Overview
A cable cuts a hole through a clog and lets water flow again, but the sludge coating the pipe stays put. In kitchen lines, that coating is grease that hardened as it cooled. In sewers, it can be scale or a mat of fine roots. Jetting sends water out of a rotating nozzle at high pressure, peeling that layer off and flushing it downstream.
Jetting is a great tool on pipe that is intact. It is the wrong tool on a line that is cracked or collapsed, because pressure can make a bad break worse. That is why we usually run a camera before we jet an older line, and why we set the pressure to the pipe material, not to the maximum the machine can do.
How we handle it
Look first
Camera check on older or unknown lines.
Set the pressure
Matched to pipe material, size and condition.
Scour and flush
Full length of the line, then a final flow test.
What it costs
Jetting is priced higher than cabling because of the equipment, water and setup involved. The camera check before jetting is sometimes included and sometimes separate, depending on the line. Recurring commercial jetting can be scheduled at a lower per-visit rate.
Good to know
- Ask for camera footage before and after so you can see the difference.
- Restaurants should pair jetting with regular grease trap pumping.
- Note the date of each backup; the pattern tells us how often to schedule service.
Restaurants and strip centers along Bandera Rd and Culebra Rd use jetting as routine maintenance. Homes with big oaks near the sewer line often benefit from it too.
Hydro jetting questions
Is hydro jetting safe for PVC?
Yes, at the right pressure. We adjust for the pipe.
How often should a restaurant line be jetted?
Depends on volume. Many kitchens do it every few months to stay ahead of grease.
Does jetting fix a broken pipe?
No. Broken pipe needs repair. Jetting is for buildup in pipe that is still sound.
Can jetting be done from inside the house?
Usually it goes through an outdoor cleanout. Indoor access is possible but messier, which is another reason to add a cleanout.