Hydrojetting is a drain and sewer cleaning method that uses highly pressurized water — typically between 1,500 and 4,000 PSI — to blast through blockages and scour the interior walls of pipes clean. Unlike a drain snake, which punches a hole through a clog, hydrojetting removes the entire buildup: grease, mineral scale, hair, soap residue, and organic debris. The result is a pipe that flows as close to its original diameter as when it was new, not just a pipe with a hole punched through the obstruction.

How the Equipment Works

A hydrojetting system consists of a powerful motor-driven pump, a large water tank (usually on a service truck), a flexible high-pressure hose, and a specialized nozzle. The nozzle is fed into the drain line from an access point — a cleanout, a toilet flange, or a roof vent stack. Once in position, the pump forces water through the hose at high pressure while the nozzle sprays in multiple directions simultaneously: forward jets cut through the blockage, and rear-facing jets propel the nozzle down the pipe while scrubbing the pipe walls as it advances.

A technician controls the pressure and flow based on pipe size, pipe material, and the type of buildup being addressed. Cast-iron drains in older Denver homes can handle higher pressure; older clay sewer lines or PVC require careful adjustment to avoid damage. This is why hydrojetting should always be preceded by a camera inspection — you need to know what’s in the pipe before you send high-pressure water into it.

What Hydrojetting Removes

  • Grease and fat buildup — the most common cause of kitchen drain slowdowns, especially in cold Colorado winters when grease congeals faster inside cold pipes
  • Mineral scale — Colorado’s hard water leaves calcium and magnesium deposits on pipe walls that narrow the flow diameter over time; hydrojetting breaks these loose
  • Soap scum and hair — bathroom drain accumulations that snaking often only partially clears
  • Organic debris and tree roots — fine root intrusions can be cut and flushed out; heavy root masses may require mechanical cutting first
  • Sand and sediment — common in older clay-tile sewer lines in Denver’s established neighborhoods where surrounding soil can infiltrate through joints

When Is Hydrojetting the Right Choice?

A standard drain snake is the right first tool for a localized, fresh clog — a wad of hair in the P-trap or a soft obstruction close to the fixture. But when a drain backs up repeatedly, when multiple drains in the home are slow simultaneously, or when a sewer line camera reveals significant buildup along the walls rather than a single point obstruction, hydrojetting is the more effective solution. It’s also the preferred prep step before lining a sewer line — the pipe needs to be clean for the liner to adhere properly.

For homes in Denver’s older established neighborhoods — Wash Park, Congress Park, Cheesman Park, Sunnyside — where clay or cast-iron sewer lines have been in the ground for 60 to 100 years, annual or biennial hydrojetting is often part of a smart maintenance plan. It’s far less expensive than emergency sewer service or a full sewer line replacement.

Is Hydrojetting Safe for All Pipes?

Hydrojetting is safe for most pipe materials when performed by an experienced technician who has assessed the line first with a camera. Cast iron, PVC, and ABS are all compatible at appropriate pressures. Older clay tile and Orangeburg pipe (a compressed tar-and-fiber material used through the 1970s) require more caution — these pipes can be fragile, and high pressure into a severely deteriorated pipe can cause a collapse. A camera inspection beforehand identifies these situations so the technician can adjust the approach or recommend a different solution.

Ready to stop dealing with the same slow drain every few months? Done’s drain technicians serve the Denver metro with both hydrojetting and camera inspection. Learn more on our hydrojetting page, or if you suspect a larger sewer line issue, explore our sewer services and pipe lining options.