When it comes to drain cleaning and clearing out plumbing systems, there are two standard procedures. One involves feeding a drain snake into the pipes to break up any obstructions inside. The other involves flushing the pipe with a high-pressure stream of water (water jetting) that completely clears debris from the plumbing.
While both cleaning methods have their pros and cons, water jetting has proven a more efficient and practical approach. Here are several reasons why.
Your Pipes Get 100% Clean
With traditional drain cleaning techniques, residue often remains on the inside of the pipeline even after the drain cleaning procedure is finished. And when hair, soap scum, and other solids flow through the pipes again, they’ll get caught up in that residue. Over time, gunk will accumulate, and eventually, it’ll form another clog.
Water jetting, on the other hand, completely clears out the entire plumbing network leaving nothing (not even residue) behind. The high-pressure stream of water effectively scrubs the interior of the pipes, so when you use your drains again, nothing will get caught up in leftover sludge.
When your pipes are completely clean, your chances of dealing with a clog are minimal. And if you maintain the pipes in that condition with routine drain cleaning service, your plumbing system should flow freely for as long as you keep it clean.
Water Jetting is More Cost Effective
Water Jetting may cost a little more on the front end, but you'll spend less on long-term drain service and labor.
Using a snake to clean out a clogged pipe takes more effort and time than having your drains professionally cleaned with water jetting. Hourly labor costs can rack up quickly when you’re working with pros, and ultimately, snaking delivers a much less comprehensive clean.
If you opt for snaking and your drains have a serious clog, you'll probably end up calling a plumber or drain cleaning specialist within a few weeks or months to perform the task again. It can be a frustrating cycle.
Water jetting, on the other hand, gets the job done in a single session. It delivers long-lasting results, so you’ll end up spending less on drain cleaning over time.
Technicians Use Water Jetting for More Applications
Another benefit of water jetting is that plumbers can use the method for both residential and municipal applications.
Snake methods may be adequate for small jobs, but they probably won’t cut it on larger, more complicated drain blockages. That’s especially true when it comes to commercial buildings with high-volume plumbing usage. In these situations, heavy-duty drain cleaning procedures are almost always necessary.
Regardless of how significant a pipe blockage is, water jetting can remove it with minimal effort, making it more cost-effective even in larger commercial and industrial jobs.
Water Jetting Is More Sanitary
Sewage is gross. It's unsanitary and can cause numerous health problems in situations like floor drain cleaning, clogged toilets, or mainline sewer cleaning. And those problems can be particularly problematic for commercial operations subject to health code inspections and violations, such as restaurants, fitness facilities, warehouses, and retail operations.
If a drain cleaning specialist can’t quickly remove a blockage that’s causing sewage to back up, it can rapidly become a health hazard. And there is nothing efficient or sanitary about removing such a blockage with a drain snake.
With snakes, sewage often flows up through the pipes when the technician removes the tool. With water jetting, the powerful jet of water flushes sewage out the other way, so it doesn’t come in contact with flooring or any other surfaces that must then be thoroughly sanitized.
Water Jetting Is Environmentally Responsible Drain Cleaning
Yes, water jetting utilizes water. In some cases, it may require a significant amount of water to clean out the pipes. But the procedure uses only water and nothing else. There is no chance of damaging a healthy pipeline. There are no chemicals used in the process.
There is also no possibility of harmful elements flowing back out of the pipes onto the surface around the drain opening. Jetting is a useful technique to keep chemicals from back flowing during laundry drain cleaning. The procedure is 100% eco-friendly in all situations.
Water Jetting Is Safe for Most Plumbing Systems
Although water jetting propels a powerful stream of water into the drain system, that high-pressure water won’t damage most plumbing pipes. Generally, the procedure is totally safe for pipes that are in good condition.
Pipes with existing damage and those that are decades old, however, probably aren’t good candidates for the procedure.
But before water ever touches the interior of a pipe, the drain cleaning specialist will perform a drain camera inspection to help ensure water jetting won’t cause damage. If the camera picks up any cracks, corrosion, or other red flags, the specialist will let you know what’s going on with the drains.
He’ll also recommend a more appropriate method of cleaning (or plumbing repairs when necessary) that won’t put the plumbing at risk.
Get a Free Drain Cleaning Estimate in the Twin Cities
The only way to discover the real benefits of water jetting is to have it done in your home or business. Once you witness how effective, efficient, and safe the procedure is, you'll never go back to conventional pipe cleaning methods again.
At Drain Blaster Bill's Sewer & Drain Cleaning, we provide fast, affordable, and dependable drain cleaning service for home and business owners in Stillwater and the surrounding Twin Cities metro. Our technicians are highly trained and certified, and we offer same-day and emergency drain cleaning services for your convenience.
To schedule service or get an estimate, call us at 763-913-8719 or request an estimate online, and we’ll get in touch!