Picking The Right Jetter

By Author: Nathan Crisp
Total Articles: 1
Comment this article

Question:

I am thinking about buying a water-jetter for residential use, and I am looking for recommendations. What psi? What gpm? What size hose? I am thinking an electric sewer jetter, not gasoline. What about tree roots?

Answer:

Your first-time jetter should be determined by the majority of the calls on which you plan to use it. An electric jetter will help you on small lines such as sinks and shower drains, whereas a gasoline jetter will work on any drain. It is simple math: It takes horsepower to produce a given flow at a given pressure.

Electric jetters sold to plumbers are limited to about 2 gpm at 1,700 psi. This is not enough power to break through hard buildup clogs or roots. I have been jetting since 1989 and have used jetters starting at 10 gpm/150 psi, 1.8 gpm/2,000 psi, 25 gpm/2,000 psi, 28 gpm/2,500 psi, 4 gpm/4,000 psi, 5.6 gpm/4,000 psi, 8.6 gpm/4,000 psi, 16 gpm/ 4,000 psi, 5 gpm/5000 psi, and 5.5 gpm/10,000 psi.

The reason for all of this is that it takes flow to move mass and it takes psi to cut mass. Simple sludge can be cleared with low gpm and psi. Hard clogs can be removed ...
... with low gpm and high psi. Heavy debris requires high gpm and lower psi, and roots require medium gpm with 3,500 to 4,000 psi and the correct jetter head.

The answer to roots is that you need at least 4 gpm/4,000 psi or 5.5 gpm/3,500 psi with the proper head to clean 4-inch sewers. The math is simple to make sure you have the correct equipment:

>> Gasoline: psi x gpm divided by 1,100.

>> Diesel: psi x gpm divided by 1,250.

>> Electric: psi x gpm divided by 1,460.

>> These calculations will give you the horsepower required to run a pump at the gpm and psi you require.

If you are interested to know something more on Jetter and other details,you are welcome to the Sewer Cleaning site.