Okay. So the drains in your home are clogged and you’re thinking of getting a professional plumber to clean them. But which drain cleaning method should you use? Between sewer rodding and hydro jetting, which is the better option for the health and longevity of your drains?
To help you make that decision, this post takes a close look at sewer rodding and hydro jetting. It explains how the two methods work, as well as their peculiar strengths and use cases. In addition, H&M Management says, with these details you can make an informed decision that will be good for your plumbing and wallet.
What is sewer rodding?
This drain cleaning method uses flexible rods guided into the blocked sewer line by a professional plumber. These are specially designed polypropylene rods with steel hardware on both ends. Each rod is around three feet long and they can be screwed together end-to-end to extend their reach.
The rods – also known as plumbing rods – are flexible enough to go around the bends in a sewer system, yet firm enough to remove blockages inside the sewer line. Depending on the location of the clog, the rod can be fed into the sewer line via a floor drain, toilet, man-hole or sewer cleanout.
In addition to the standard rods described above, sewer rodding uses other rods. A kinetic water arm is a sewer rod that uses compressed air. But a more common type of sewer rodding operation uses what is known as a power rod.
When should you use sewer rodding?
Sewer rodding can be adapted for all plumbing pipes and drainage problems. Since the rods come in different sizes, the plumber only needs to select a rod that matches the diameter of the pipe that is being cleaned, as well as, the kind of blockage inside it.
Examples of situations where sewer rodding works well include:
- Clogs in a bathroom or kitchen sink
- Overflowing or slow-draining toilets
- Major blockages inside the main sewer line
- Restoring the flow of water in blocked pipes
- Removing tree roots from the main sewer line
- Getting rid of sludge and other difficult buildup
Advantages of sewer rodding
Sewer rodding is affordable
It is less expensive than hydro jetting because the equipment used in sewer rodding is easier to use.
Sewer rodding is highly accurate
The biggest advantage of sewer rodding is that it is very effective for targeted cleaning of drainpipes. When trying to clean a specific section of your sewer line, instead of its entire length, sewer rodding is the better method.
Breaks up debris
Power rodding, a type of sewer rodding, will break up the debris in the sewer line into small bits that are easier to wash out of the line.
What is hydro jetting?
This drain cleaning method uses water to scour the inside of your sewer line, both to clean it and to also wash the debris out of the pipe. Using a flexible hose with a stainless steel nozzle attached to its end, the plumber sends a stream of high-pressure water into the sewer line.
The steel nozzles used in sewer rodding come in different shapes and sizes. The right nozzle for a job is selected based on the diameter of the pipes and the kind of blockage inside them. The water pressure used in this operation can be as high as 3,500 (PSI) pounds per square inch.
This water pressure provides enough force and speed to blast away all obstructions inside the line, including tree roots, sludge, grease and solidified materials. The walls of the pipes are also sprayed clean as the nozzle moves through the pipes.
When should you use hydro jetting?
Hydro jetting is not just for solving the problems in a sewer line. Along with getting rid of the debris inside the line, it can prevent these problems. Hydro jetting your sewer line at least once a year helps to prevent the processes that lead to clogs and blockages.
Here are examples of when to use hydro jetting:
- When there is calcified scale inside the sewer line
- To get rid of silt and sand inside your pipes
- To remove tree roots and sludge
- To flush systems that have become stagnant
- As a preventive maintenance tool
- When you want to clean the entire length of your sewer line
Advantages of hydro-jetting
Hydro-jetting will clean your pipes
This drain cleaning method scours the walls of pipes to terminate the biochemical process that aids aging.
Cleans the entire length of the drain
Hydro jetting will not just clear out a section of your blocked drain, it will clean the whole pipeline.
Removes debris
This method dislodges debris and washes them out of the line, to fully restore the function of the sewer line.
Final verdict
Sewer rodding versus hydro jetting, which drain cleaning service is better?
The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer to this question. The correct drain cleaning service for your home depends on the drainage problem you are dealing with and whether you are cleaning the entire sewer line or just a section.