Drain cleaning & unclogging
Unblock a sink, tub, washer line or main drain, then learn what caused the stoppage. Open page
Drains and sewer pipes
Hydro Jetting in Thornton, CO
A snake bores a channel through a clog. Hydro jetting cleans the whole pipe wall with a rotating jet of water, which is why it is the tool of choice for repeat clogs, grease and roots.
Tell the dispatcher what the line has been doing and when it last backed up.
When jetting helps
- Repeat clogsThe drain clears and slows again within weeks.
- Grease and scaleKitchen and laundry lines with a heavy buildup.
- Roots in a sound pipeFine roots in a line that is cracked only slightly.
What hydro jetting does
A jetting machine sends water at high pressure through a hose with a nozzle that points backward and forward jets. The water drives the nozzle through the pipe and washes the walls clean as it moves.
Where a cable cuts a path through a clog, a jet restores the full diameter of the pipe. That is why the line often drains faster afterward than it did after a snake visit.
When it makes sense
Consider jetting when a clog keeps returning, when grease has built up in a kitchen line, or when a camera shows roots and scale along the wall. It is also used to prepare a line for repair or lining, because the pipe must be clean first.
It is not right for every pipe. A line that is collapsed, badly cracked or made of fragile material may be damaged by high pressure. A camera inspection beforehand tells the plumber whether jetting is safe.
Cost
Pricing a jetting visit
Jetting is a larger job than a snake visit. These things move the price.
Ask whether the camera inspections are included and whether the work is guaranteed against an early return.
In Thornton
Roots and older laterals
Thornton neighborhoods built from the 1950s on often have mature trees. Roots seek water and enter sewer laterals through small cracks or joints, forming a mat inside the pipe. Jetting can clear that mat, but the roots return unless the crack is repaired.
If you jet the line and the clog comes back within months, ask for a camera look. It may be time for a spot repair or a section replacement.
Camera first, jet second
A good contractor looks into the pipe before jetting, and often again afterward. The first look shows the condition of the line and any breaks. The second look confirms that the pipe is clear and shows whether the cleaning exposed a problem.
Ask for the footage or at least a description of what was found. If the pipe has a belly, a break or a joint offset, jetting will clear the line but will not fix the defect.
Residential and commercial lines
Homes with repeat main line clogs benefit from jetting, especially older houses with roots. Restaurants and shops with grease traps and long kitchen lines use it as routine maintenance.
If you run a business, mention it on the call. The contractor will want to know about the building, the line length and the access points.
What to expect on the day
Clear access to the cleanout is helpful. The crew sets up outside, feeds the hose into the line and works forward and back. Water used by the jet flows out through the system, so you should avoid using fixtures during the work.
Afterward, run the fixtures and check for slow spots. If the line still drains badly, the problem may be a break or a belly that jetting cannot fix.
Cleaning the pipe and checking it
Sewer Camera Inspection
Feed a camera down the line to see its true condition before you pay for repairs or close on a house. Open page
Sewer Line Repair
Correct a broken, root-invaded or bellied sewer lateral, whether the repair is one spot or a longer run. Open page
Quick answers
Asked about hydro jetting
Not always. A camera look first shows whether the pipe is sound enough for high pressure.
A snake cuts through a clog. A jet washes the pipe wall clean along the whole length.
It trims and flushes thin roots. A cracked pipe lets them back in, so only a repair solves it for good.
That depends on use. A clean household line may never need it, while a busy kitchen drain can justify regular visits.
Phone any time and say that the main is backing up. The dispatcher hands the call to a contractor, and that company decides what its crew can reach tonight.
Same clog, again?
Call the 24/7 line and ask about a camera look and jetting. The dispatcher writes down the details.