Hydro jetting is a drain cleaning method that sends water through a hose at high pressure to strip grease, scale, silt and roots off the inside of a pipe. In Dedham, MA, we use it when a cable has failed, a snake got stuck, or the same line backs up every few months.
If water is rising now, call our 24/7 emergency dispatch, stop using the fixtures, and we will tell you whether jetting can happen tonight.
When the clog keeps coming back.
A repeat clog is the clearest sign that cabling is only treating the symptom. A cable spins a small cutter through the middle of the pipe and leaves the sides coated. Within weeks or months the buildup narrows again and the line slows.
Jetting changes that because the nozzle fires water backward and sideways as the hose is pulled back, so it scrubs the full circle of the pipe. Ask yourself two questions. Did the last cable visit fix the problem for less than a season? Did the plumber mention grease, roots or mineral buildup? Two yeses make jetting worth pricing.
How the jetter works.
- The plumber finds access, usually a cleanout, and often runs a camera first to see the pipe and any breaks..
- A nozzle with rear-facing jets is fed in on a flexible hose..
- Water pressure pulls the nozzle forward, and spinning streams cut and flush the debris toward the sewer..
- The plumber pulls the hose back slowly, scouring the walls and flushing loose material downline..
- A second camera pass, if offered, confirms the pipe is clear and shows any cracks the jet exposed..
Pressure is chosen to suit the pipe. Ask the plumber what setting they use for your material and what they do if the line turns out to be cracked.
Line backing up after a snake? Call now and ask about jetting tonight.
Call (617) 752-0573Snake got stuck or roots came back.
Roots are the usual reason a cutter cable gets stuck or the clog returns. Fine roots enter through joints and small cracks looking for water, then grow into a mat that catches paper and grease. A cutting head shreds the mat in the middle, but the root hairs behind it regrow quickly.
Jetting with a root-cutting nozzle cleans more of the pipe than a cable, yet it does not seal the crack the roots came through. If roots show up twice, the real fix is a repair. See our sewer line repair page for spot repair and lining. A camera tells you which situation you have.
Jetting or snaking: a decision table.
| Your situation | Likely first move | Why. |
|---|---|---|
| First clog in a sink, tub or shower | Cable or auger | Fast, low cost, reaches the clog. |
| Kitchen line slows again within a few months | Hydro jetting | Removes the grease coat on the wall. |
| Snake stuck or only passes partway | Camera, then decide | Could be roots, a break or a bellied pipe. |
| Roots found twice in the same line | Jetting plus repair plan | Clearing without repair repeats. |
| Cracked, collapsed or separated pipe | Repair, not jetting | Pressure can worsen a broken pipe. |
Older homes and the pipes inside them.
About 74 percent of Dedham homes were built before 1978, per the town's Master Plan. Older pipe can be rough inside, offset at joints or partly broken, so a plumber has to look before blasting. A camera first is how a careful plumber protects an old line.
If you live in one of the mill-worker streets near Mother Brook or in an Oakdale ranch, say so on the phone and ask whether a camera comes with the jetting visit.
Dedham-Westwood Water District water averages about 6.0 grains per gallon of hardness, per its 2025 water quality report. That is moderately hard, so mineral scale can build on pipe walls and fixtures over time. If your plumber sees scale in a drain line, jetting can scrape it off, which is another reason repeat clogs should get a closer look than one more cable run.
Where jetting does not belong.
Jetting is not a cure for every backup. It will not repair a crack, replace a belly, or fix clean water pouring into the sewer from a roof drain or sump line.
The Town of Dedham states that it is a violation of federal, state and local law to discharge clean rain or groundwater into the sanitary sewer. If a plumber finds a sump pump or roof drain tied into the sewer line, the fix is rerouting that discharge, not cleaning more often. Ask the Dedham Building Department how the rules apply to your property.
Backup right now: what to do before the jetter arrives.
- Shut off the washing machine and dishwasher, and stop flushing if more than one drain is slow.
- Keep people and pets away from any water rising from a floor drain.
- Tell the dispatcher what was tried, and whether a cable was stuck or passed through.
- Move belongings off the basement floor and clear a path to the cleanout.
- Leave the chemical drain cleaner on the shelf, since it makes opening the line unsafe.
- Confirm who can authorize work if you rent, because a landlord may have to approve.
What hydro jetting costs and what moves the number.
Jetting costs more than a cable run, and the quote is built from a few honest factors:
- Line length and diameter, since longer and larger lines take more time and water.
- Access: an outdoor cleanout is easier than removing a toilet or opening a trap.
- Camera work before and after, which adds time but prevents surprises.
- What the line holds: grease and silt clear faster than dense roots.
- Timing: nights and weekends carry a different rate, which you hear before work begins.
Homeowner policies generally cover sudden and accidental damage rather than wear and tear, so a clog from grease or roots may not qualify. Ask your insurer. Want your real number? Call (617) 752-0573.
Other drain and sewer work that pairs with jetting.
Jetting often follows or leads into other work. A first-time clog may only need drain cleaning, a main line backup may call for sewer line cleaning, and a camera visit on its own is described under sewer inspection. Neighbors across the line can also use our Walpole emergency plumbing page for coverage details.
Frequently asked questions.
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Yes. Our 24/7 emergency dispatch takes calls at night, on weekends and on holidays. Whether a jetter can run tonight depends on who is available for your address, and we will not promise an arrival time. We will tell you the plan, the likely method and the price before work starts.
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Used on sound pipe at a suitable pressure, it does not. Used on cracked, collapsed or thin-walled pipe, it can make things worse. That is why a camera look first is worth asking for, especially in a house built before 1978.
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There is no fixed schedule. Some kitchen lines do well with a clean every year or two, while others need one pass and then a repair. Ask your plumber to base the interval on what the camera showed.
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Not exactly. Cleaning is the goal, and cable or jetter is the method. See sewer line cleaning for how the main line is cleared and when we choose each tool.
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No. It clears roots from the pipe, but roots return if the crack or joint they entered through stays open. A repair or liner is what stops it.
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No. Massachusetts treats clearing a blocked drain as a minor repair with no permit. Replacing piping does require a permit, and permits go only to licensed plumbers. You can verify a license on the Mass.gov lookup.
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Yes. Landlords and property managers can call to set up jetting for shared drain lines in multi-unit buildings. Tell the dispatcher the number of units and which ones have backed up, and we will schedule access for a same-day appointment when one is available.
Codes, standards and sources.
Plumbing work in Massachusetts is governed by 248 CMR 10.00, the Uniform State Plumbing Code, and plumbers are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. You can read the state's consumer fact sheet on plumbers and gas fitters before you hire anyone.
Local facts on this page come from the Dedham-Westwood Water District, the Town of Dedham, the other towns named and Mass.gov, and were checked in October 2026. Where a fact could not be confirmed, the page says to ask the utility or the town.