Drain Jetting

Drain jetting is a cleaning method that uses high-pressure water – typically 2,500 to 4,000 psi – to scour the inside of a pipe, removing grease, scale, silt, debris and soft root growth. It’s the most effective way to clear a blocked drain and is also used for routine preventative cleaning.

Yes, when carried out by a trained engineer with the right pressure and nozzle setup. We adjust pressure for older clay, cast-iron and pitch-fibre pipework that’s still common across Birmingham. Where a pipe is already cracked or compromised, we’ll spot it on CCTV first and recommend repair instead of jetting.

Drain jetting removes fats, oils and grease (FOG), soap scum, hair build-up, limescale, silt, leaf litter, sanitary product fibres and soft root growth. It can also flush out collapsed sections of debris caught at pipe joints. It won’t fix structural damage – that needs a patch repair or relining.

Jetting is significantly more effective than rodding for soft build-ups and grease, because the water reaches the full circumference of the pipe and clears the wall, not just punches a hole through the blockage. Rodding still has a role for compacted, solid blockages where the rod can break the obstruction up.

Not always. For routine cleaning or a clearly identified blockage, jetting can usually start straight away. Where the issue is recurring, where the pipe age or material is unknown, or where a property survey is required, a CCTV inspection beforehand makes sure jetting is the right method. Learn more about CCTV drain surveys.

Domestic drain unblocking is £96 inc. VAT during standard hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:30) and £132 inc. VAT outside those hours. There are no call-out charges, no inspection fees and no weekend surcharges – the price quoted is the price you pay. Larger commercial lines, heavily scaled drainage or extended pipe runs (50 metres+) are quoted separately. View full pricing.

Yes. Jetting uses water alone – no caustic chemicals, no solvents – so there’s no harmful residue left in your drainage or watercourse. It’s the lowest-impact method of clearing drains, which is why it’s the standard option for properties near rivers, ponds and protected areas.

Jetting clears the full pipe wall, not just a channel through the blockage, which means it dramatically reduces the chance of an immediate re-blockage. For long-term prevention, jetting is most effective when combined with sensible drain habits and a planned annual or bi-annual clean.

Yes, but with an important distinction. High-pressure jetting will cut through and flush out fine, soft root growth that has pushed into pipe joints or hairline cracks. What it cannot do is fix the damage the roots caused to get in – fractured pipes, displaced joints and deformed sections remain after jetting and will let roots back in within months. If root ingress is suspected, a CCTV survey after jetting will confirm whether the pipe needs relining or repair to seal the entry points for good.