Unblocking a Drain: Can You Use a Pressure Washer?

Have you ever stood in your garden holding one in your hand and asked yourself, can I use a pressure washer to unblock a drain? It’s tempting, after all, if it can strip years of stains and grime from your driveway, what’s a few leaves in a blocked drain, right?

Theoretically yes, it can work but you might also end up damaging and destroying your pipes. While they look similar, the tools professionals like Watermains & Drains use to unblock drains are not standard pressure washers, they are specialised equipment for a process called water jetting.

So, before you pull the trigger to unblock a drain with a pressure washer and potentially damage your pipes, read to the end of this article and understand why using a pressure washer to unblock drains isn’t necessarily the best solution.

Can You Unblock Drains with a Pressure Washer?

Yes, in most cases you can unblock drains with a pressure washer. While it seems logical, the problem with that is the amount of pressure your driveway can withstand is much more than what your drainage system was built to handle.

Domestic drainage pipes weren’t designed to withstand the concentrated force of a standard pressure washer. That’s why professional water jetting equipment were specifically engineered with specialised nozzles and controlled pressure settings to safely and effectively clean drains.

If you use a standard pressure washer on your clogged drains or pipes, you risk damaging pipe joints, creating cracks in older pipework, or even causing complete pipe collapse in severe cases. That pressure from the concentrated blast of water has to go somewhere – and without a way forward through the blockage, it might go through weak points in your drainage system instead.

How to Unclog a Drain with a Pressure Washer

If you’re still considering using a pressure washer despite the risks, here’s how to unblock a drain with a pressure washer.

Preparation and Assessment

First, identify your drain’s access point and condition. Your drainage system will probably have multiple bends, joints, and be made of varying materials. Start by checking if your drain has any visible cracks or signs of wear, each one of these points can potentially fail during your wash.

The Process and Risks

Once you’ve gathered enough information, get your pressure washer. Without professional drain camera equipment, you’re working blind. You won’t know exactly:

• What’s causing the blockage
• Where exactly the blockage is located
• The condition of your pipes beyond what you can see
• Whether you’re making the situation worse

So here’s what you can do to minimise the risk and potential damage to your home.

• Start with the lowest pressure setting possible
• Keep the nozzle inside the drain opening
• Use pulsing bursts rather than continuous pressure
• Stop immediately if you notice water backing up or emerging from unexpected places
• Have someone watch other drain outlets around your property for unexpected water flow

Finally, in your attempt to unblock a drain with a pressure washer, if you encounter any resistance or unusual reactions, stop immediately and look for signs of damage around drain covers then inspect for water emerging from unexpected places.

While DIY solutions can be tempting, professional drain unblocking in Manchester services exist for good reason. These experts use specialised equipment and cameras that operate at carefully controlled pressures, combined with specially designed nozzles that can navigate pipe bends and tackle blockages effectively without risking damage and expensive repairs to your drainage system in the future.

For safe, effective, and professional drain unblocking services, contact Watermains & Drains, our drainage specialists can tackle your blockage without putting your pipes at risk.