In short
Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure water jet to scour the full width of a drain. It clears grease, roots and debris more thoroughly than a rod that punches a channel through the middle. It suits recurring blockages, root growth and preparation before pipe relining, although only if the pipe itself is sound. Find out whether jetting fits your property through the online form.
What hydro jetting is
Hydro jetting is also called high-pressure water jetting. A flexible hose with a rotating nozzle forces water around the whole inside of the pipe. A rod, in contrast, pushes through a blockage to open a narrow channel and restore some flow.
Jetting scours the pipe wall, so it removes grease, scale, silt and root growth stuck to the surface. That full clean matters. A pipe that a rod has cleared but that is still coated in grease tends to block again, while a jetted pipe starts from a clean surface.
When jetting is the right call
Jetting earns its place in several situations, because each one leaves material on the pipe wall:
- Grease and fat build-up, where jetting breaks the coating down and flushes it away
- Root growth, where a jet can cut roots back in a sound pipe
- Repeat blockages in the same spot, which often mean a layer of scale or grease
- Preparation before pipe relining, since a liner needs a clean surface
In each case, jetting only does its job if the pipe underneath is structurally sound. The same applies to drain cleaning in a home or a business. Homes see mostly kitchen and bathroom waste pipes and outside gullies. Commercial kitchens can produce a lot of grease, while some also use a grease trap that needs its own care.
When jetting is not the right call
A cracked, badly displaced or partly collapsed pipe can get worse under jetting. The pressure can widen a crack, loosen a section or push debris further along. As a result, an older pipe of unknown condition is best checked first. A CCTV drain survey shows whether jetting is safe, or whether the pipe needs repair before any high-pressure cleaning.
What a jetting visit usually involves
While every job differs, most follow a pattern. The engineer looks at the affected drain or gully first, and a camera check can come before jetting if the pipe's condition is in doubt. Once the pipe looks sound, the engineer fits a nozzle that suits the pipe's size and runs it through. A flow test then shows whether the drain is clear.
Ask the engineer to explain what the job found and what caused it. Ask for advice on avoiding a repeat. Ask about both before work starts, so you know what the visit includes, because visits differ.
What jetting can cost
UK cost guides give a rough idea. MyJobQuote gives £70 to £175 for drain jetting, while Book A Builder gives £120 to £250 for high-pressure jetting of one to two hours. These are guide figures, not Scottish prices. The engineer's written quote is what counts, so ask what it covers.
If you want to compare jetting with a rod-clear for your case, our comparison of drain jetting and drain rods covers it directly, since it sets out the limits of each method.
Asking for help
This site is a request service for drainage work. You send your details through the form, and your request goes to an engineer who can respond. The engineer who takes your job runs a separate business. Since the engineer sets the price, the arrival time and any guarantee, agree all three before work starts. To ask whether jetting suits your property, use the online form.
Town pages for jetting explain what to send in a request. In Angus, see drain jetting in Arbroath or drain jetting in Forfar. For Perth, read the Perth drain jetting page. In Fife, there are pages for drain jetting in Newport-on-Tay, drain jetting in Tayport and drain jetting in Wormit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
It depends on the pipe's condition. Jetting is usually safe on a sound pipe of any age. On a cracked or damaged run, however, the pressure can make things worse, so a camera check first is wise when the pipe's history is unknown.
How is jetting different from drain rodding?
Rodding pushes a rod through a blockage to clear a channel. Jetting, in contrast, uses a high-pressure water jet to scour the whole inside of the pipe. It removes grease and build-up that a rod leaves on the walls.
Will jetting stop my drain blocking again?
It lowers the chance, because it clears the grease, scale and roots coating the pipe walls. How long the effect lasts depends on what goes down the drain afterwards.
Can jetting clear drains for restaurants and takeaways?
Commercial kitchens can produce a lot of grease, and they may need jetting more often than a home. Some also need separate grease trap care. You can read about commercial jetting and ask the engineer what suits the premises, since every kitchen differs.
Can jetting damage an old clay pipe?
Only if the pipe is already damaged, cracked, displaced or partly collapsed. Still, a CCTV check first shows the pipe's real condition.
