Properly done, drain jetting will not damage pipes in good condition — even old ones.
The key phrase is ‘in good condition.’ That’s exactly why we camera inspect before every jet. If a pipe is already deteriorated — hairline cracks, corrosion eating through the wall, sections near collapse — jetting that pipe can accelerate the damage. We need to see what we are dealing with first.
PVC and ABS pipes (most modern installs) handle jetting well. Cast iron pipes, common in homes built before the 1980s, can also be jetted safely if they are structurally intact. Clay tile pipes — the oldest type, still common in pre-1960s homes in the Atlanta area — are more fragile and require lower pressure and more careful technique.
If the camera inspection reveals a pipe that is too compromised to jet safely, we will tell you straight — before we run the jetter, not after. We’d rather lose the job than damage your pipe.
If you have an older home and aren’t sure what’s in your ground, a camera inspection is the right first step. Call 678-799-4389.