High-pressure water pumped into the hose is forced out through the nozzle. With pressures as high as 35,000 psi, the energy from the water is effective in clearing blockages. Unlike most other drain cleaners, hydro-jetting cleaners can be used on long drain pipes, limited only by the length of the hosepipe. They also are effective on most common blockages, whether organic or inorganic
In addition to being able to clear blockages, these cleaners can effectively remove most contaminants, including grease and oils, from the interior of a pipe. This feature makes them effective preventive maintenance tools. Drain lines routinely exposed to potentially clogging contaminants can be hydro-jetted regularly, eliminating the conditions within the pipe that tend to lead to clogs.
One version of the hydro-jetting cleaner, known as the pulse jetter, operates similarly but uses pressure pulses to break up the blockages in the pipe.