When a backup calls for jetting
A cable punches a hole through a blockage, and the coating on the pipe wall stays behind and rebuilds. If a line has been cabled two or three times in a year, jetting is usually the next step because it removes the coating itself.
A kitchen line that backs up during a rush, or a main that overflows into a basement, is an emergency at any hour, and we take those calls on the 24/7 line. While you wait, stop using water and keep people and pets away from the overflow.
How hydro jetting works
A hose with a special nozzle is fed into the line through a cleanout. Jets of water point backward to pull the nozzle forward and forward to cut through buildup, and the debris flushes down to the main sewer.
We run a camera first on lines we have not seen before, because jetting is for sound pipe. A pipe that is cracked, offset or collapsed can be damaged by high-pressure water, so a camera look tells us whether jetting is safe.
| Problem | Cable | Hydro jetting |
|---|---|---|
| Soft clog in a fixture line | Usually enough | Not needed |
| Grease buildup in kitchen or restaurant lines | Opens a path only | Scours the pipe wall clean |
| Tree roots at a joint | Cuts roots back | Cuts roots and washes out debris |
| Scale in old pipe | Limited help | Removes much of the buildup |
| Cracked or collapsed pipe | Can worsen damage | Not recommended until repaired |
Line keeps backing up?
Call and describe how often. We will tell you whether jetting makes sense.
Where jetting fits in Wilsonville
Wilsonville's businesses and multifamily properties are a good fit because their lines carry grease and heavy use. The city lists 20 apartment communities, and a shared building drain that has been cabled repeatedly is a classic jetting candidate, so the property manager should ask for a camera run and a jetting quote.
For single-family homes, Charbonneau's 1970s-era lines and any older home in town that keeps backing up are worth a camera look before jetting, because old pipe is the most likely to be fragile. In newer neighborhoods such as Frog Pond and Villebois, repeated clogs more often come from grease and wipes than from the pipe.
Before any jetting that leads to digging, call 811. Backflow assemblies at businesses are a separate item, since the city requires annual testing by an Oregon-certified tester.
Jetting for homes and businesses
Restaurants and kitchens
Grease sets as it cools. Regular jetting keeps lines open, and a grease trap that is serviced on time protects them.
Multifamily buildings
Shared stacks carry the load of many units. Jetting resets the line, and a schedule avoids emergency calls.
Homes with repeat clogs
A line that backs up every few months is a candidate, once a camera run confirms the pipe is sound.
After a root cutting
Jetting washes the roots out so they do not hang up the next time.
What affects the price of hydro jetting
A clear price comes before work starts. These are the main details.
Related plumbing services
A fixture that only needs a cable is covered by drain cleaning, and a main with a crack is a sewer line repair. We jet lines for customers in Sherwood and nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A backup can be dispatched on the 24/7 line. We usually clear the line first and then talk about jetting if the cause is buildup.
Not always. Old, cracked or collapsed pipe can be damaged by high pressure, so a camera inspection comes first.
A cable cuts through a blockage and leaves a hole, while jetting washes the pipe wall clean with water under pressure.
It depends on the menu and volume, and a camera run and grease trap schedule help set the interval. We help build a schedule.
It cuts and flushes small roots, and a cutting head on a cable may be used first for heavy masses. Roots return unless the joint is repaired.
No. It cleans the pipe, and a broken or collapsed section needs repair.