How High-Pressure Water Jetting Removes Stubborn Blockages
When a drain becomes blocked, a standard plunger or drain cleaner may not always be enough. Stubborn blockages can build up over time, with grease, fat, silt, roots, scale and other debris restricting the flow of water through your drainage system.
For tough blockages, high-pressure water jetting is the most effective method of clearing and cleaning drains.
At Drain Doctor, high-pressure water jetting is our specialist drainage service, helping both domestic and commercial customers tackle blockages and restore their drains to full working order.
What Is High-Pressure Water Jetting?
High-pressure water jetting uses a powerful stream of water to break through and remove blockages from inside a drainage pipe.
A specialist jetting machine pumps water through a flexible hose at high pressure. The hose is carefully fed into the affected drain, where specially designed nozzles direct powerful jets of water against the blockage and the inside of the pipe.
Rather than simply creating a small passage through the blockage, which happens when the drain rodding method is used. The water breaks up and flushes away the material that is restricting the pipe.
How Does Water Jetting Remove a Blockage?
The process is more than simply putting a hose down a drain. Different blockages require different approaches, and our technicians select the appropriate equipment and nozzle or ‘jet head’ depending on the drainage system and the type of blockage.
1. The blockage is identified
Before jetting begins, our technician assesses the drainage system and the symptoms being experienced. This helps determine the most appropriate way to tackle the problem.
2. The jetting hose is positioned
A flexible high-pressure hose is carefully introduced into the drainage system and positioned towards the affected area.
The equipment and pressure used are selected based on the condition, size and type of drainage pipe to ensure the work is carried out safely and effectively.
3. High-pressure water breaks down the blockage
Once the equipment is in position, powerful jets of water are directed through the pipe.
The water can break apart and dislodge materials such as:
Grease and fat
Silt and sediment
Mud and debris
Soap and other build-up
Organic matter
Certain types of scale
Other materials restricting the flow of water
The jet head design helps direct the water where it is needed, allowing the technician to work through stubborn build-up and restrictions.
4. Debris is flushed through the drainage system
As the blockage is broken down, the loosened material is flushed through the pipe.
This helps restore the internal diameter of the pipe and allows wastewater to flow freely again.
5. The drain is checked
Once the blockage has been cleared, the drainage system can be checked to make sure the water is flowing correctly.
Where necessary, a CCTV survey can provide a closer look at the condition of the pipe and help identify any underlying problems that may have contributed to the blockage.
Why Is High-Pressure Water Jetting So Effective?
One of the main advantages of high-pressure water jetting is that it tackles the blockage and the build-up around it, rather than simply creating a temporary opening.
A mechanical drain rod or similar method may break through a blockage, but material can remain attached to the walls of the pipe. Over time, this remaining build-up can contribute to another blockage.
High-pressure water jetting can help clean the inside of the pipe by removing accumulated debris and leaving a clearer passage for wastewater.
This makes it particularly useful for persistent, heavy or recurring blockages.
What Types of Blockages Can Water Jetting Clear?
High-pressure water jetting can be used for a wide range of drainage problems, including blocked:
Toilets and wastewater pipes
Kitchen drains
Foul drainage systems
Stormwater drains
Commercial drainage systems
Car park and yard drains
Larger underground drainage networks
It can be particularly useful where grease, fat, silt or other material has accumulated inside the pipe.
However, not every drainage problem is simply a blockage. Structural damage, collapsed pipes, displaced joints or significant root ingress may require additional investigation or a different solution.
Can High-Pressure Water Jetting Prevent Future Blockages?
High-pressure water jetting isn't only useful when a drain is completely blocked.
It can also be used as part of planned drainage maintenance, particularly for commercial properties where keeping drainage systems flowing is important to day-to-day operations.
Regular cleaning can help remove accumulated grease, silt and debris before it becomes a major restriction.
For businesses with large or complex drainage systems, planned preventative maintenance can help identify potential issues early and reduce the risk of unexpected drainage emergencies.
What If the Blockage Keeps Coming Back?
If the same drain keeps blocking after it has been cleared, there may be an underlying problem within the drainage system.
Recurring blockages can sometimes be associated with issues such as:
Cracked or damaged pipes
Collapsed sections of pipe
Tree root ingress
Poorly connected or displaced pipes
Heavy scale or internal build-up
Problems with the design or condition of the drainage system
In these situations, repeatedly clearing the blockage may only treat the symptom rather than the cause.
A CCTV drainage survey can allow a specialist to inspect the inside of the pipe and identify potential problems that cannot be seen from above ground.
Why Choose Drain Doctor for High-Pressure Water Jetting?
At Drain Doctor, high-pressure water jetting is one of our core drainage services.
Our technicians use specialist jetting equipment to tackle blockages across domestic, commercial and industrial drainage systems.
From a blocked domestic drain to a large commercial drainage network, our team can assess the problem and determine the most appropriate solution.
We also offer CCTV drainage surveys and a range of other drainage services, allowing us to investigate and resolve more complex drainage problems where required.
Blocked Drain? We Can Help.
A stubborn blockage can quickly become a major inconvenience, particularly if wastewater is backing up or your drainage system has stopped working altogether.
High-pressure water jetting provides a powerful and effective way of breaking down blockages, flushing away debris and restoring the flow through your drainage system.
If you have a blocked drain or are experiencing recurring drainage problems, contact Drain Doctor on 1800 946 366. Our team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for drainage emergencies.
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