What hydro jetting involves
A jetter pushes water through a hose with a nozzle that sprays backward and forward. The rear jets drag the hose up the pipe and scrub the walls as it goes. On a grease-lined kitchen branch or a sewer lateral matted with fine roots, that cleans what a cable leaves behind.
- Camera the line first and record its condition.
- Pick a nozzle and pressure matched to the pipe's size and material.
- Jet from the cleanout, working upstream or down as the layout allows.
- Camera again to confirm the walls are clean.
That second camera pass is the proof. You watch the before and after footage on the same screen.
Why North York houses need it
Many laterals under North York lawns are vitrified clay, laid in short sections with joints every few feet. Roots find those joints. Cabling cuts the roots back, but the hair-fine growth left on the pipe wall catches paper and grease and the line closes again. Jetting strips that fringe off.
The flip side matters too. Some of the same clay pipe is cracked, offset or partly collapsed, and some older homes have pitch fibre or cast iron that has thinned. High-pressure water can make a weak section worse. That is why we will not jet blind. If the camera shows a broken pipe, we tell you that a repair, not a cleaning, is the real fix, and point you to sewer line repair.
How we write up the job
The work order records the pipe material, the length jetted, the nozzle used and what the camera showed before and after. Any defects get a distance from the cleanout so a later repair crew can find them. If you want the video, ask and we will tell you how we can share it.
Plumber's tip: Water pressure cannot fix a cracked or collapsed pipe. A clean pipe with a hole in it still lets roots and soil in.
Signs you should call
- A drain that has been cabled more than once in a year.
- Grease backups in a kitchen line that a cable did not fix for long.
- Roots showing up on the cable head every time.
- Slow drains through the whole house with no single blockage found.
Before booking, it often makes sense to start with a sewer camera inspection on its own. You learn what you are dealing with first.
Costs and what affects them
Price depends on access to a cleanout, the length of line, how heavy the buildup is and whether we have to pull a toilet to get in. A house without a usable cleanout may need one installed. We give you the figure on the order before the hose comes off the reel, and we tell you honestly when a cable alone will do.
Job at a glance
| Category | Sewer |
|---|---|
| Tools | Cart jetter, rear-jet and spinning nozzles, camera |
| Final test | Before-and-after footage showing the full pipe wall |
Tell-tale signs
- Cable keeps snagging on scale inside old cast iron
- Grease returns weeks after a cable clearing
- Restaurant-style fat buildup in a kitchen branch
Steps on the job
- Camera the line to confirm it can take high pressure
- Choose a nozzle with rear jets sized to the pipe
- Pull the hose back slowly so the jets scour the wall
- Camera again to compare the bore before and after
Your questions on this one
Is hydro jetting safe for old pipes?
It depends on the pipe. Sound clay, cast iron and plastic usually handle it with the right nozzle. Cracked or collapsed sections should not be jetted, which is why we camera first.
How long does a jetted line stay clear?
Longer than a cabled one, as a rule, because the walls are clean. Roots will still return through open joints over time.
Do you need to come inside?
Usually, yes. Most North York houses have the cleanout at the floor drain or the front wall of the basement.