Hydro jetting clears a Greenbelt drain or sewer line by blasting it with water at high pressure, removing the grease, scale and roots that a cable leaves behind. It's the usual next step when a line clogs again and again. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Greenbelt.
What happens when you call
The number on this page connects you with an independent plumber who works in Greenbelt. Expect a few questions: which drains are slow, whether anything is backing up into a floor drain or tub, whether the line has been cleared before, and whether you're in a detached house, a townhouse or a cooperative unit. At the house, the plumber finds a cleanout, often runs a camera to see what's in the pipe, then feeds the jetter hose in with a nozzle sized for the line. A final camera pass or flow test confirms the line is clear.
What affects the cost
- Cleanout access, and whether one has to be opened up or a toilet pulled
- Length of the line and any shared runs in attached housing
- The blockage: soft grease, heavy scale or a root mass
- A camera inspection before or after the cleaning
- Scheduling outside normal hours
Greenbelt's lines and sewer service
Greenbelt was planned under the New Deal and incorporated in 1937, and Old Greenbelt is now a National Historic Landmark District. The city's median home dates to 1976, so drain lines range from the original 1930s construction to later decades, and older iron and clay pipe can carry heavy scale and root growth. The City of Greenbelt directs residents to WSSC Water for water and sewer emergencies; WSSC's Emergency Services Center is 301-206-4002. Call there first if a street manhole overflows or several homes back up at once.
If a camera turns up a broken section, the repair is a different job from cleaning. WSSC Water says water and sewer service line repairs and replacements must be done by a plumber holding a WSSC license, under a WSSC permit. Greenbelt adds its own step: any project that needs a Prince George's County building permit must also be permitted by the City (City permits, 301-345-5417).
Quick checklist before the plumber arrives
- Stop running water and hold off on laundry
- Clear space around the basement cleanout or the lowest floor drain
- Note which fixture backed up first
- Have any past cleaning or camera notes handy
- In a cooperative or attached home, check whether the line is yours or shared
Hydro Jetting questions in Greenbelt
Should a camera go down the line before it gets jetted?
Is a permit needed for hydro jetting?
What happens if the house has no cleanout a plumber can reach?
Who do I call first when sewage comes up in the house?
More plumbing services in Greenbelt
Hydro Jetting nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: