Owner-operated drain & sewer service in Ballard, Seattle
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Phones 8 AM – 8 PM daily · Online booking 24/7
5608 17th Ave NW, Suite 2025, Seattle, WA 98107 · WA #DRAINDA756MA

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Hydro Jetting in Seattle

When grease, scale or root hair keeps closing the same line, cutting another hole through it is not the fix. We camera the pipe, then scour the wall clean with 4,000 PSI water and camera it again so you see the difference.

Call (206) 590-1455 Book online, any hour

Owner answers 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days · Book online 24/7

Shane Caldwell, owner of The Drain Authority, setting up the 9 GPM, 4,000 PSI hydro jetter in the back of his van
Field photo · Setting up the 4,000 PSI jetter

The short answer

Hydro jetting cleans a drain or sewer line with high-pressure water through a nozzle that scours grease, scale, sludge and root hair off the pipe wall, instead of punching a hole through the blockage. Ours runs at 4,000 PSI, starts with a camera pass so older pipes are never jetted blind, and costs $500–$700 flat in Seattle.

$500–$700

Flat price, camera included

4,000 PSI

Van-mounted jetter, 9 GPM

$0 trip fee

Same rate evenings & weekends

5.0

Google rating from 100+ reviews

What hydro jetting includes, and what it costs

Jetting is the deep clean for a line that keeps closing. The camera before and after is what makes it safe and what proves it worked.

We camera the line to confirm the pipe can take the pressure, jet it from the access point that reaches the whole run, then camera it again so you see the wall clean and the full diameter open.

If the first camera pass shows a broken section, a deep belly or rotted cast iron, we will not jet blind through it. You get the footage and a straight answer instead, and gentler cleaning or cast iron descaling where that fits better.

Price
$500–$700 flat, camera included
Equipment
4,000 PSI, 9 GPM jetter on the van
Best for
Grease, scale, sludge and fine root hair on the pipe wall
Not for
A broken or collapsed pipe; that is a repair
Permit
None needed for routine side sewer cleaning, per SPU
Hours
Phones 8 AM to 8 PM daily; online booking any hour

When jetting beats a cable

A cable cuts a path. A jetter cleans the pipe. Here is when the difference matters.

Utility worker running a high-pressure jetting hose into a storm drain from a jet-vac trailer
Jetting a storm drain with a high-pressure hose.

  1. 01

    Grease that comes back in months

    Seattle Public Utilities says many cooking oils harden in cooler pipes and cause blockages. A cable opens a hole through that coating; jetting removes it.

    Source: SPU, Fats, Oils, and Grease

  2. 02

    Root hair a cable leaves behind

    SPU says roots are a common problem in side sewers, especially older concrete and clay pipe without watertight joints. Jetting flushes the fine root hair that catches debris after cutting.

    Source: SPU, Side Sewer Defects & Issues

  3. 03

    Restaurant and building lines

    SPU says businesses must keep grease out of the sewer, and grease builds up in kitchen lines between interceptor cleanings. Jetting on a schedule keeps those lines at full diameter.

    Source: SPU, Commercial Kitchens

  4. 04

    Before a camera inspection or relining

    A clean wall shows the real condition of the pipe on camera, and SPU’s guide notes no-dig relining runs about $100–$170 per foot, so knowing which feet need it matters.

    Source: SPU, Taking Care of Your Sewer Pipe

Is jetting right for your line?

Jetting is not the answer to every clog. This is how we decide between it and a cable.

What you notice Likely cause Our recommendation Seattle price
First clog in years, solid blockage Likely causeWipes, a root ball or debris Our recommendationCable first; jet only if the wall is coated Seattle price$200–$600
Same kitchen line every few months Likely causeGrease coating the pipe wall Our recommendationCamera, then hydro jetting Seattle price$500–$700
Roots cut last year, slow again Likely causeRoot hair regrowing at joints Our recommendationCable for the mass, jet for the hair Seattle price$500–$700
Old cast iron running slow Likely causeRust and scale on the wall Our recommendationCamera; descaling if jetting is not enough Seattle priceFrom $800
Restaurant or apartment grease line Likely causeGrease building between cleanings Our recommendationJetting on a maintenance schedule Seattle priceFlat quote

Flat Seattle prices for standard service, no trip fee, same rate evenings and weekends.

Jetting, up close

The nozzle, the hose and the camera that comes before them, starting with our own jetter.

Camera first, every time

Pressure that cleans a sound pipe can open a cracked joint. We look before we jet.

The nozzle matched to the job

Packed grease, wall buildup and root hair at joints each clean best with a different head.

Camera after, for proof

You see the wall clean and the full diameter open, on the same recording.

Hydro jetter nozzle held up at the back of the service van
Our jetter nozzle, before a job
Utility worker guiding a large hose down into an open manhole
A hose going down an open manhole.
Water jetting service truck parked at a building entrance with traffic cones set out
A water-jetting truck set up with cones at a building.
Pipe inspection camera crawler with twin lights resting on the ground
A crawler camera: the pipe gets seen before it gets jetted.

Rooter cable or hydro jetting?

Both are on the truck. Here is how they compare, so you only pay for the one the line needs.

What to check Rooter cable Hydro jetting
Best for Roots, wipes, hair and solid clogs Grease, scale, sludge and root hair on the pipe wall
How it clears Cuts a path and pulls debris back Scours the full pipe wall with 4,000 PSI water
How long it lasts Until the buildup or roots return Longer, because the coating itself is removed
Older or fragile pipe Safe with the right head and care Camera first, every time
Seattle price $200–$600 flat $500–$700 flat

How a hydro jetting visit works

One visit, camera to camera. Most residential lines take a few hours.

  1. 3–5 min

    The call

    How often the line clogs, what came out last time, and where the cleanout is.

  2. ~20 min

    Camera first

    We confirm the pipe can take the pressure and find what is coating it.

  3. ~10 min

    Flat price

    You see the footage and approve one price before jetting starts.

  4. 1–2 hrs

    Jet the line

    From the access point that reaches the whole run, with the right nozzle.

  5. ~20 min

    Camera after

    Proof on video: clean wall, full diameter, and a plan for the next one.

Same line clogging again?

Book a slot online any hour, or call and the owner answers 8 AM to 8 PM. Camera included, same flat price evenings and weekends.

Book hydro jetting

Want to talk it through? Call (206) 590-1455

How much does hydro jetting cost in Seattle?

A flat price with the camera built in, before and after.

Our flat price

$500–$700

Residential line, camera before and after

  • Camera pass before jetting
  • 4,000 PSI, 9 GPM jetter
  • Camera pass after, on video
  • Same price evenings and weekends

Hydro jetting costs $500 to $700 in Seattle with The Drain Authority, flat, with the camera included. We look at the line first to confirm it can take the pressure, jet it at 4,000 PSI, then camera it again so you see the wall clean on the recording.

Seattle average
Angi’s 2026 Seattle data puts hydro jetting at $389–$667 for most homeowners, averaging $528. Angi: Seattle hydro jetting cost
City benchmark
Seattle Public Utilities’ homeowner guide says side sewer cleaning generally costs less than $1,500. SPU homeowner guide (PDF)
Never added
A trip fee, an hourly meter, or an evening or weekend surcharge
If the pipe has failed
We do not jet blind through it. You get the footage and a straight answer instead.

Hydro jetting and related services

Flat Seattle prices for the work around a jetting job.

Seattle facts behind a jetting decision

Grease rules, root guidance and who owns the pipe you are cleaning.

  • You own the side sewer to the main

    Seattle Public Utilities: the owner’s side sewer runs to the public main, and removing roots up to and within the connection is the owner’s job. SPU: Side Sewer Defects & Issues

  • Grease belongs in the trash, not the line

    SPU says leftover oil and grease causes sewage backups, expensive plumbing repairs and pollution in Puget Sound. SPU: Fats, Oils, and Grease

  • Restaurants: interceptors and schedules

    Businesses with commercial kitchens need a grease interceptor, cleaned when it is 25 percent full, and cannot use enzymes or bio-additives in it. SPU: Commercial kitchens

  • No permit for routine cleaning

    SPU’s guide says routine side sewer cleaning needs no City permit. SPU homeowner guide (PDF)

Hydro jetting near you

Same flat prices across Seattle, the north end and the Eastside. See all service areas.

Hydro jetting FAQ

Safety, cost, roots and how often. More in the Seattle drain & sewer FAQ, or read hydro jetting vs. snaking.

Still have a question?

Shane answers the phone himself, 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.

Call (206) 590-1455 Send a question

What is hydro jetting?

Hydro jetting cleans a drain or sewer line with high-pressure water fed through a hose and nozzle. Rear-facing jets pull the nozzle up the pipe while scouring grease, scale, sludge and root hair off the wall, and the debris flushes downstream.

How much does hydro jetting cost in Seattle?

Ours is $500–$700, flat, including a camera pass first. There is no trip fee and no evening or weekend surcharge. Seattle Public Utilities’ homeowner guide says side sewer cleaning generally costs less than $1,500.

Is hydro jetting safe for older pipes?

For a sound pipe, yes. Pressure can open a cracked clay joint or push through rotted cast iron, so we camera the line before jetting, and a pipe that has failed is cleaned gently or referred for repair instead.

Is hydro jetting better than snaking?

For grease, scale and root hair coating the pipe wall, yes, because jetting removes the coating instead of punching a hole through it. For a solid clog like wipes or a root ball, a cable is often the faster first step, and we sometimes do both.

How often should a line be hydro jetted?

It depends on what is building up. A restaurant grease line may need it on a schedule; a house with one grease clog may never need it again. Seattle Public Utilities recommends inspecting side sewers every 2 to 3 years where large trees grow nearby, and a camera shows how fast a line is closing.

Will hydro jetting remove tree roots?

It cuts and flushes the fine roots and root hair that a cable leaves behind. Large woody roots are cut with a cable first. Neither seals the joint the roots came through, so roots usually return on a schedule a camera can track.

Does hydro jetting need a permit in Seattle?

No. Seattle Public Utilities’ homeowner guide says no City permit is required for routine cleaning of a side sewer, and jetting is cleaning.

Sources and Seattle references

Rules and outside cost ranges on this page come from these public sources. Our prices and equipment are current, reviewed October 2026.

Same line keeps clogging? Send us its history.

How often it clogs and what came out last time tells us whether jetting is the answer before we bring the jetter.

  • How often it clogs
  • What came out last time
  • Kitchen, bath or main line
  • Any prior camera footage
Book online Call (206) 590-1455

The Drain Authority

5608 17th Ave NW, Suite 2025
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone
(206) 590-1455
Email
info@drainauthority.pro
Hours
Daily, 8 AM to 8 PM
Booking
Online, 24/7
License
WA contractor #DRAINDA756MA
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