Hydro jetting uses a high-pressure water stream through a specialized nozzle to scour the full interior diameter of a pipe, removing grease buildup, mineral scale, and root intrusion rather than just punching a path through the middle of a clog. For a line that keeps slowing down after repeated snaking, jetting is usually the difference between a real fix and another callback.
We always camera the line first. Jetting is very effective on grease, scale, and roots, but it isn't the right tool for a pipe with a structural defect like a collapsed section or severe offset joint, and pressure into a compromised pipe can make that kind of problem worse rather than better.
We also use jetting proactively for customers who've had recurring grease buildup in a kitchen line, scheduling an annual or biannual jetting rather than waiting for the next backup. For a household or small commercial kitchen with heavy use, that's often cheaper over time than repeat emergency snaking.
Older trees, newer kitchens, different buildup
Established, mature-landscaping areas around Lone Tree and neighboring Highlands Ranch and Littleton see more root intrusion in older sewer laterals, where tree roots have had years to work into small joint gaps. Newer RidgeGate construction sees jetting used more for grease buildup in kitchen lines and for clearing builder-grade lines that were never fully cleaned of construction debris during the original build.
We size the jetting nozzle to the pipe diameter measured during the camera pass, since an undersized nozzle wastes time and an oversized one risks damaging a smaller-diameter branch line rather than the main lateral it was meant for.
Jetting is usually the right call when:
Why we camera before we jet
Camera first
Confirms the line is structurally sound enough for jetting and shows exactly what's built up inside it.
Jet the full length
High-pressure water and the correct nozzle for the buildup type, grease, scale, or roots, clears the pipe wall rather than just the center channel.
Camera again to confirm
A follow-up pass confirms the line is genuinely clear, not just temporarily flowing.
Matching pressure to the pipe, not the other way around
Jetting pressure and nozzle selection are matched to the pipe material and diameter; older or more fragile pipe materials need lower pressure and a different nozzle than modern PVC, which is another reason the camera inspection comes before jetting rather than after.