lets your plumber clear blockages inside the pipes without digging up the yard or exposing your pipes to the risk of damage. Hydro-jetting can be used to effectively remove the following kinds of blockage from a sewer line.

Sludge or grease, fat, and oil build: When you flush grease, fats, and oil into the drain, these materials cling to the sides of the pipes and trap dirt. A hydro jet will remove buildup.
Intruding tree roots: In a bid to find water and nutrients, the roots of nearby shrubs or trees can find their way into the sewer line. Hydro-jetting will solve this problem.
Pipe scale: Dissolved minerals in hard water are deposited on the interior surface of pipes, where they reduce the diameter of the pipe. Hydro-jetting will remove pipe scale.
Non-flushable objects: A range of items we use in the home find their way into the sewer line. Hydro-jetting can blast away these troublesome items.

Hydro-jetting is a powerful yet gentle method for cleaning drains. But why is it necessary to carry out this procedure before a sewer line repair service?

Why hydro-jetting is done before sewer line repair

To detect problems: Hydro-jetting the sewer line washes away the layers of filth inside the sewer line and exposes the actual surface of the pipes. This allows the plumber to see the true extent of the damage to the sewer line.
Improves the accuracy of repairs: By combining sewer camera inspection with hydro-jetting, the plumber can pinpoint the location of a problem. Hydro-jetting injects a high level of accuracy into sewer repair. It ensures the finished job is well done and long- lasting.
Reduce costs: There are other ways to clean a sewer line before it is repaired, but hydro-jetting is the quickest and most-effective method. Other methods will cost more in labor and time.

Improves sanitation and indoor air quality: Hydro-jetting the sewer before repairing helps the plumber do a more complete job. Hydro-jetting gets rid of the bacteria inside the drain that cause bad odors. Unless the sewer line is cleaned with a hydro-jet, the bacteria inside them are not easily removed.

Dec '21

Is Hydro Jetting the Drain Cleaning Solution You Need?

Unfortunately, blocked drains in the home are a common problem. A blocked drain is a huge pain as it will reduce water flow, slow down or prevent drainage, and damage the plumbing. But as Blue Door Realty says, the worst is the possibility of disgusting wastewater backing up into your home.

Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with a blocked drain. Anyone can unclog a blocked drain if they know how to use a rodding machine or snake. But plungers and drain snakes are only good if the cause of the blockage is close to the drain opening.

For blockages deep inside the drain system plungers and drain snakes won’t work. Finding the right solution for removing a drain clog is vital and this depends on the cause of the blockage, its position inside the drain, and how long the problem has been there.

The most common causes of drain blockages are hair, pieces of food, grease, soap, oil, mineral buildup, and items that accidentally fall into the drain. If any of these items manage to find their way deep into the drain system, they can’t be removed with a plunger.

For complex blockages like that, an advanced solution like hydro jetting is what you need. Hydro jetting will dislodge clogs no matter how deep they are inside the drain system. What is hydro jetting drain cleaning, what are its pros and when should you use this method in your home?

Hydro jetting drain cleaning: how it works and its benefits

Hydro jetting removes drain clogs by blasting them with high-pressure water via a special hose threaded into the plumbing system. This has an attached nozzle, which is able to create a stream of high-pressured water with a force of up to 4,000 psi (pound-force per square inch).

This is enough pressure to break down obstructions, shear away tree roots, and remove buildup. Hydro jetting can be used for pipes of various sizes and to resolve the most severe drain clogs. The size and design of the nozzle can be altered to suit the pipe and type of blockage.

What are the advantages of hydro jetting over other methods of drain cleaning?

It is quick

When you have a blocked drain, speed is of the essence. With hydro jetting, you don’t have to wait long before you can start to use your drains again. The process can be completed in a few hours.

It is not messy

Plumbing jobs almost always create a mess. You will not have this problem when you use hydro jetting. Since hydro jetting flushes away the obstructions inside the drain, you will not have to deal with any smelly unsanitary mess.

It is safe

Because you will not come into contact with wastewater from the drain or any stuff inside the pipes, hydro jetting does not expose you or your family to the risk of disease or illness.

Doesn’t use dangerous chemicals

Hydro jetting uses only water. No strong chemicals will be forced into your drain system. So you can be sure of the safety of your pipes and drain.

It is versatile

Hydro jetting can be used for pipes of all sizes and any type of blockage. All that’s needed is a nozzle that matches the size of the pipe and the nature of the problem.

It removes sludge

One of the hardest types of drain clogs to remove is sludge. Whether it is sludge caused by soap scum, oil and grease, or coffee grinds, hydro jetting will remove it completely.

Useful for preventing clogs

You can use hydro jetting to protect your drain pipes and maintain the function of the drain system by having the system flushed occasionally.

Does your drain need hydro jetting?

You will need hydro jetting if any of these drain problems apply to you:

Major blockages

If you have substantial scale accumulation in your drain pipes, or you are dealing with tree root intrusion, silt, or heavy sludge buildup, the most effective way to solve the problem is with hydro jetting. Mineral/sludge buildup, if not dealt with effectively can damage your drain pipes. Hydro jetting is a more affordable option than replacing sewer pipes.

Your drain needs maintenance

If you want a way to maintain drain pipes that is effective but does not take a lot of time, hydro jetting is the recommended solution. It will clear away the debris inside sewer lines and return them to how they were at installation.