How much does hydro-jetting cost?

If you have drains or sewer pipes that can’t be cleared of stubborn clogs, you may need hydro jetting. This process uses a high-powered water spray to blast out drain clogs and clean inner surfaces, like a power washer for your pipes.

Plumbers often recommend hydro jetting if you’ve unsuccessfully tried to remove buildup with drain cleaner, a plunger, auger, or snake. Plunging or snaking severe blockages may poke a hole in deep clogs or push them further into the drain line. 

Use this cost guide to understand more about hydro jetting, when you may need it, and how much you’re likely to pay a plumber for hydro jetting service. 

Hydro jetting clears drains and sewer pipes by blasting high-pressure water from a long, coiled hose. As a plumber feeds the hydro jet (or “jetter”) into the pipe, it blows through clogs with a forward-facing water cannon, while backward-facing water jets propel the head forward. 

“Hydro jetting can get any kind of sludge, debris, small tree roots, or mud out of the pipe properly,” says Juan Rave, owner of Rave Plumbing & Rooter in La Crescenta, California. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a kitchen sink, a sewer line, or a bathroom toilet.”

Compared to chemical drain cleaners, hydro jetting is eco-friendly because it uses only water to clear a clog. It’s also relatively hassle-free and trenchless, meaning plumbers don’t have to dig up your landscaping to unclog a main sewer pipe. 

If you see signs of a clogged main sewer line—multiple drains clearing slowly, gurgling, or presenting foul odors—consider hiring a pro to hydro jet it and prevent a sewer system backup. 

Hydro jetting isn’t a DIY task to be performed by homeowners. You need a skilled, licensed professional plumber who knows how to use the equipment safely. Experience with hydro jetting is important, so make sure your plumber has plenty of it. 

The national average cost of hydro jetting a a home plumbing system clog runs $200–550. Quick and easy jobs might cost as little as $150, while extremely clogged pipes can cost as much as $1,000. 

“In California, expect to pay a flat rate of $500 to hydro jet a kitchen or bathroom sink, or $1,000 for a sewer or toilet,” says Rave. 

These costs assume that the plumber has easy access to a “cleanout,” a Y- or T-shaped fitting in the drain line with one branch that opens for the insertion of plumbing tools.

The main cleanout is typically located near your home’s foundation where the main drain line turns toward the sewer. Your home might have smaller cleanouts located near your washing machine or on an exterior walI. If the job requires the plumber to disconnect pipes or pull out a toilet, it’ll cost more.

If you need emergency service because sewer line clogs have caused a sewage backup, you might incur an additional fee of $100–150 for after-hours work. 

Other elements that can affect the average cost of hydro jetting include:  

Accessibility. Without an easily accessible cleanout, service calls can cost more. It depends upon the difficulty of inserting the equipment into the pipe (this is also true when having a drain “snaked” with a plumbing auger). Without a cleanout, plumbers may have to remove a toilet, sink, or other fixture, or they’ll work down through rooftop pipe vents that are part of the drain system. If plumbers have to cut the pipe and install a cleanout, it could cost $800–1,500.

Severity of the clog. Plumbers can run remote camera inspections to determine the extent of the clog and the pipe’s condition (the plumber should advise you about this). This helps the plumber discern the depth and relative difficulty of the clog and check whether the pipe can handle high-pressure hydro jetting. Deeper clogs will take more time to reach, which will cost more overall. 

Ask for a discount. Some small companies offer discounts to seniors, first responders, or veterans. Or they may offer a discount if you just ask for it—in hopes of gaining you as a customer for future plumbing work. A typical discount could be 10%.

Get a warranty. Hydro jetting costs more upfront than techniques like snaking, but can save you money in the long run by cleaning the pipe so thoroughly to avoid repeat blockages. Most plumbers are happy to guarantee hydro jetting service for 30 days or more, because callbacks are rare. Go ahead and ask for a warranty, on the off-chance there’s a problem.

Inspect first. For older plumbing, ask your plumber to do a video inspection first, using a remote camera, before opting for hydro jetting. Highly pressurized water could cause serious damage to pipes if they already have cracks, which could turn your $1,000-or-less job into a $20,000-or-more sewer line replacement.

How much does it cost to hydro jet a main sewer line?

On average, you’ll pay $200–550 for a plumber to perform hydro jetting on your main sewer line. In some parts of the country, the cost can rise to $1,000 for sewer line hydro jetting. The primary factor that affects the price is ease of access to the clogged pipe. 

Is hydro jetting worth it?

If other drain pipe unclogging methods aren’t working, hydro jetting is a necessary and worthwhile expense. It removes stubborn clogs of grease, mineral and scale deposits, or roots that have invaded the pipe. Other, less-expensive drain cleaning methods, such as snaking, may resolve minor clogs of paper products, hair, or general grime. 

Is hydro jetting better than snaking?

Hydro jetting is superior in most ways to snaking, but it’s more expensive. It uses a blast of high-pressure water to break up and remove stubborn clogs in a drain or sewer line, while snaking is limited to the manual force and twisting motion applied by the plumber to the snake tool. Hydro jetting must be performed properly, as it can damage pipes that are already cracked.

Find a hydro-jetting plumber in your area.