Hydro Jetting in Atlanta, GA

Snaking versus jetting

A drain snake (cable machine) spins a cutting head through a clog. That reopens flow, but whatever is stuck to the pipe walls stays put and catches the next round of debris. A jetting machine feeds a hose with a special nozzle into the line. Rear-facing jets pull the hose forward, and as it is reeled back the spray sweeps the pipe walls from top to bottom. When it works well, the pipe is close to its original diameter again.

Jobs that call for a jetter

• Kitchen branch lines lined with hardened cooking fat and food waste
• A main house drain that has needed clearing more than once in a year
• Sewer laterals clogged with wipes, paper towels or sludge
• Thin root hairs growing in at a pipe joint
• Restaurant, apartment and other commercial lines that carry a lot of grease

A slow tub or bathroom sink is usually hair and soap near the trap. A plunger or hand auger handles that, and paying for jetting there rarely makes sense.

Older pipe deserves a look first

Strong water pressure is hard on pipe that is already broken, separated or crushed. Atlanta has a lot of older housing: the median home was built in 1989, and roughly 42.7% of homes date from before 1980. The older intown bungalow neighborhoods are where cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals still turn up, often under large trees. On those lines, a good plumber runs a camera before jetting to check the pipe, and often again afterward to show the line is clean.

Roots will come back

Jetting cuts roots off inside the pipe, but it does nothing to the crack or joint they grew through. If roots are the problem, ask whether that joint can be lined or the section repaired. Otherwise, plan on clearing the line again in the future.

Grease and the public sewer

Wastewater from city homes flows into the collection system run by the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. Grease that gets past your own pipes can still build up in the public mains. Scraping pans into the trash and keeping fat out of the sink protects both. If you see sewage overflowing from a public manhole or main, report it to ATL 311 at 404-546-0311.

What affects the cost

The pipe size and length, where the cleanout is and how easy it is to reach, how heavy the buildup is, and whether camera work is included all change the price. Ask for a written scope before the work starts.