Hydro Jetting in Durham, NC

What a jetter actually does

A drain cable bores a hole through a blockage and leaves most of the coating on the pipe walls behind. A jetter sends a nozzle down the line on a high-pressure hose. Jets on the back of the nozzle drive it forward, while the spray scrubs the full circumference of the pipe as the plumber pulls it back. The goal is a clean bore instead of a narrow tunnel through the gunk.

Lines where it pays off

• A kitchen drain that keeps slowing down because cooking fat has hardened along it
• A main building drain that backs up every few months
• A sewer lateral packed with wipes, paper and soft buildup
• Fine, hairlike roots that have crept in through a joint
• Restaurant and multi-unit drains that carry heavy grease loads

For a single slow lavatory or tub, a plunger or small hand auger is usually enough, and jetting adds cost without much benefit.

Check the pipe before the pressure

Sound pipe takes jetting well. Pipe that is cracked, separated at a joint or partly crushed can be damaged further. Durham's housing stock covers a wide span: the median home was built in 1995, but about 30% of homes went up before 1980, and many of those sit in older neighborhoods with mature trees. On those older laterals, a camera pass before jetting is the careful order, and many plumbers finish with one too, to confirm the line is clear.

Roots are a short-term fix

A jetter can cut out small roots, but the opening they came through stays open. If roots are the reason you're calling, ask what it would take to repair or line that joint, or expect to schedule jetting again.

Where the wastewater goes

Inside city limits, the City of Durham Department of Water Management runs the sewer system, with flow treated at the North Durham and South Durham water reclamation facilities. Grease that slips past your drain still has to travel the public mains to get there. Wiping pans and putting fat in the trash keeps it out of your pipes and out of the City's.

What affects the cost

Price depends on the length and diameter of the line, how hard it is to reach a cleanout, how thick the buildup is, and whether a camera inspection is part of the visit. Ask the plumber to spell out what the quote includes.