High-pressure water jetting forces a concentrated jet of water through specialist nozzles at pressures of up to 4,000 PSI (275 bar). The nozzle is fed through the drain on a flexible hose, scouring the pipe walls as it travels and flushing all debris downstream to a collection point. Different nozzle types are used for different blockages: forward-firing jets for penetrating solid obstructions, rotating heads for grease and scale removal, and root-cutting nozzles for tree root intrusion

Drainage experts at DrainsCo often suggest to go for water jetting in case of :

• Grease and fat blockages — The most common domestic and commercial drain issue. Jetting is the only effective method for removing hardened fat deposits from pipe walls.
• Silt and sediment build-up — Particularly in surface water drains, gullies, and land drainage systems where soil and debris accumulate over time.
• Tree root intrusion — Specialist root-cutting nozzles sever root mass inside the pipe and flush it clear. Often combined with CCTV inspection to assess the extent of root damage.
• Scale and mineral deposits — Hard water areas produce internal scale that reduces pipe capacity. Descaling nozzles strip the mineral layer and restore full bore.
• Preventative cleaning — Regular jetting as part of a maintenance programme keeps drains flowing freely and extends system lifespan.

For domestic properties, our drainage engineers typically deploy compact jetting units rated to 3,000–4,000 PSI, suitable for 50mm–160mm internal diameter pipes. For commercial and industrial applications such as restaurant kitchens, food processing facilities, multi-occupancy buildings, and mains-scale infrastructure, drainage experts at DrainsCo use trailer-mounted jetting systems with higher flow rates and extended hose reach.

Electro-mechanical rodding uses a powered, rotating steel cable fitted with an interchangeable cutting head. The cable is fed into the drain and the spinning head breaks through solid blockages, scrapes scale and debris from the pipe walls, and can cut through compacted material that jetting alone may not dislodge.

Drainage experts at DrainsCo often suggest to go for electro-mechanical rodding in case of :

• Toilet and soil pipe blockages — Where access for jetting equipment is restricted or the blockage is close to a fixture.
• Hardened deposits in small-diameter pipes — Lead, iron, and early copper waste pipes that respond better to mechanical action than water pressure.
• Compacted solid obstructions — Foreign objects, concrete residue, or hardened aggregate that has entered the drainage system.
• Situations where water volume must be minimised — Internal drains, basement pipes, and environments where water overspray would cause secondary damage.

The method we use depends on the blockage type, pipe material, pipe diameter, and access conditions. In many cases, we combine both methods: rodding to break the initial obstruction, followed by jetting to fully clean the pipe and flush debris. Your DrainsCo engineer will assess the situation on-site and recommend the most effective approach before quoting.