What is High-Pressure Hydro Jetting?

Using a High-Pressure Water Jet (HPWJ) to unblock your drain or sewer is an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way to remove many different types of materials that can block or damage your drains including:

  • Tree Roots
  • Paper
  • Fats
  • Sludge
  • Oils
  • Dirt
  • Grease
  • Foreign Objects

There are other ways to remove a blockage, but sewer jetting is one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to clean out sewer and drainage pipes and help prevent further blockages.

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HOW DOES IT WORK?

A High-Pressure Water Jet uses a water pump to deliver pressurised water into a high-pressure hose. The end of the hose can be attached to a variety of specialised nozzles designed to remove most types of blockages quickly and easily. Stubborn tree roots are also not a problem with the water pressurised to at between 3,000 PSI and 8,000 PSI, shredding roots quickly and easily. While hydro-jetting clears the immediate blockage, it is important to follow Melbourne Water’s guidelines on root management to understand why roots are attracted to these pipes.

The pressurised water also cleans away the natural build-up of grime and minerals that commonly line the inside of any sewer drain helping to provide an unobstructed flow through the pipe.

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What is Better?
An Electric Eel Or High-Pressure Water Jet

Electric Eels or Drain Snakes were invented in 1933 and work using a motor to spin a steel cable with a cutting head attached to the end. The cables are put into the blocked pipe and the head cuts away anything it meets – a little like a hole saw. The problem with this older technology is that the spinning cable thrashes around inside the pipe banging against the pipe walls, which may lead to further damage or possible drain collapse. The cutting head also loses its effectiveness the further away it moves from the motor that turns it. Finally, when the cutting head chops through a blocked or clogged drain, it often leaves behind tree roots and fragments that are not pulled back on the cable leading to further blockages soon after.

Overall, the High-Pressure Water Jet, using newer technology, produces a better result that is quicker, cheaper, and more efficient.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure water jet to blast through blockages and clean the inside of your drain or sewer pipes. It is an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method that requires no chemicals and leaves no mess behind.

Hydro jetting can remove tree roots, grease, fat, oil, sludge, dirt, paper, and foreign objects. The water is pressurised to between 3,000 and 8,000 PSI, making it powerful enough to shred even the most stubborn root intrusions.

A high-pressure hose is fed into your drain and connected to a specialised nozzle designed for the type of blockage present. Pressurised water is then pumped through, cutting through blockages and flushing debris clear of the pipe. It also removes the natural build-up of grime and minerals lining the inside of the pipe.

Yes. Unlike older methods such as electric eels, hydro jetting does not involve spinning cables thrashing against pipe walls, which can cause cracking or collapse. The water pressure is controlled and directed precisely, making it a much safer option for your pipes.

Electric eels use a spinning steel cable to cut through blockages, but they can damage pipe walls, lose effectiveness over longer distances, and often leave root fragments behind that cause blockages to return. Hydro jetting is faster, cleaner, and produces a more thorough result.

Hydro jetting clears the immediate blockage and removes built-up residue that contributes to future blockages, so it does reduce the likelihood of a recurrence. For recurring root intrusion, we recommend following up with a CCTV inspection to assess whether a longer-term solution such as pipe relining is needed.

Yes. Hydro jetting uses only water, with no harsh chemicals or solvents involved. It is one of the most environmentally responsible drain cleaning methods available.

Hydro jetting costs depend on whether the blockage is in a sewer or stormwater drain. Sewer blockages are $385 for the first 60 minutes, then $132 per 30 minutes if extra time is required. Stormwater blockages are $440 for the first 60 minutes, then $165 per 30 minutes. These prices include travel, labour, setup, standard equipment, CCTV inspection and GST. If permanent repair works such as pipe relining proceed within 28 days, the blockage clearing cost is credited toward the repair.