Hydro jetting drain cleaning in Los Angeles

Hydro jetting sends water at about 1,500 to 4,000 pounds per square inch through a hose with a special nozzle, cutting grease, scale and root hairs off the pipe wall. Where a cable punches a hole through a clog, a jet restores the full bore of the pipe. In Los Angeles most residential jobs cost about $300 to $900.

This page covers the process, the kit, the cost and the pipes that should never be jetted. For a straight comparison with cables, see hydro jetting vs snaking. For the basic cable option, see drain snaking. Prefer the overview? Start at the LA Drain Works home page.

What is hydro jetting a drain?

Hydro jetting is a cleaning method that pushes high-pressure water through a flexible hose into a drain or sewer line. The nozzle fires jets backward to pull the hose forward and jets sideways to scour the pipe wall, flushing the debris toward the main. It uses water only, with no chemicals involved.

Three things set it apart from other methods:

• It cleans the whole circumference of the pipe, not just a channel through the middle.
• It clears grease and mineral scale that a cable only chips through.
• It can cut thin roots, and chain or chisel nozzles take on thicker ones.

The old name for this kind of job is sewer jetting, and some businesses call it hydrojetting as one word. Same thing.

What equipment does a jetting job use?

A jetting rig is a pump with an engine or electric motor, a water supply, a high-pressure hose on a reel and a set of nozzles. Smaller rigs fit in a van and handle household lines. Larger trailer-mounted units carry more hose and flow for long mains and a large commercial building. Nozzles change with the blockage.

Pressure alone does not do the job. Flow does: more water volume carries the debris along once the nozzle loosens it. Ask the plumber what pressure they will run on your pipe, because the right number depends on the pipe, not on the machine.

Is hydro jetting safe for older Los Angeles pipes?

It is safe for sound pipe and risky for pipe that is thinned, cracked or loose at the joints. Many Los Angeles homes have older clay, cast iron or Orangeburg laterals. A camera look first shows the condition, and the plumber lowers pressure for older material or recommends another method.

Here is how common materials compare:

• PVC and ABS: take standard jetting well.
• Clay: usually fine at moderate pressure if the joints are tight. Cracked or root-split clay can break up.
• Cast iron: fine when sound, but pipe that has corroded and thinned from inside can fail, and thin interior drains inside walls are more fragile than a 4-inch main.
• Orangeburg (bituminized fiber): do not jet it. It softens and deforms with age, and pressure can collapse it.

If the camera shows a broken pipe, jetting only moves the problem. See repairing old clay sewer pipe or no dig sewer line repair.

What are the pros and cons of hydro jetting?

The pros are a full-diameter clean, no chemicals and lasting results on grease and scale. The cons are cost, risk to weak pipe and the need for access, usually a cleanout. A cable costs less and works for a simple clog, so jetting makes sense when clogs keep returning or the pipe is coated.

Pros:

• Removes the buildup that makes clogs come back.
• Cleans before a liner goes in.
• Cuts roots without leaving shredded ends behind.

Cons:

• Higher price than a cable for a simple clog.
• Wrong for fragile or collapsed pipe.
• Cannot work without access to the line, and some homes lack a cleanout.
• Needs a place for water to go, so a blocked line must be cleared enough to flow.

How is a hydro jetting job done, step by step?

A plumber finds access, usually the cleanout, and runs a camera if the pipe's condition is unknown. They feed the hose in, jet downstream first, then pull back while spinning the nozzle to scour. At the end they flush, run water and confirm flow, sometimes with a second camera pass.

The usual procedure:

1. Locate the cleanout and check that the line is not collapsed.
2. Camera pass to see the cause and choose the pressure.
3. Feed the nozzle toward the main, pulling the hose forward with its rear jets.
4. Retreat slowly with the spin on, cleaning the wall.
5. Flush, test flow and, where useful, camera again.

How long does hydro jetting a sewer line take?

A typical residential sewer jetting visit takes about one to two hours on site, and a branch line can be quicker. Heavy roots, long runs or repeat passes add time. Camera work before and after is often included in that window.

Plan around the water: the plumber will ask you to avoid running taps or flushing while the line is open.

How much does hydro jetting cost, and how often do you need it?

Published Los Angeles prices for residential hydro jetting mostly run about $300 to $900. A branch line is at the low end, a main sewer line in the middle, and heavy roots or an after-hours call at the top. Camera inspection can add about $150 to $350 if it is not bundled. Your written quote after a visit sets the price.

Frequency depends on the cause. Lines with heavy roots or old cast iron are sometimes jetted every year or two. A line that cleared once and stayed clear may never need it again. For a full breakdown, see hydro jetting cost and hydro jetting tips.

Can I do hydro jetting myself?

You can rent a small electric jetter, but we would not suggest it on a sewer line. The wrong nozzle or too much pressure can crack an old pipe, the hose can whip back, and you cannot see what you are doing without a camera. Use it only on a sound PVC line you can see.

If the same drain keeps clogging, say so on the price request page. A local plumber looks at the line first, and the quote is written before any jetting starts.

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Questions people ask

Which chemical is used for cleaning drainage?

None, in hydro jetting. The method uses water only. Chemical drain cleaners are lye- or acid-based products that dissolve some organic material, but they can burn skin and eyes and are hard on old pipe. If one has been used, tell the plumber before they start.

Is hydro jetting better than snaking?

For grease, scale and returning clogs, yes. For a simple hair or paper clog on a short line, a cable is cheaper and just as effective. Jetting cleans the full pipe wall, while a cable cuts a path. The right choice depends on what the camera shows.

Can hydro jetting damage pipes?

It can, if the pipe is already weak. Sound PVC, clay and cast iron take it well at the right pressure. Corroded cast iron, cracked clay and Orangeburg are the risks. A camera first and a lower setting for old pipe are the safeguards.

Will hydro jetting remove tree roots?

It cuts roots inside the pipe, and chain or chisel nozzles handle thicker ones. The roots grow back through the same gaps, so repeat jetting or a repair of the cracks is the lasting answer. See preventing tree roots in sewer lines.

Do I need a cleanout for hydro jetting?

Almost always. The hose goes in through a cleanout, a pulled toilet or a roof vent. A proper outdoor cleanout makes the job faster and cheaper, and a plumber can often install one during the visit if your line has none.