Yes — with a camera inspection first to confirm the pipe can handle it.
The honest answer depends on what ‘old pipes’ means in your case. Pipe material, condition, and age all factor in. The camera inspection before jetting is specifically designed to identify pipes that are too compromised to jet safely — so we make this determination before the jetter runs, not after.
Cast iron pipes (pre-1970s)
Cast iron is durable and handles jetting well if it is structurally intact. Many cast iron pipes installed 50+ years ago are still in good condition. The concern with cast iron is corrosion: hydrogen sulfide in sewers creates sulfuric acid that eats into the interior of cast iron pipe walls over time. On camera, we can see the degree of corrosion, pitting, and wall thickness. If the cast iron looks solid, we jet at appropriate pressure. If it shows significant deterioration, we tell you the pipe may be at end of life before we proceed.
Clay tile pipes (pre-1960s)
Clay tile is the most common pipe material in Atlanta-area homes built before 1960. It is brittle and joints are gasketed rather than cemented, making it vulnerable to root intrusion and joint separation. Clay tile pipes in good condition can be jetted, typically at lower pressure settings. Clay that has already been cracked by roots or shifted by ground movement needs to be assessed carefully — jetting a severely compromised clay line can dislodge material that was holding a partial collapse together.
Orangeburg pipe (1940s–1970s)
Orangeburg is a paper-based pipe material that was widely used from the 1940s to the early 1970s. It deteriorates predictably with age and moisture exposure — becoming soft, deformed, and eventually collapsing. If your home was built between 1945 and 1972 and has never had a camera inspection, checking for Orangeburg is important. We do not jet Orangeburg that is showing significant deterioration. It needs to be replaced.
PVC and ABS (1980s to present)
Modern plastic pipe materials handle hydro jetting well. PVC and ABS are smooth-walled, corrosion-resistant, and durable at standard residential jetting pressures. These pipes are the easiest to jet and produce the cleanest results.
The bottom line
Pipe age alone does not determine whether jetting is safe. Pipe condition does. A 60-year-old cast iron pipe in good structural condition can be jetted; a 20-year-old PVC pipe with a visible crack cannot. The camera inspection tells us which situation we are in. If we would not jet a pipe safely, we tell you before we start.
Ready to get clear pipes? Call Sunburst Environmental at 678-799-4389 — same-day response across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Or request a free estimate online.