If you ever tried washing your driveway with a regular garden hose, you probably did not have a lot of luck getting it clean. On the other hand, if you attach the hose to a pressure washer, the water that comes out has a great deal of pressure, making it ideal for removing built-up dirt on a driveway.

The same principle is true for high-pressure water jetting, which is a method plumbers use to clean drain pipes. If your pipes run slowly or have clogs in them, a plumber could use water jetting to cut through the debris. Here are several important things to understand about high-pressure water jetting for plumbing.

What a High-Pressure Water Jet Does

Plumbers use water jets to clean out plumbing pipes with highly pressurized water. These machines can create pressure with water that is strong enough to cut through the toughest types of clogs. This includes grease, gravel, minerals, and even tree roots caught in the sewer lines.



To use a water jet, a plumber must insert it into the pipe. Once the water jet is inserted, the plumber turns it on and the water begins coming out. The water shoots directly into the pipe, forcing all the debris out of the way. The debris then washes down the pipes and into the sewer system.

When You Should Hire a Plumber to Use This Equipment

You can hire a plumber to use high-pressure water jetting for two reasons. The first reason is to clear a clogged line. If you have a drain in your home that will not work due to a clog, a plumber can use this equipment to clean out the line. Plumbers do not always use water jets to clear lines, but they do for stubborn clogs.

If your plumber does not use water jetting, he or she will most likely use a snake to clear the line or a plumbing auger. Plumbers commonly use snakes and augers to clear lines in homes; however, water jets work better for tough, stubborn clogs.

Secondly, you can hire a plumber to clean out all your lines with a water jet if you have slow-moving drains. Slow-moving drains tend to develop over time as debris builds up in pipes. This debris can include hair, grease, food, and hard water minerals. Little by little, debris accumulates from use, and this begins to cause slow-moving drains.

When you have slow-moving drains, your lines are prone to clogs. Clogs develop when the debris traps an entire line, preventing water from getting through. Have a plumber clean all your lines before you experience a major clog in one of them.

Why You Should Keep Your Pipes Clean

You need to keep your pipes clean if you want to prevent plumbing problems. While some clogs develop instantaneously, most develop slowly over time. A habit of getting your lines cleaned every year or two will prevent most clogs from forming. If you can prevent clogs, you can avoid the inconvenience clogs cause when they develop.

You can also keep your pipes clean by limiting what you place in them. A great way to do this is by placing screens over all your drains. In addition, you can pour baking soda, vinegar, and hot water in your drains to clean them on a monthly basis.

Plumbing problems are common with homes, yet they are inconvenient and messy. If you currently have any problems with your drain pipes, contact Cox Plumbing for help. We offer high-pressure water jetting services as well as many other services designed to fix and maintain plumbing systems in homes.