Australia’s construction and maintenance franchises earn one billion in revenue each year. If your business has invested in a high-pressure water cleaning system, then you have a handy tool ready for boosting your income.

What’s so handy about water pressure cleaners? They’re great for cleaning off difficult stains from construction projects. They’re also one of the most effective tools for cleaning drains and sewage pipes.

You can use a high-pressure hose with your pressure washer to clear out blockages from sewer lines. Sometimes called “drain jetters” or “sewer jetters,” these two tools make the cleaning job faster and easier. They’re more effective than traditional cable machines and make a great way to boost the value of your business.

If you’re considering buying a water pressure cleaner to add to your business’s services, you should know about one of its best uses. Read on to learn how to use a pressure washer jet so you’re ready when a plumbing call comes.

Things to Consider Before Using a Water Pressure Cleaner

Water pressure cleaners are one of the most effective tools for cleaning sludge and grease blockages from sewer lines. When a client needs help clearing out a drain, you’ll want to have one handy to get the job done.

Have you already bought the right pressure washer for your business and do you plan on adding a high-pressure hose? There are some things to think about before turning it on at a job. Here are five checkpoints to cover so that you effectively use your pressure cleaner as a water drain jet for pipes.

1. What’s Down There?

Icon Water provides ways to avoid blocked drains, but this problem still happens. Drain jets do a great job clearing out grease, sand, and other soft blockages.

But they won’t be helpful if your drain problem is caused by roots. It’s important not to get carried away and jump right into the job before knowing what’s the problem.

How can you know what’s clogging the drains? Most likely, the problem will be grease or sludge. Restaurants and family dwellings often have problems with grease buildup.

2. Size Is Important

Your hose needs to be the correct size for the pipe you’re trying to clear. Why is this important? Because you want the highest water pressure to do the job. When your hose is too small, you lose pressure.

The trick is to use a hose with the largest diameter that fits down the drain. When you do this, you’ll have less pressure loss and your cleaner will work better. This is because there will be more pressure at the nozzle, which is what you need to clear out any sludge in the pipes.

It’s also important to know where the clog is located in the pipes. Bigger hoses have less flexibility, which can mean your hose may get stuck if the clog is too far down. When you choose your size, take into account how far down the hose needs to go so that you can choose the right flexibility.

3. Don’t Get Stuck

When water pressure cleaners were first being used, they sometimes got stuck from the friction between hose and pipe. If you’ve purchased yours from a company that specializes in professional-grade quality, you won’t need to worry about this. Today’s water pressure cleaners vibrate so that they don’t get stuck in pipes.

4. Know Your Technique

You should know your technique before you start feeding the hose into the pipe. Most professionals choose to work the hose back and forth while they’re feeding it in. As long as you keep the hose moving, you’ll do a better job and save time.

5. Don’t Let Your Pump Freeze

This is an important tip if you work in cold seasons. Make sure your pump won’t freeze while you’re out on a job. When this happens, it can damage both hose and pump and cost you money.

Your cleaner might have an antifreeze tank. If so, don’t forget to use it when the weather gets cold. If your machine doesn’t have an antifreeze tank, you can introduce antifreeze into the pump to stop it from freezing.

What is the easiest way to clear a blockage in the sewer line?

If you’re at your client’s home with the water off, then you’ll either have a pressure washer or a cable machine ready to use. If the sewer problem is caused by grease, you’ll want to use a pressure washer hose. This is because a cable will poke a hole in the grease blockage when it moves forward, but as soon as it’s pulled back the grease gets plugged back up.

The spray from a pressure washer can go right through the blockage and flush it down the line. As long as you have a good-sized hose with strong water pressure, you’ll be able to reach the blockage even if it’s deep.

Another benefit to having a sewer jetter is that it’s lighter than traditional drain cleaners. This means you can carry it wherever you need to inside your client’s home. Electric pressure washers are the easiest to carry but provide lower pressure than other models. Gas-powered washers will have the most power for pressure washing but need extra accessories to work indoors.

Once you’ve fed the hose into the line, make sure to use an efficient technique so that the hose doesn’t get stuck. By following the correct steps, you’ll be able to clear up your client’s sewer lines quickly and easily.

Time to Invest in a Water Pressure Cleaner?

Whether you already own a water pressure cleaner or want to invest, having a pressure washer and sewer jet will get you ready for more jobs. It’s an effective way to make your business available to wider audiences and boost profits.

Want more products to add to your professional arsenal? Check out our blog for more resources and helpful tips.