Hydro Jetting in Annapolis, MD

The Problem

A homeowner in Annapolis, MD (21403) had been dealing with a slow kitchen drain for over a year. They had used chemical drain cleaners repeatedly — the drain would improve briefly and then slow again within weeks.

The homeowner had also had the drain snaked twice by another plumber. Each time, the snake would clear the drain temporarily, but the problem always returned. They were frustrated and looking for a permanent solution.

The Diagnosis

We performed a camera inspection before any cleaning. The camera revealed the problem immediately: the 2-inch kitchen drain line had a thick coating of hardened grease and soap scum along the entire 25-foot run from the kitchen to the stack.

Chemical drain cleaners had been dissolving the surface of the grease temporarily, but the coating on the pipe walls remained. Snaking had punched through the grease each time, but the grease coating was never removed.

The effective diameter of the pipe had been reduced from 2 inches to approximately 1.2 inches — a 64% reduction in flow capacity. This explained why the drain was slow even when not fully blocked.

The Solution

We hydro jetted the kitchen drain line at 2,500 PSI using a spinning nozzle designed for grease removal in smaller diameter pipes. The process took approximately 45 minutes to thoroughly clean the 25-foot run.

A post-jetting camera inspection confirmed the pipe walls were clean — the full 2-inch diameter was restored. The pipe walls were visibly clean with no grease coating remaining.

We also recommended installing a mesh drain screen to capture food particles before they enter the drain, and advised against using chemical drain cleaners, which can damage pipe joints over time.

The Outcome

The kitchen drain has been flowing freely for 14 months since the hydro jetting. The homeowner reports it drains faster than it ever has — even before the problem started. No chemical drain cleaners have been needed.

Key Takeaways

• Chemical drain cleaners treat symptoms, not the root cause of grease buildup
• Snaking punches through grease but does not remove it from pipe walls
• Hydro jetting is the only method that fully removes grease coating from pipe walls
• Camera inspection before cleaning reveals the true condition of the pipe
• A mesh drain screen prevents food particles from entering the drain