10 signs your drain or sewer line needs hydro jetting.
1. Multiple slow drains throughout the house
A single slow drain is usually a localized fixture issue. When several drains in different areas of the house run slowly at the same time, that points to the main sewer line — and a buildup or blockage affecting the whole system.
2. The same drain keeps clogging after snaking
If you have had the same drain snaked twice in the past year and the clog comes back, snaking is not addressing the underlying buildup. The snake creates a temporary hole through the thickest spot; jetting removes the coating from the pipe wall.
3. Toilets gurgling when other fixtures drain
Gurgling is air being displaced through the water in the trap — which happens when a partial blockage in a shared line creates a vacuum. Toilets gurgling when the washing machine drains, or when another toilet flushes, is a main line warning sign.
4. Sewage smell inside the house
A persistent sewage smell — particularly in lower floors, basement, or crawl space — can indicate a backed-up line, a dried trap, or (in more serious cases) a pipe failure that is allowing gas into the building.
5. Sewage backing up through floor drains or showers
Sewage coming up through the lowest drains in the house is a main line emergency. The line cannot pass waste forward, so it is coming back. Stop using water immediately and call for service.
6. A plumber specifically told you to get jetting
Plumbers who snake lines regularly know when a line needs more than snaking can provide. If they have recommended jetting, there is a specific reason — take it seriously.
7. Water draining very slowly from all bathroom fixtures
If the toilet, shower, and sink in a bathroom all drain slowly, that bathroom’s drain stack likely has significant buildup. A camera inspection will show where and how much.
8. You have a commercial kitchen with recurring drain issues
Restaurant and commercial kitchen drain lines accumulate grease fast. Recurring slow drains or any backup during service hours is a signal the line needs jetting — and likely a maintenance schedule.
9. Your home is older and the drains have never been inspected
Pre-1980s homes with original plumbing often have decades of buildup, scale, or root intrusion that has never been addressed. A camera inspection shows you exactly what is in the line.
10. You are buying a home and the sewer line was not inspected
Standard home inspections do not include sewer lines. A camera inspection before closing is one of the highest-ROI steps a buyer can take — and if the line needs jetting, that is negotiating leverage before you own the problem.
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.