Caring for your plumbing system can prevent costly repairs and replacements. Knowing the signs that your pipes may require hydro jetting services can help you better assess and correct drain issues before they become costly problems.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Your sewer line flushes all wastewater and debris from your drains to the public sewer system. Because it’s responsible for eliminating waste from your plumbing system, it can quickly become dirty or worse, clogged. The larger a clog becomes, the more at risk you are of slow drainage or sewage backups inside your home.
Hydro jetting, also called hydro flushing, is an economical, quick, and environmentally friendly method of clearing blockages within plumbing systems. Hydro jetting works by spraying a continuous stream of high-pressure water through a hose that’s inserted into the drain line. Hydro jetting is an effective way to remove grease, sludge, debris, and small tree roots that can build up inside pipes over time.
When Hydro Jetting Is Needed
Look for the following warning signs that your pipes may need hydro jetting services.
1. Slow Drains
Slow-draining pipes are the biggest problem associated with plumbing clogs. Homeowners often fail to realize that a clog is developing because a drain might begin to drain progressively slower over a period of time. A slow-draining pipe may be the result of a localized clog or an indication of a bigger obstruction developing deep within the main drain line.
2. Noisy Plumbing
Hissing, bubbling, gurgling, or banging noises are signs of problems within a plumbing system. A gurgling sound in a toilet or pipe is a sign that water is trying to filter through an obstruction. If it’s just happening in one pipe, using a plumbing snake might resolve the problem. However, if you have gurgling noises coming from multiple fixtures, the clog is likely deeper inside your plumbing system and may require hydro jetting to clear.
3. Frequent Clogs
The best way to protect your drains is to prevent clogs from forming in the first place and the best way to do that is to know what to avoid putting down them. In general, the only things that should go down your drains are water, toilet paper, and human waste. If you are dealing with frequent clogs that aren’t easily resolved with a plunger or snake, it’s a sign of a deeper and larger blockage inside your plumbing system.
4. Fixtures Backing Up into Other Drains
If you flush your toilet and water backs up into the bathtub or shower drain, there may be a blockage in your main sewer line. It could also be caused by a clog in a shared drain pipe connected to both the toilet and shower drains.
If plunging the toilet doesn’t quickly resolve the problem, it’s time to call a professional plumber. If the clog is in the main sewer line, you will begin to experience issues with other drains in your home, so resolving the problem quickly is important.
5. Foul Odors
All drains have a trap where water sits to prevent sewer gases from backing up inside the house. If the pressure in drains is too high, that can drain all of the water out and nothing is left to prevent sewer gases from smelling up your kitchen and bathroom drains.
Odors can also be caused by rotting food, mold, or other materials that have lodged inside your drains. Hydro jetting not only breaks up clogs and blockages, but the scouring action also removes food particles that provide odor-causing bacteria a place to grow.
6. Sewage Backup
Unfortunately, the worst warning sign is raw sewage backing up inside your home. Sewage contains viruses, bacteria, and other contaminants that can spread disease. A sewer backup poses serious health risks and can result in significant property damage. If you are dealing with a sewer backup, it’s important to call for emergency plumbing services immediately.
If You Have These Warning Signs, Call a Plumber
If you’re considering hydro flushing for your home’s drains and pipes, be sure to have your pipes thoroughly and properly inspected by a trained plumber before having them cleared using a hydro jetting process. Some pipes may be too old or damaged to be able to handle the intense water pressure. Only an experienced professional can make that determination through a thorough onsite inspection.
For drain and sewer services in Los Gatos, call Simply Green Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter at (408) 716-1686, or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We have served thousands of satisfied customers in the Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Campbell, Cupertino, San Jose, and Willow Glen areas. We want to be your choice for all your plumbing needs.
If you have a clogged drain that won’t clear or virtually any type of plumbing problem, we are here to serve you. We’ve been in business for over 30 years, providing homeowners throughout the region with a broad range of services, including drain repair and cleaning, water heater installation, leak detection, and much more.