BLOCKED DRAINS
What Is Hydrojetting and Why Does It Clear Blocked Drains Better Than a Snake?
Hydrojetting uses high-pressure water to thoroughly clear blocked drains, flush debris and clean the pipe walls.
By Wakeline Plumbing Solutions | Adelaide, South Australia
IN SHORT
Hydrojetting clears blocked drains using highly pressurised water. Unlike a basic drain snake, which often punches a path through the blockage, hydrojetting can scour the pipe walls and flush loosened debris out of the line. It is especially useful for grease, root debris, recurring blockages and stormwater drains.
What is hydrojetting?
Hydrojetting — also called high-pressure drain jetting or hydro jetting — is a method of clearing blocked or partially blocked drains using highly pressurised water. A specialist nozzle is inserted into the drain and water is pumped through at high pressure, typically between 3,000 and 5,000 PSI depending on the pipe size and the nature of the blockage.
The nozzle design is important. Most hydrojet nozzles spray water both forwards and backwards — forwards to cut through the blockage, backwards to propel the nozzle along the pipe and flush loosened debris back out. This means the jetting action cleans the pipe in both directions as it moves through the line.
The result is a pipe that has been cleared and flushed — not just had a hole punched through the centre of the blockage.
How is it different from a drain snake?
A drain snake, or plumber's eel, is a long flexible cable with a cutting or hooking head that is fed into the drain and rotated to break up or retrieve the blockage. It is an effective tool for many situations, particularly straightforward blockages close to the fixture or those caused by a solid object.
The limitation of a snake is that it typically opens a path through the centre of the blockage rather than removing the build-up from the pipe walls. For grease accumulation, heavy root masses or compacted debris, a snake may restore flow temporarily but leave enough residue on the pipe walls that the blockage returns relatively quickly.
Hydrojetting addresses this differently. The high-pressure water scours the pipe walls rather than just punching through the middle, removing grease, scale and debris that a snake would leave behind. For the right type of blockage, it produces a more thorough result.
BEST SUITED FOR
What types of blockages respond well to hydrojetting?
01
Grease and fat build-up
Hydrojetting can scour grease from pipe walls and flush it out, rather than simply punching through the centre of the blockage.
02
Root debris after cutting
After roots are mechanically cut, hydrojetting can flush root debris, silt and disturbed build-up out of the line.
03
Recurring blockages
If a drain keeps blocking in the same location, hydrojetting can remove residual build-up that basic snaking may leave behind.
04
Stormwater drains
Outdoor stormwater drains with silt, leaves and compacted material often respond well to high-pressure water jetting.
Is hydrojetting safe for all pipes?
Hydrojetting is safe for most pipes in good condition, including PVC, copper, cast iron and concrete. The water pressure used is calibrated to the pipe size and material, so a licensed plumber will adjust the pressure accordingly rather than using maximum pressure regardless of the situation.
The one situation where care is needed is with older, deteriorated clay or earthenware pipes that are already cracked or in poor condition. High water pressure applied to a pipe that is already compromised can worsen existing damage. This is one reason why a CCTV inspection is valuable before hydrojetting in older properties, it confirms the pipe is in suitable condition to withstand the process, or identifies damage that needs to be addressed first.
For most properties with pipes in reasonable condition, hydrojetting is a safe and highly effective drain clearing method.
For older or recurring drainage problems, a CCTV inspection may be used before hydrojetting to check the pipe condition.
DAN’S PRACTICAL ADVICE
“Hydrojetting is not about using the biggest machine for every blockage. It is about using the right method for the pipe and the problem. Sometimes a simple snake is enough. Sometimes the drain needs a proper flush.”
Dan Wake | Wakeline Plumbing Solutions
When would a plumber use a snake instead?
A drain snake is still the right tool in a number of situations. For a simple, accessible blockage, such as a shower drain clogged with hair, a toilet blocked by a foreign object, or a trap blockage close to the fixture, a snake is fast, effective and appropriate.
Hydrojetting involves more equipment, more setup time, and is better suited to drain lines where thorough cleaning is the goal. A good plumber will use the right tool for the specific situation rather than defaulting to the same method for every job.
Hydrojetting for blocked drains in Adelaide’s western suburbs
Wakeline Plumbing Solutions uses a professional hydrojet for blocked drain clearing across Adelaide’s western and coastal suburbs. For recurring blockages, heavy grease build-up, post-root-cutting pipe cleaning and stormwater drainage issues, hydrojetting provides a more thorough clear than mechanical snaking alone.
Dan uses the hydrojet where it is the right method for the job, and uses a CCTV sewer camera to check the condition of the pipe first when the situation warrants it. If you have a blocked drain in Taperoo, Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Largs Bay, North Haven, West Lakes, Henley Beach or the surrounding areas, call Dan directly on 0403 626 998 for an honest assessment of what is happening and what the best approach is.
Have a stubborn blocked drain?
Dan can assess whether the blockage needs a simple clear, a hydrojet clean, or a CCTV inspection before any further work is recommended.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about hydrojetting and blocked drains
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Need help with a blocked drain in Adelaide?
Wakeline Plumbing Solutions provides practical blocked drain help across Adelaide’s western, coastal and surrounding suburbs. Speak directly with Dan.
Request a callback
Tell us what is happening and Dan will get back to you. For urgent blocked drain issues, calling is usually the fastest option.
Phone: 0403 626 998
Email: contact@wakelineplumbingsolutions.com.au
Licensed & insured plumber
LICENSE: 2026820 – ABN: 25204084108