Hydro jetting cleans a sewer or drain line with high pressure water instead of a cable. A jetting nozzle scours grease, tree roots, scale and sludge off the pipe walls, so the line is cleaned edge to edge, not just punched through. Nationwide Plumbers runs its own van-mounted jetter out of our Brooklyn shop, camera-inspects the line first, and serves homes, restaurants and buildings in all five boroughs 24/7. Every jetting job is guaranteed for 45 days, and we offer jetting maintenance plans. Estimates are free, and if you already have a jetting agreement with another company, we match it and take 5% off.
What is hydro jetting?
Hydro jetting, also called water jetting or sewer jetting (many customers just ask us to "jet the sewer"), sends a high pressure water hose with a special nozzle into your drain or sewer line. The nozzle has jets that spray backward and sideways. The backward jets pull the hose up the line, and the spray scrubs the full inside of the pipe as it goes. Grease, sludge, roots, soap scum, sand and scale are cut loose and flushed out to the city sewer.
A drain snake (cable machine) is great for punching a hole through a clog. But it leaves grease and debris stuck to the walls, and the clog comes back. Jetting cleans the whole pipe, which is why it is the go-to fix for lines that keep backing up.
We own our jetter
Nationwide Plumbers runs its own van-mounted hydro jetter, dispatched from our shop at 6923 8th Avenue in Brooklyn. We do not rent equipment or subcontract jetting, so we can get to a backed-up building fast, day or night, and the same licensed crew that cleans your line can repair it. Every job is done by a crew of 2 to 3 trained technicians led by a jetting specialist with more than 25 years of experience, and we are fully licensed and insured.
When you need hydro jetting
- Main sewer line backups: sewage coming up a basement floor drain, toilet or tub on the lowest floor.
- Grease lines: restaurant and kitchen drains packed with fats, oils and grease.
- Lines that keep clogging: if the same drain has been snaked two or three times this year, the pipe walls need to be cleaned.
- Tree roots: roots growing into older clay and cast iron laterals.
- Storm, area and yard drains: leaves, sand and silt packed into area drains, catch basins and driveway drains.
- Building stacks: kitchen and laundry stacks in multifamily buildings where grease builds up floor after floor.
- Preventive maintenance: scheduled jetting for restaurants and buildings before the backup happens.
How our hydro jetting service works
- Camera inspection first. We run a color sewer camera through the line to see what is causing the backup and to check that the pipe is sound enough to jet. Very old or broken pipe gets repaired, not jetted.
- Choose the right nozzle and pressure. Grease, roots and scale each need a different nozzle. Older cast iron gets a gentler setting than newer pipe.
- Jet the line. We work from the cleanout or house trap toward the street, scouring the full pipe wall and flushing the debris out.
- Camera check after. We run the camera again so you can see the clean line, and we tell you if there is a crack, belly or broken section that needs attention.
- Clean up and report. We clean the work area and can send the property manager a written report for the building file.
Is hydro jetting safe for old NYC pipes?
Yes, when it is done right. Most Brooklyn and Manhattan buildings have cast iron, clay or galvanized drain lines that are decades old. That is why we camera-inspect before we jet. Sound pipe handles jetting well, and it is the best way to remove the grease and scale that make old lines clog. If the camera shows a cracked or collapsed section, we tell you before we start and quote the repair instead.
Jetting uses only water. No chemical drain cleaners, which corrode old cast iron and do not clear a real blockage anyway.
Pros and cons of hydro jetting
Why water jet your line? Here is the honest picture, the good and the limits.
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Our 45-day jetting guarantee
Every hydro jetting job we do is guaranteed for 45 days. If the line we jetted backs up again within 45 days, we come back and clear it. It is that simple, because we camera-check the line before and after, so we know the job was done right. Read the guarantee terms.
Hydro jetting cost
Hydro jetting is priced per line. The price depends on the length of the line, how we reach it and how much buildup is inside, and you get it in a written estimate before we start. Estimates for jetting and for jetting maintenance plans are free.
Already have a jetting agreement with another company? No problem. Send us a copy of that agreement and we will match the price and take 5% off, with our own licensed crew, the latest equipment and our 45-day guarantee. See the price match terms.
Jetting maintenance plans
For restaurants, co-ops, condos and rental buildings with lines that keep giving trouble, a jetting maintenance plan is the cheapest way to stop emergency calls, backups and tenant complaints. We set a schedule that fits the line, jet it before it gets bad, and keep a record of each visit for the building file. Call us and we will come out for a free maintenance plan estimate.
Hydro jetting for restaurants and commercial kitchens
Grease is the number one cause of kitchen drain backups in NYC restaurants. A grease trap catches some of it, but the rest coats the line between the trap and the main. We jet restaurant grease lines and floor drains after hours so the kitchen stays open, and we set up a maintenance schedule so the line never gets that bad again.
Jetting for buildings and property managers
We work with co-ops, condos and rental buildings across Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. Common jobs are main line jetting, kitchen stack jetting, area drain and catch basin cleaning, and routine maintenance on lines with a history of backups. Management accounts get certificates of insurance on request and net 30 billing.
Areas we serve
We are based in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, and jet sewer lines in Bay Ridge, Park Slope, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights and every Brooklyn neighborhood, plus Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.
Our jetting equipment and crew
Real photos from our van and our jobs. No stock images.
Hydro Jetting & Sewer Jetting in Brooklyn and NYC: FAQ
What is the difference between hydro jetting and snaking a drain?
A snake drills a hole through the clog. Hydro jetting scours the whole inside of the pipe with high pressure water, removing the grease, roots and scale that cause the clog to come back.
Is hydro jetting safe for old cast iron pipes?
Yes for sound pipe. We camera-inspect every line before jetting. If a section is cracked or collapsed we repair it instead of jetting it.
How long does hydro jetting take?
Most residential and restaurant lines take one to three hours, including the camera inspection before and after. Long building mains and stacks can take longer.
How often should a sewer line be jetted?
Homes usually only need it when there is a problem. Restaurants and buildings with grease or root issues benefit from jetting every 6 to 12 months, sometimes more often for busy kitchens.
Do you have your own jetting equipment?
Yes. We run our own van-mounted hydro jetter out of our Brooklyn shop, so we can respond 24/7 without waiting on rented equipment.
Do you offer a camera inspection with jetting?
Yes. We camera-inspect the line before and after jetting, and our current coupon includes a free camera inspection with jetting service.
Is hydro jetting guaranteed?
Yes. We guarantee our hydro jetting for 45 days. If the line we jetted backs up again within 45 days, we come back and clear it.
Do you offer a jetting maintenance plan?
Yes. Restaurants and buildings can set up scheduled jetting so lines are cleaned before they back up. We come out for a free maintenance plan estimate.
Can hydro jetting remove tree roots?
Jetting with a root-cutting nozzle clears roots from the line. Roots grow back through cracks and joints, so the camera inspection tells you whether a repair is the better long-term fix.
How much does hydro jetting cost?
We give a free written estimate before any jetting starts. The final price depends on line length, access and how much buildup is in the line, and you get it in a free written estimate before we start.
I already have a jetting agreement with another company. Can you beat it?
Yes. Send us a copy of your current agreement and we will match the price and take 5% off for the same scope of work.
Can I hydro jet my sewer line myself?
No. Sewer jetting is not a do-it-yourself job. It takes a team of 2 to 3 trained technicians and professional equipment, and the line should be camera-inspected first.
Does hydro jetting use chemicals?
No. We use only water and no chemicals. Jetting does use a lot of water, but it clears the line without chemical drain cleaners that corrode old pipes.
