Drain cleaning often involves the use of different sewer cleaning machines. One of these is a hydro jetter, which uses high-pressure water to clear blockages and clean pipes. However, a more water-efficient alternative has emerged in the form of a flexible shaft. Today, we’ll explore the biggest advantages of using a flexible drain cleaning shaft over a hydro jetter.
We don’t recommend replacing your hydro jetter with a flexible shaft; instead, think of it as a tool that complements your jetter and adds value to your plumbing equipment. It’s beneficial to have a flexible shaft at hand for every jetting setup.
1. Water Conservation: The primary advantage of using a flexible shaft is the significant reduction in water consumption. This is especially beneficial in areas facing water scarcity concerns, as it allows for effective sewer cleaning without straining water resources. Using a flexible shaft also reduces the risk of flooding apartments due to minimal water usage in the cleaning process. Studies show that using a flexible shaft can save up to 97% of the water used by a traditional hydro jetting machine.
2. Optimal results: Descaling pipes and removing tuberculation, limescale, urine scale, or struvite with a jetting machine can result in calcification breaking up into large chunks. These chunks may accumulate further down the line, causing blockages that could lead to flooding or other damage. However, this is not the case when using a flexible shaft and drain cleaning chains. Our circular chains are designed specifically for descaling tasks. They work on the entire inner circumference of the pipes, leaving them clean and deposit free.
The consensus among sewer cleaning tradesmen is that flexible shafts and chains can remove root intrusions and scale faster than a jetting machine, making a flexible shaft a superior drain cleaning tool.
Feedback from clients indicates that after getting used to a flexible shaft and drain cleaning chains, customers tend to use the shaft more than the jetting machine. Some repeat customers have even mentioned leaving their hydro jetter behind and only fetching it if necessary.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: By minimizing water usage, flexible shaft sewer cleaning leads to cost savings in water bills. Additionally, the equipment required for this method is generally more affordable than complex hydro jetting sewer cleaning machines, making it an economically viable option for sewer cleaning professionals. A hydro jetter requires a lot of maintenance and a pump failure can be quite expensive to repair whereas a flexible shaft is much cheaper to maintain.
4. Lightweight and compact: A jetting machine requires specialized parking in areas with limited vehicle access, while a flexible shaft can be carried in an elevator or up a ladder due to its lightweight and compact design. Additionally, a jetting machine doesn’t allow you to work on a common stack from the top down, as you can’t carry it to the roof. Since no diesel is required to run a flexible shaft, you can work in confined spaces with less emphasis on ventilation.
These are just some of the benefits of working with a flexible shaft. If you’d like to learn more about how these shafts and chains work, please watch this beginner’s guide video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEt-CUgm6vs&t
A flexible shaft offers a water-efficient alternative to traditional hydro jetters. Combined with a drill, a flexible drain cleaning shaft allows for effective blockage removal and pipe cleaning with minimal water consumption. This method not only provides financial and environmental benefits but also ensures the longevity of the sewer system. As water scarcity becomes a growing concern, adopting water-efficient practices like flexible shaft sewer cleaning is crucial for sustainable sewer maintenance and pipe rehabilitation.