How to Make a Origami Blackbird Jet

Homeowner's Guide to Hydro Jetting

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What Is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is a plumbing process of clearing clogged drains and sewers by using a high-pressure hose to rip through buildup of sticky debris. The powerful force of water from a hydro jet also helps to clean the pipes to prevent recurring clogs. Hydro jetting is a form of advanced plumbing technology used for both indoor and outdoor drainage problems.

Many people confuse hydro jetting with snaking a drain. Drain snakes, also called drain augers, can handle simple clogs that are easily removable. Snaking is a fast, safe and easy way to clear drains. However, snaking simply burrows through the clog rather than totally eliminating it.

Hydro jetting does a more comprehensive job of cleaning out pipes than snaking. The hydro jetting process removes more than debris; it also gets rid of the scale and grease in the drain pipes. Hydro jetting can eliminate tree-root infiltration that blocks the pipes and keeps them from draining.

Hydro Jetting Versus Snaking

The process of hydro jetting is more complex than snaking. This is especially true when it comes to using the technology to clear out stubborn tree roots from sewage drains.

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Before using the hydro jet device, a plumber uses fiber-optic video technology to precisely locate the clog. The camera also gives the plumber a visual assessment of the condition of the pipes and drains. This information helps a plumber determine which pressure setting to use to unclog the pipe or drain.

Once the clog is pinpointed, the plumber threads the device deep into the sewer pipe. The hydro jet is a thin, flexible line with a nozzle head. The nozzle head of the device is designed with tiny jets from which water flows extremely fast and at high pressures of up to 4,000 pounds per square inch. This process scours the pipe's surfaces but doesn't damage them. Large snakes with rotating blades are more likely than a hydro jet to damage a pipe's interior.

Is Hydro Jetting for DIYers?

Hydro jetting isn't a do-it-yourself project. There's a number of reasons that DIYers should call in a professional.

The powerful water streams of a hydro jet could cause serious damage to pipes. It takes a professional plumber to know if a home's pipes are too weak, worn out or simply too old to handle the hydro jetting process. A professional hydro jet technician knows how to inspect pipes before recommending the technique. A trained technician also knows how to use the fiber-optic video technology required to locate the clog and which setting to use based on those findings.

In addition, a trained technician knows how to handle a hydro jet system, which is more than just a water line and nozzle. The system includes a large water tank mounted on a truck attached to a special hose and nozzle. The nozzle handles the intensity of highly pressurized water shot into several hundred feet of sewer pipes.

Finding a Hydro Jet Service

It's easy to find a plumbing and maintenance service that offers residential hydro jetting. The trick is to make sure the plumber or technician is highly trained in the service and that you're also getting the right technology.

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Often, a larger plumbing service company can specialize in hydro jetting. Larger companies may also handle both residential and commercial accounts, so they have the right equipment and enough manpower to work on tough drain clogs from thick tree roots and grease.

When inquiring about whether or not a plumber has hydro jetting services, make sure the company is offering this newer technology and not older and more common cable snake technology. Cable snake technology offers lower-pressure water to unclog drains, but the system may not be powerful enough to cut through tangled tree roots. Ask what pressure levels the hydro jetting equipment offers so you can tell if it's true state-of-the-art hydro jetting or older technology.

How to Make a Origami Blackbird Jet

Source: https://www.smarter.com/article/homeowners-guide-hydro-jetting?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740011%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

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