Can a Pressure Washer Double as a Hydro Jetter and Vice-Versa? (2024)

Generally speaking, both are pressure washers, but each require their own specialty tools and accessories. This is why any pressure washer can become a hydro jetter (often interchangeably known as a sewer jetter or drain jetter) with the right selection of accessories.

A pressure washer is primarily used for cleaning surfaces like washing cars, decks, patios, and siding. It delivers high-pressure water streams to remove dirt and grime effectively. Typically, pressure washers are fitted with a spray guns, spray nozzles of varying degrees and a heavy-duty hose.

A hydro jetter is fitted with specialized tools used for heavy-duty drain cleaning. It employs high-pressure water to clear clogged sewer lines effectively. Plumbers and homeowners use hydro jetters to tackle blockages caused by tree roots, debris, and other obstructions within drain pipes. These jetters not only open up the sewer lines but also clean them thoroughly.

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Converting Your Pressure Washer into a Sewer Jetter

Every pressure washer can be converted into a hydro jetter using a simple conversion kit.Let's begin with all the accessories you'll need for the best jetting kit possible.

You'll need a jetting nozzle, jetting hose, on/off valve (ball valve, foot pedal, trigger) and lastly aportable hose reelis strongly recommended for making your life a thousand times easier!

When selecting a pressure washer for sewer drain jetting, consider both pressure (psi) and flow rate (gpm). Here’s the rule of thumb:

  • Pressure (psi): Determines “cutting” power. Higher psi allows for effective blockage removal. For sewer jetting, professional jetters typically require a minimum of 3,000 psi.
  • Flow Rate (gpm): Provides “flushing” power. Adequate gpm ensures debris removal. For sewer lines, a flow rate of around 5 US gpm is effective.

Remember, the right balance of psi and gpm depends on the pipe diameter and the specific cleaning requirements.

Here are the steps to follow when converting your pressure washer:

Check Your Pressure Washer Specs:
  • Ensure your pressure washer has a psi (pounds per square inch) rating of at least 1,500 and no more than 4,400.
  • Note the flow in gpm (gallons per minute) that your pressure washer produces as your conversion kit will depend on this number.
  • Most conversion kits available at Canpump are fully customized to fit your specs and support up to 4,000 psi, suitable for both electric and gas pressure washers.
Get a Sewer Jetter Conversion Kit:
  • Purchase a sewer jetting kit compatible with your pressure washer. These kits connect to the outlet of your pressure washer and come in various options including control valves, nozzles, hoses, reels and more.
  • Use ournozzle chart and help pages to make sure you're getting all the right tools to make the most effective kit according to your specs. If your pressure washer is already fitted with nozzles then match the size when selecting drain nozzle.
Installation:
  • Connect the sewer jetter kit to your pressure washer.
  • Insert the sewer jetter hose about a foot into the drain.
  • Turn on your pressure washer and hold the spray wand handle while slowly moving the hose down the drain.

Why should I get these accessories?

Drain Jetting Nozzles

Drain nozzles are designed to clear/clean drains usingboth a forward and backwards facing spray stream. The backwards spray alsopulls the hose deeper into the line for effective cleaning. There are various designs each optimized for different applications.

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Drain Jetting Hose

Using lightweight, abrasion-resistant, and slippery jetting hoses allow the hose to easily maneuver through pipes. These hoses are also super flexible and long at an average length of 100 ft.

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Shut Off Valve

A shut off valve is a an extremely useful tool for added control to help finish your jobs quicker and easier than ever! When drain jetting without a valve, your nozzle will begin spraying as soon as the pressure washer is turned on and will not stop until the pressure washer is turned off. More often than not the gas pressure washer has to be left outside thus forcing you leave the job site to stop the water. Adding a ball valve allows you to control the water output without having to leave the drain location turning a two-man job into one.

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Portable Hose Reel

The portable hose reels are a life saver both physically and for efficiency. Rolling your hose onto a reel (some options include a shut-off ball valve) keeps the hose straight and tangle free and easy to pack up when you're done using the handle. The portable reels can be placed right at the opening of the pipe getting cleaned.

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In summary, pressure washers and hydro jetters both utilize high-pressure water, but they serve distinct accessories for their purposes. Pressure washers are ideal for surface cleaning, such as washing cars, decks, and patios. On the other hand, hydro jetters specialize in heavy-duty drain/sewer cleaning, effectively removing blockages caused by tree roots and debris.

To convert a pressure washer into a sewer jetter, follow these steps: (i) check your pressure washer specs, (ii) get a sewer jetter conversion kit, and (iii) install the necessary accessories like drain jetting nozzles, hoses and shut-off valves.

Remember that the right balance of pressure (psi) and flow rate (gpm) depends on pipe diameter and specific cleaning requirements. By selecting the appropriate accessories, you can transform your pressure washer into an effective hydro jetter for tackling clogged drains or rinsing sewers.

Can a Pressure Washer Double as a Hydro Jetter and Vice-Versa? (2024)

FAQs

Can you use a pressure washer as a hydro jetter? ›

With regular, preventive cleaning, you can prevent huge issues and forget about contractors forever. The best thing is – with a simple attachment, you can turn your own pressure washer into a sewer jetter and clean your own sewer lines and drains without hassle.

How much PSI do you need for a sewer jetter? ›

Experience has shown that a 3,500 to 4,000 psi jetter with 6 or more gpm and the right nozzle or tool will cut out root masses, chop up hard grease, and carve out hard settled dirt. We've shipped dozens of jetters that do 9 gpm/4,000 psi for cutting out this kind of crud from 3- to 8-inch drains and sewers.

Is a pressure washer the same as a water jetter? ›

Water Jetting is similar to pressure washing but is performed at extraordinarily high pressures (above 10,000 PSI). If the pressure is below 10,000 psi it is typically considered pressure washing or also known as water cleaning.

What PSI is hydro jetting? ›

Hydro jetting uses a specialized hose and nozzle to shoot water through your pipes at a force of around 1500 psi on average (although that number can rise to 5000 psi), which is one reason you need a skilled plumber to do the job.

Is Hydro jetting worth it? ›

Very Effective

You can handle a minor clog with a plumbing snake, but for a severe clog, it is too much. With hydro-jetting, there isn't a clog that can withstand the force of that powerful blast of water. It completely opens the line, clearing all the debris and buildup, and scouring the inside of the pipe clean.

How many GPM is a jetter? ›

Jetter Flow Rates
TYPE OF JETTERFLOW RATE
Mini-Jetter5 GPM or less
Full Size Jetter5 to 30 GPM
Sewer Flusher30 GPM or more

How much water does hydro jetting use? ›

High-pressure water jetters usually operate with water pressures up to 4,000 PSI with flow rates of 2 -- 25 gallons of water per minute. Some municipal hydro-jetters have flows up to 120 gallons per minute. The bigger the pipes, the larger and longer the water jet hose is needed to clean them properly.

Why is my jetter not building pressure? ›

Look for loose fittings on the suction side or leaks on the discharge. Fix those first. Leaks on the pumps inlet may allow air to be introduced to the pump creating rough running and low/inconsistent pressure. Leaks on the discharge or high pressure side will lower pressure also.

What is the full form of psi in hydro jetting? ›

Because plumbing so rarely comes with one-size-fits-all solutions, the high-pressure water jet cleaning machine allows for the technician to adjust the intensity of the water blast, or pound per square inch (psi).

What is the pressure range for hydrojetting? ›

Important Criteria's for Hydro Jetting Machine

At PressureJet, Hydro Jetting Equipment's are made in the range from 3,600 to 20,000 PSI/250 to 1400 Bar and are tested on multiple parameters to make sure the pump delivered is of supreme quality.

What is the pressure for hydrojet cleaning? ›

PRESSUREJET manufactures High Pressure Hydro Jetting Machine for the pressures ranging from140 bar (2000 PSI) to 1400 bar (20,000 PSI). This pressure range meet the tube cleaning requirements of most industrial applications.

Can I turn my pressure washer into a jetter? ›

We get this question all the time: Can I use my pressure washer as a jetter? The short answer is yes (with the right tools). Let's face it, the basics are the same. The clog, grease, scale, roots and sludge don't know or care about the name of the machine that is supplying high-pressure water via the jetter nozzle.

What is the difference between hydroblasting and hydro jetting? ›

Hydroblasting is a technique for cleaning internal and external surfaces, like the pipe or tank cleaning. Waterjetting or UHP water jetting can effectively remove a wide variety of tough dirt in difficult to reach points or locations in a safe and efficient method.

Do sewer jetters really work? ›

Jetters are very powerful and work by employing high-pressure water jets to clear any obstructions from your pipes. They are useful for residential and commercial applications. Plumbers can even use a plumbing jetter on larger municipal sewage systems.

Can you unclog a drain with a power washer? ›

Using a pressure washer to unclog a drain can be safe and effective, but it's not always recommended. Plus, if you don't have plumbing experience, it's best to leave the job to the experts.

Is a pressure washer a water blaster? ›

Pressure washers are less severe than other water blasting systems, which prevents damage to brickwork and other surfaces, but they still need to be used with care.

What is the difference between a pressure washer and a jet nozzle? ›

The main difference with power washing vs. pressure washing is the heat. The jet wash in a power washing machine uses heated water, whereas the water in a pressure washer is not heated.

References

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