Hydro jetting

What it attempts to do

Clear material from the pipe wall and carry it out of the line using pressurised water delivered through a nozzle.

When contractors may discuss it

These are circumstances in which the approach comes up, not a checklist that makes it correct. There is no situation in which one method is universally right.

• when material adhering to the pipe wall is at issue rather than a discrete obstruction
• before an inspection where a clear view of the wall matters
• where mechanical clearing has not achieved what was needed

What has to be known before applicability can be judged

If a proposal for this work is priced without these, it is priced against assumptions. That is not necessarily wrong — but the assumptions should be written down.

• what is known about the pipe material and condition
• whether an inspection has been performed
• which access point is available

Access and site considerations

• requires a water supply and equipment access
• requires a suitable access point

What to clarify in a proposal for this work

These are the details that most often differ between two proposals for what sounds like the same job.

• whether the line was inspected before jetting was proposed
• what assumptions are being made about the pipe’s condition
• whether an inspection follows the work
• what happens if the line does not respond as expected

What to keep afterwards

• the invoice
• footage recorded before and after, where available

Alternatives worth asking about

Asking why one approach is proposed rather than another is a reasonable question, and the answer tells you what the contractor believes about your line.