Hydro Jetting in Loveland, CO

Hydro jetting is a way of cleaning drain and sewer pipes with water at high pressure. A provider runs a flexible high-pressure hose into the line, usually through a cleanout, with a nozzle on the end. The nozzle has jets pointing backward that pull the hose forward and scrub the pipe walls, and often one pointing forward to break through blockages. As the hose is pulled back, the water carries the loosened material downstream to the main.

The difference from a cable machine is coverage. A cable, sometimes called a snake, spins a cutting head through a clog and opens a path. That is often the right first step for a hard blockage. But when the problem is a coating of grease, soap sludge or silt along the whole pipe, a cable leaves most of it behind, and the clog returns. Jetting cleans the full diameter of the pipe. For a side-by-side look, read hydro jetting vs drain snake.

Jetting is not a repair. It does not fix a crack, a sag or an offset joint, and on badly damaged pipe it can make things worse. That is why a sewer camera inspection Loveland before or after jetting is common, especially on older lines. If the camera finds damage, the next step is sewer line repair Loveland, not more cleaning.

We are a free referral service. When you call (970) 693-9705, we connect you with an independent local provider who owns the equipment, sets the price and performs the work.

Grease leads the list. Fats, oils and grease go down the drain warm and liquid, then cool and cling to the pipe. Over time the coating narrows the pipe until something snags on it. The city's pretreatment program warns that grease can plug sewer lines and cause backups that damage homes, and it hands out free Fat Trapper kits at 920 S. Boise Ave and 500 E. Third St.

Soap sludge and hair come next, especially in older homes where bathroom and laundry lines run long distances to the main. Laundry lint can add to it. Because Loveland's water is soft, at about 27 mg/L in the city's 2024 water quality report, mineral scale is a smaller part of the picture than in hard-water towns, but soap and grease can combine into a thick, sticky layer.

Silt and sand get into lines through cracks and open joints, and through flooding. In September 2013 the Big Thompson ran at roughly 500 times its seasonal flow, more than three square miles of Loveland flooded, and the city says flooded sewer lines disrupted wastewater pumping. Homes along the river corridor, including the Mariana Butte area where repairs were completed by the end of 2015, are places where sediment in private lines is worth checking for.

Roots are the last common cause. Loveland has about 25,000 public trees, with ash around 20 percent of the canopy, and roots seek out small leaks at pipe joints. Fine roots can be jetted out; heavy roots may need cutting first and a repair to keep them from returning.

Jetting is a strong choice for sound pipe with heavy buildup. Many 1990s homes in southwest Loveland around Mariana Butte, and the newer plastic lines in east Loveland, are good candidates when grease or sludge is the issue, because the pipe itself is usually in reasonable shape. Our Mariana Butte Loveland drain cleaning page covers that part of town.

Older clay and cast iron need more care. In the historic core, where many homes date from 1900 to 1910, the pipe may be cracked or have open joints. A careful operator can still jet old pipe at lower pressures with the right nozzle, but a camera first is the safe approach. If the line is Orangeburg fiber pipe, used until the 1970s, jetting may do more harm than good, and replacement is often the better conversation.

Jetting also helps when a home's main has been cabled several times for the same clog. If your problem is a single hard blockage in one fixture, clogged drain repair Loveland with a cable is usually simpler. If the clog is grease, the article on how grease causes sewer backups explains why it comes back and how to keep it out.

Yes, though it is often not the first step. When a main line is backed up and sewage is coming up into a floor drain or tub, the priority is to open the line so water can flow. A provider may cable it first for speed, then come back for jetting to clean the walls once the line is draining. Some providers carry jetters on their trucks and can do both in one visit.

If you have a backup, stop using water, keep children and pets away from any sewage and call (970) 693-9705. Calls are answered 24/7. Tell the person you are connected with whether this is a repeat clog and whether it has been cabled before, so they can bring the right equipment.

In cold weather, a slow line can be worse because water sits in it longer. Loveland's average January low is about 12.9 degrees. Jetting works in winter, but the provider will take care that water does not sit in exposed hoses or lines.

Jetting resets the pipe, but habits decide how long it stays clean. Keep grease out of the drains by wiping pans and using a Fat Trapper kit or a container in the trash. Use strainers in kitchen and bathroom drains. Flush only toilet paper.

For homes with a history of grease or root clogs, ask the provider about a maintenance schedule. Some lines do well with jetting every year or two; others only need it once after the cause is fixed. A camera look at the next visit helps you decide.

If roots were part of the problem, consider repairing the joints they entered through. Jetting removes the roots inside the pipe, but the opening that let them in stays open. And if the camera shows cracks or offsets, a repair now can prevent the next emergency.

Finally, keep notes on each service visit. A record of when the line was jetted, what was found and what the camera showed makes the next decision much easier.

Jetting is one of several options covered on our drain cleaning Loveland page.