How jetting works
- A jetter forces water down a hose to a nozzle with backward-angled jets, which drag the hose along and scour the pipe wall in one motion, so grease, scale and root hair are washed downstream rather than shoved aside. Front jets break through the plug; rear jets do the cleaning on the way back.
- Each nozzle has its own job. A penetrator opens a hard blockage, a spinning nozzle polishes the wall, and a chain-flail head knocks heavy scale off cast iron. We choose based on what the camera or the first cable pass showed.
When we will not jet
- Old clay with cracked joints, cast iron that has rotted through on the bottom, and pipes with known offsets can be damaged by high pressure. Before jetting any older Richmond Hill lateral, we look at it on camera. When the pipe is too weak, you hear that from us along with a gentler approach or a repair first.
- We also check that the cleanout is accessible and that we can control the water inside the house. Jetting from a toilet flange in a finished basement is possible but needs care and plastic sheeting.
Signs you need this
- The kitchen line clogs every few months
- A cable clears the drain but it slows again soon
- Camera shows grease coating the pipe walls
- Fine root hair keeps coming back on the cable
- You are preparing a house for sale and want a clean line
Who it suits
- Homes with heavy cooking, long kitchen runs, or a history of grease back-ups get the most out of jetting. So do houses with PVC laterals where fine root hairs come in through a single loose joint near a tree. Jetting clears the hair right down to the pipe wall, which slows regrowth compared with cutting alone.
- For a one-time hair clog in a shower, a jetter is overkill. We will not bring the big tool for a small job.
How the job runs
- 1
The line is checked on camera to confirm it can take the pressure.
- 2
A nozzle is chosen to suit grease, roots or scale.
- 3
The pipe is jetted upstream to downstream, with water controlled indoors.
- 4
A final camera pass confirms the walls are clean.
Richmond Hill note: most houses here sit on York Region municipal water with fairly hard supply, and many basements have a floor drain tied to the sanitary lateral. Mention both on the phone; it changes what goes on the truck.
Want a second opinion on your own pipes first? Dial (365) 363-1575; the person answering holds the wrench.