Jet blasting uses high pressure water to scour the inside of a drain. It clears grease, silt and roots and leaves the pipe cleaner than a snake would.

How it works

A flexible hose with a special nozzle is fed into the drain. Jets of water point backward to push the hose forward and forward to cut through the blockage.

What it clears

Grease, soap scum, silt, sand and soft roots. Hard roots may need a cutter first.

Why not just a snake?

A snake punches a hole through the blockage but leaves debris on the walls. Jetting cleans the full pipe.

Camera first

We often run a camera before and after to see the pipe condition.

Is it safe for old pipes?

A good operator adjusts pressure to the pipe type. Damaged pipes need repair first.

After the job

You should see faster drains and less odour. Regular jetting is a good idea for problem lines.

Book a clear

Call us for jet blasting in Geelong and Melbourne.

What the equipment looks like

A jet blaster is a trailer or truck mounted pump with a long hose on a reel. The hose ends in a nozzle with several small jets. Water pressure is high, so the operator wears protective gear and sets the pressure to suit the pipe.

Types of nozzles

Some nozzles are made for general clearing, others for cutting roots, others for scouring grease. The plumber chooses based on what the camera shows. Using the right nozzle clears the pipe faster and protects it.

Typical jobs

Kitchen waste lines that clog with fat, long sewer lines with silt and sand, stormwater drains packed with leaves, and commercial drains with heavy use. Jetting can also flush a line after repairs so debris does not stay behind.

What it will not fix

Jetting will not repair a cracked or collapsed pipe. If the camera shows damage, the plumber will explain repair options. Jetting a broken pipe can make things worse, so a camera check first is a good habit.

Preparing for the visit

Clear access to the drain access points, tell the plumber about past blockages, and keep pets and children away from the work area. Expect some water and a bit of mess, which we clean up.

What to say when you ring about a stubborn drain

If your drain has blocked more than once, say so on the phone. It changes what a plumber will bring and what they will suggest. Tell them which fixtures are affected, whether anything gurgles when you run water, whether it happens after rain, and how long since the last clear. A drain that blocks again within weeks usually needs a camera look, not another quick clear.

Say how old the house is and whether there are trees near the drain line. Old clay or concrete pipes behave very differently to modern plastic ones, and that decides whether jetting is safe.

Jetting versus cabling and what you are really paying for

A cable machine pushes a spinning head through the pipe and cuts a hole through the blockage. It is quick and cheap, and it is fine for a simple blockage. The risk is that it leaves grease, silt and root hair on the pipe wall, so the drain narrows again. A jetter uses high pressure water to scour the pipe wall clean, which is why it is often used for grease, silt and repeat blockages.

Neither is a repair. If a camera shows a cracked or collapsed pipe, jetting only buys time. Ask the plumber what they found, what they cleared and what they would do next if it comes back. A short note or a screenshot from the camera is worth asking for.

What a good job looks like afterwards

After a jet clear, water should run freely from every fixture on the line. The plumber should tell you what they found, such as grease, silt or roots, and whether a camera run showed damage. If roots were present, ask how soon they are likely to return. If there was a crack, ask for the repair options.

Run every fixture on the line for a minute when the plumber has finished, and listen for gurgling. Keep the notes or footage from the job. If the drain blocks again quickly, you have a record to show the next plumber.

Jet blasting compared with other methods

There are three common ways to clear a drain. A plunger or hand tool clears simple blockages near the surface. An electric drain machine, often called a snake, has a cable with a cutting head that breaks through a blockage. A jet blaster uses water at high pressure to clean the full pipe. For small household blocks, a machine may be enough. For repeated blockages, grease or sand and silt, the jet usually gives a better and longer lasting result.

Safe use

High pressure water can injure and can damage fragile pipes. Plumbers use the pressure and nozzle suited to the pipe material and age, and they never point the jet at a person. Old clay or fibre cement pipes can be damaged by rough handling. That is another reason to run a camera first when the pipe condition is unknown.

Stormwater and driveway drains

Jet blasting is not only for sewers. Stormwater lines pick up leaves, silt, sand and sticks, and can fill over time. A blocked stormwater line may cause flooding in the yard or around the slab in heavy rain. Jetting from the pit to the street connection can restore flow. Driveway drains and grated channels also clog with silt and mulch.

Aftercare

After jetting, run water through the system and check for slow drains. If the camera shows root intrusion or cracks, plan repairs. For commercial kitchens and problem lines, a regular jetting schedule keeps the pipes clear. Ask your plumber how often is sensible for your property.

Questions to ask before you book jetting

Ask what the plumber expects to find, what pressure and nozzle they will use, whether a camera will be used before or after, and what happens if the pipe turns out to be damaged. Ask whether access to the drain is clear, because a drain without a good inspection opening may need one added before jetting can start.

Also ask how long the clean is expected to last. Grease and scale come back if the cause is not changed, so a plumber who suggests a change in habits, a grease trap or a follow-up schedule is thinking about the long term, not just the quick clear.

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