Hydro Jetting in Raleigh, NC

Is jetting the right tool for your clog?

Jetting is overkill for a small fixture clog. It earns its keep on kitchen branches, main building drains and the sewer lateral running out to the street.

Why Raleigh lines clog the way they do

The City of Raleigh says most sewer backups come from grease, tree roots and wipes sold as flushable. Grease is the one jetting handles best: it hardens on the pipe wall, narrows the opening, and catches everything that comes after it. The City asks residents to pour cooking grease into a container for the trash instead of down the sink, which is the simplest way to avoid needing a jetter at all.

Roots are the City of Oaks' other problem. A jetter can cut out the hair-thin roots that push into joints, but it doesn't seal the joint. Expect them back unless the pipe is repaired or lined.

Pipe condition comes first

Water at that pressure is gentle on sound pipe and rough on weak pipe. On a lateral that's already cracked or offset, jetting can open the damage further. Raleigh's housing is fairly young, with a median build year of 1997, but about 23% of homes were built before 1980, including in-town neighborhoods like Oakwood and Boylan Heights. On those older lines, running a camera before jetting is the safer order.

How the job goes

1. The plumber finds a cleanout, usually outside near the foundation.
2. A nozzle matched to the pipe size goes in, and its rear-facing jets pull it down the line.
3. The hose is worked back and forth through heavy buildup until water runs clear.
4. Many plumbers finish with a camera pass to confirm the pipe is clean and intact.

Whose side the blockage is on

In Raleigh, the owner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the house to where it meets the City main. The City maintains the mains in the public right-of-way. If you hire a plumber for a backup, the City asks that the line be cleared all the way to its main, not just to the cleanout.

What affects the cost

Line length and diameter, whether a usable cleanout exists, how heavy the buildup is, and whether a camera inspection is included before or after all change the price. Ask what's in the quote.