Is It Worth Having Your Sewer Line Hydrojetted?

If your sewer line is clogged, waste will not be able to drain from your home's sewer pipes. Thankfully, plumbers have a few solutions to this problem. They can put a sleeve down your existing pipe to give water a new path. They can replace the pipe with a new one. Or, they can perform a procedure called hydrojetting, which uses high-pressure water to blast debris out of the pipe. Hydrojetting is quite a common solution for clogged sewer lines, and it does work well for many homeowners. However, there are some pros and cons to consider before you agree to have this service performed.

Pro: Hydrojetting is more affordable than other solutions.

You don't usually expect your sewer line to clog, so it's not typically a cost you planned to incur. The cost of running a new sewer pipe can run into the thousands, which might not be in your budget. Hydrojetting is a more affordable solution. Costs vary by region, and some plumbers charge more than others. But on average, you can expect to pay a couple hundred dollars to have your sewer line hydrojetted, whereas replacing the sewer line costs thousands.

Con: Hydrojetting doesn't keep the line from clogging again.

Some people have their line hydrojetted, get a few months of use out of it and then need to have the line jetted again. This happens when tree roots are to blame for your clogged sewer line, which is pretty common. The hydrojetting will remove the tree roots, but it won't prevent new tree roots from growing into the lines. So, you could end up in a cycle where you're needing to have your sewer line jetted every year. At this point, simply replacing the sewer line with a new, crack-free one might be easier.

Pro: Hydrojetting cleans out all of your pipes.

Often, when you have your sewer line hydrojetted, your plumber will just jet all of your drain lines at the same time. All of the soap scum, grease buildup, and hair in any of your drain pipes will get blasted away. This will keep you from having to deal with clogs in both your big and small drain lines for quite some time. You might be able to stop using drain cleaner and your plunger!

Con: Hydrojetting can be hard on old pipes.

If you have older, more fragile pipes, then your plumber may recommend against having them hydrojetted. The powerful water can cause damage to old, clay sewer pipes. It can also be the final straw for an old, rusty steel pipe that already has some weak spots. So, when your drain pipes are old and fragile, you may be better off having them replaced instead of hydrojetting them.

Pro: Hydrojetting does not take long.

Your plumber should be able to come in and hydrojet your sewer line within a couple of hours. They won't have to dig up the entire line or make a huge mess of your property. This way, you won't be left fixing your landscaping after the service. You also won't need to set aside multiple days to be around for your plumber. They'll be in and out, and you can get back to your ordinary life.

If your toilets are backing up, your drains are not draining, and you have foul odors in your home, then your sewer line is probably clogged. There are several ways to deal with this, but hydrojetting is one of the best options. Talk to your plumber about the pros and cons above. They can give you more insight into hydrojetting and how it might work for you.