Main Sewer Line Cleaning
Clear a clogged main sewer line fast, from the house trap to the city main, with cable machines, jetting and camera proof.
Main Sewer Line Cleaning details
24/7 drain cleaning
Hydro Jetting Service in Philadelphia
Hydro jetting uses high pressure water to scour sewer and drain lines back to the pipe wall. It is the deepest drain cleaning available for grease, roots and recurring clogs.
Open 24/7Emergency drain service
Camera ProofSee inside your line
Fully Insured7 years in business
Upfront PricingQuote before work starts
Quick answer: Hydro jetting cleans a pipe with high pressure water instead of a rotating cable. Snaking bores a hole through a clog, which restores flow but leaves grease, scale and root hairs on the pipe walls. A jetter scours the full inside of the pipe and flushes the debris to the main. That makes jetting better for recurring clogs, grease lines and older sewer laterals with heavy buildup.
Hydro jetting is a drain cleaning method that sends a stream of high pressure water through a specialized hose and nozzle to clean the full inside of a pipe. A cable machine bores a hole through a clog. A hydro jetter scrubs the whole pipe wall, flushing grease, sludge, soap scum, scale and fine roots down the line and out to the city main. The nozzle has rear facing jets that pull the hose forward and blast the walls as it travels, then the line is flushed clean on the way back.
Hydro jet drain cleaning is the right choice when a line keeps clogging, when a kitchen or restaurant line is coated in grease, or when a camera shows heavy buildup that a cable cannot fully remove. It is also the standard prep before many sewer repairs and lining projects, because the pipe needs to be clean before anyone can judge its condition. Fullerton Plumbing and Drain Cleaning carries hydro jetters on our trucks and matches the pressure and nozzle to the pipe, so older lines get the cleaning they need without unnecessary risk.
We provide hydro jetting service for homes, apartment buildings, restaurants and commercial properties across Philadelphia and Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. We camera the line before jetting when it makes sense, so we know the pipe can handle it, and after jetting so you can see the result. You get an upfront quote before any work starts, a live view of your pipe, and a clean work area when we pack up. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What we clear
Common Hydro Jetting Situations
Grease Line Jetting
Kitchen lines in homes and restaurants build up a thick layer of grease, soap and food waste. A jetter with a flushing nozzle melts and scours that coating off the pipe walls and sends it to the main. This is the most common jetting job and the best fix for slow kitchen lines that keep coming back.
Sewer Lateral Jetting
The main sewer lateral from the house to the city main collects sludge, paper and debris along its whole length. Sewer jetting cleans the full lateral, including the section under the sidewalk, and helps clear the low spots and bellies where waste tends to settle in older Philadelphia lines.
Root and Scale Cleaning
Fine roots at clay joints and rough scale inside old cast iron trap waste and cause repeat clogs. Specialty jetter nozzles strip root hairs and loosen scale, restoring more of the pipe's original opening. Heavy roots are cut first with a cable, then jetted to finish the cleaning.
Pre Repair Cleaning
Before a spot repair, pipe lining or full replacement, the line needs to be clean so it can be inspected accurately. Jetting removes the buildup that hides cracks and offsets, so the camera shows the true condition of the pipe and any repair plan is based on what is really there.
Know the warning signs
Signs You Need Hydro Jetting
- Your drain or sewer line has been snaked more than once this year.
- The kitchen line or restaurant drains are slow from grease buildup.
- A camera inspection showed heavy scale, sludge or fine roots.
- Drains clear after snaking but slow down again within weeks.
- Sewer odors linger even when the drains seem to be flowing.
- You are planning a sewer repair or lining and need a clean pipe first.
What is included
What Our Hydro Jetting Service Covers
- Camera inspection before jetting when pipe condition is unknown
- High pressure jetting with nozzles matched to the clog and pipe
- Scouring of grease, sludge, soap scum, scale and fine roots
- Full flush of the line out to the city main or municipal sewer
- Camera verification after jetting with a live view for you
- Cleanup of the cleanout area and an upfront quote for any repairs
How it works
Our Hydro Jetting Process
Inspect the Pipe
We start with a sewer camera when the line condition is unknown. This shows the pipe material, the type of buildup and any cracks, offsets or weak sections. Old clay and cast iron can be jetted safely in most cases, but knowing the condition first lets us choose the right pressure and nozzle.
Set Up the Jetter
We feed the jetter hose into the cleanout, usually the house trap cleanout or an exterior cleanout. We choose a nozzle for the job: a penetrating nozzle for packed clogs, a spinning or chain style head for scale, and a flushing nozzle for grease. Pressure is set to the pipe size and material.
Jet and Flush
The jetter pulls itself through the pipe while its rear jets scour the walls. We work the hose back and forth through problem areas, then flush the line clean all the way to the city main. Grease, sludge and debris wash downstream instead of sitting in your pipe.
Verify on Camera
After jetting we run the camera again so you can see the pipe walls cleaned back to the original surface. If the cleaning reveals cracks, missing sections or a sag, we show you on screen and give you an upfront quote for any repair. If the pipe is sound, you are done.
Philadelphia drains
Why Hydro Jetting Matters for Philadelphia Sewer Lines
Philadelphia drains are old. Many rowhomes in South Philly, Kensington, Port Richmond, Point Breeze and West Philly still run on cast iron stacks and terra cotta or cast iron laterals installed generations ago. Cast iron scales on the inside as it corrodes, leaving a rough, narrowed pipe that grabs grease and paper. Clay laterals collect fine root hairs at every joint. A cable machine can punch a hole through either problem, but the pipe stays narrow and rough, so the clog comes back. Hydro jetting removes the buildup along the whole pipe wall, which is why it is the best long term cleaning for older Philadelphia lines that clog again and again.
Grease is the other big reason. Philadelphia has a dense restaurant scene in Center City, South Philly, Fishtown, Passyunk, Chinatown and on Manayunk Main Street, and those kitchens put heavy grease loads on their drains. The Philadelphia Water Department has rules on fats, oils and grease, and jetting the lines between the kitchen and the grease interceptor is a key part of keeping a restaurant running. Homes see the same problem on a smaller scale in kitchen lines. In the suburbs, older homes on the Main Line and in Delaware County boroughs benefit from jetting for the same scale and root reasons.
Pricing
What Affects the Cost of Hydro Jetting
Hydro jetting cost depends on the length and diameter of the line, the type and amount of buildup, and how easy it is to reach the cleanout. A residential kitchen line is a smaller job than a main sewer lateral packed with roots or a restaurant line coated in years of grease. Adding a camera inspection before and after, jetting multiple lines in a building, working after hours, or needing to create access all change the scope. We review your line and give you an upfront quote before any work starts.
Call (518) 776-7838 for an upfront quote. We answer 24/7 and explain the price before any work starts.
Prevention
How to Keep It From Coming Back
- Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing them so less grease goes down the drain.
- Run hot water for a minute after using the kitchen sink to keep fats moving.
- Use strainers in sinks and tubs to catch food, hair and debris before it reaches the line.
- Keep grease interceptors pumped on schedule if you run a restaurant or commercial kitchen.
- Ask for a camera inspection after jetting so you know if roots or cracks will cause future clogs.
Real photos from our jobs
Recent Drain and Sewer Jobs
No stock photos here. These are our own technicians, our own equipment and real repairs.
Local service
Hydro Jetting Near You
We provide hydro jetting across Philadelphia and Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties.
FAQ
Hydro Jetting Questions, Answered
Hydro jetting cleans a pipe with high pressure water instead of a rotating cable. Snaking bores a hole through a clog, which restores flow but leaves grease, scale and root hairs on the pipe walls. A jetter scours the full inside of the pipe and flushes the debris to the main. That makes jetting better for recurring clogs, grease lines and older sewer laterals with heavy buildup.
Hydro jetting is safe for most old cast iron and clay pipes when the pressure and nozzle are matched to the pipe. The risk comes from jetting a line that is already broken or collapsed. That is why we camera older Philadelphia laterals first when the condition is unknown. If the pipe is cracked or missing sections, we show you on screen and adjust the plan before jetting.
Most homes do not need regular hydro jetting. A one time jetting often solves a recurring clog by clearing the buildup a cable left behind. Homes with street trees and clay laterals may benefit from jetting every one to two years to keep roots in check. Restaurants and grease heavy commercial kitchens usually need jetting much more often, sometimes several times a year, based on how fast grease builds up.
Hydro jetting removes fine roots and root hairs well and flushes the cut pieces out of the line. Large, woody root masses are usually cut first with a cable machine and root saw, then jetted to clean out the remaining hairs and debris. Jetting does not seal the pipe joints, so roots can return. A camera inspection afterward shows how many entry points there are and whether a repair makes sense.
Hydro jetting usually costs more than a standard cable cleaning because it uses larger equipment, takes more time and cleans the full pipe instead of just opening a hole. It often saves money over time if you have been paying for repeat snaking. We do not quote prices online because the job depends on your line. We give you an upfront quote on site before any work starts.
Most Philadelphia restaurants benefit from regular hydro jetting of the kitchen lines that run to the grease interceptor and out to the sewer. Grease coats the pipe walls even with a working interceptor, and a cable alone leaves most of it behind. Jetting on a set schedule helps prevent backups during service and supports compliance with Philadelphia Water Department rules on fats, oils and grease.
No, a properly run jetting job stays contained. The water flows down the line to the sewer, not back into your basement. We protect the area around the cleanout, manage any splash when we open and close the line, and clean up the work area before we leave. In a rowhome basement we work from the house trap cleanout and keep the space tidy.
Related services
Related Services
Sewer Camera Inspection
A live video sewer line inspection that shows roots, cracks, sags and clogs, so you know exactly what is in your pipe.
Sewer Camera Inspection details
Grease Trap Cleaning
Grease trap cleaning, grease trap pumping and grease interceptor service for Philadelphia restaurants and food businesses, on schedule or 24/7.
Grease Trap Cleaning detailsNeed hydro jetting today?
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