What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting is the most powerful drain cleaning method available. A flexible, reinforced hose is inserted into your drain or sewer line and connected to a high-pressure water pump. The jetting nozzle — which sprays water both forward and backward simultaneously — is pulled through the pipe, cutting through and flushing out everything in its path. We run equipment rated at up to 4,000 PSI, which is powerful enough to shred tree roots, emulsify grease, and break apart mineral scale that has been accumulating for years.
Unlike snaking, which punches a hole through a blockage, hydro jetting scours the entire interior circumference of the pipe back to near-original diameter. The result is a completely clean pipe that drains freely. For grease-heavy lines in restaurants, food service facilities, and older residential kitchens across Delaware County, hydro jetting is the only solution that actually resolves the problem long-term rather than temporarily clearing it.
When You Need Hydro Jetting
A drain snake is a good first step for simple blockages, but there are situations where it cannot do the job. If you are experiencing any of the following, hydro jetting is the right call:
Recurring Slow Drains
If the same drain backs up every 2–3 months despite snaking, grease or mineral buildup is coating the pipe walls. Only jetting removes the accumulation permanently.
Grease Line Buildup
Restaurants, commercial kitchens, and homes with heavy cooking are prone to FOG (fats, oils, grease) accumulation. Hydro jetting is the industry standard for kitchen drain maintenance.
Tree Root Intrusion
Root feeder roots infiltrate through pipe joints and grow into masses that cause complete blockages. High-pressure jetting cuts and flushes roots out of the line before they cause structural damage.
Sewer Main Backup
When multiple fixtures back up simultaneously — toilets, tubs, and floor drains — the main sewer line is blocked. Hydro jetting clears the main line completely, from Havertown to Norwood.
Pre-Lining Preparation
Before installing a CIPP liner, we hydro jet the pipe to ensure the liner bonds to a clean surface. This is non-negotiable for a proper trenchless repair.
Preventive Maintenance
Commercial properties and older homes in Lansdowne, Glenolden, and Prospect Park benefit from annual hydro jetting to prevent emergency blockages before they happen.
How Our Process Works
Camera Inspection First
Before we jet anything, we run an HD camera through the line. We confirm the pipe can handle the pressure and identify exactly what we are dealing with — grease, roots, scale, or debris.
Select the Right Nozzle
Different blockages require different nozzle types. Root-cutting nozzles spin mechanically while jetting. Penetrating nozzles attack compacted grease. We choose based on what the camera revealed.
High-Pressure Jetting
The hose is inserted at the cleanout and worked through the line. The 360-degree spray scours the full pipe circumference. We work downstream to upstream to flush debris in the right direction.
Post-Jet Verification
After jetting, we run the camera through again. You watch live — you see the clean pipe walls and restored flow channel. No guessing, no assumptions.
Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking: What's the Difference?
A drain snake is a mechanical auger — effective for simple soft blockages like hair clogs or small grease plugs close to the drain. It gets the job done for minor issues and costs less for those situations. However, a snake leaves behind residue on the pipe walls and cannot clear blockages that span several feet of pipe.
Hydro jetting is the appropriate tool for recurring blockages, grease buildup, root intrusion, scale accumulation, main sewer line clogs, or pre-lining preparation. In our experience across Ridley Park, Folsom, and Upper Darby, most homeowners who call us for "another clog" have a pipe that needs jetting — they have been treating symptoms for years instead of solving the problem.
Service Area: All of Delaware County PA
We provide hydro jetting throughout Delaware County including Upper Darby, Havertown, Media, Swarthmore, Ridley Park, Drexel Hill, Broomall, Newtown Square, Lansdowne, Folsom, Glenolden, Norwood, Prospect Park, Aston, Boothwyn, Marcus Hook, Eddystone, Chadds Ford, Rose Valley, and every municipality in between. Commercial maintenance contracts available for restaurants, property managers, and municipal facilities.