Drain Cleaner

Today’s pressure washers have a multitude of practical uses. One use perhaps not readily thought of is using it as a drain cleaner. For light applications, such as kitchen drains, homeowners can purchase a kit that will turn their electric or gas powered pressure washer into a drain cleaner. Many small household drain systems can be cleared using only 1500 PSI, so your small electric household washer could easily become money saving for you.

Small business’s that do paint stripping and large pressure washing jobs commercially can expand their business by advertising as a drain cleaner as well. You can expand your business up to your capability (most jobs require 2,500 PSI), or expand your capability to do business that is more industrial by investing in a larger pressure washer and accessorizing with add-ons and attachments. Add-ons are available for both electric and gas powered pressure washers. A better idea is to invest in a pressure washer specifically designed to clean sewer lines, called a sewer jetter. This drain cleaner has adjustable pressures of between 2500-4000 PSI. The debris clogging the drain determines the pressure used along with what material the lines is made of. Flow rates from 3 GPM (gallons per minute), up to 20 GPM are available with the sewer jetter. They have special nozzles of stainless steel that can get down into the drains and, with available hose lengths of up to 600’ long, they can be fitted to go almost anywhere a job would require. Adding this “long-distance” capability to your sewer jetter will give you the opportunity to take on industrial work as well as smaller jobs.

Many things, such as household grease, sludge, hard minerals, and tree roots can clog drain lines. Today’s drain cleaners are able to clean sewer lines from 1” – 6” in diameter. They can be used in pipes and tubes as well. This product use reverse jets to pull the sewer hose through the clogged line and blast away at debris and build-up on the walls. For build-up along the walls of the lines there are rotating nozzles. Then there are fixed nozzles that have a forward pointing orifice to break up blockages that are straight ahead. In essence, the drain cleaner nozzles are designed to clear and scour the pipes clean. The debris is then washed back up and removed with a vacuum pump.

High-pressure hoses are manufactured with burst ratings. They are often stronger than their stated rating for safety; often as high as 4 times the strength. Even with this safety feature, it is always best to use a hose with a slightly higher rating than the PSI your machine calls for. There are single or double braided hoses covered with either a rubber or thermoplastic material. The choice for quality is a rubber coated hose. Most hoses from 3,000 – 4,000 PSI are single braid, while higher PSI hose is always double braided.

Most municipalities, apartment complex owners, public facilities (such as schools, libraries, etc.), and businesses such as office buildings and restaurants don’t have their own cleaner. They hire this work out—and drain cleaners are in high demand!

 

The publisher of these pages is in no way responsible for any damage caused to you, your pressure washer, anyone else, your property, or anyone else's property by trying to implement or by successfully implementing the above-mentioned performance and services.