A sewer jetting machine is a pump, a power source, a hose reel and a set of nozzles, built in classes that run from pressure-washer kits and small electric drain jetters to cart, trailer and truck-mounted rigs. The classes differ mostly in flow, hose size and length, water supply and heating. Purchase price climbs steeply with flow, from tens of dollars for a kit to hundreds of thousands for a combination truck.
- Machine class is set mostly by flow: small units move a few gpm, trailers move the teens, trucks move tens of gpm.
- Professional jetters use plunger pumps built for sustained high-pressure duty; consumer pressure washers are built for intermittent washing.
- Hose inside diameter and length are matched to the pump and the pipe; long, thin hose loses pressure fast.
- Hot water, pulsation, footage counters and instant-stop controls separate better rigs from basic ones.
- Buying only makes sense with regular use; for one home, hiring or renting is usually cheaper and safer.
01 /What is a sewer jetting machine?
A sewer jetting machine is a water pump built to push a steady, high-pressure flow down a long flexible hose to a cleaning nozzle. Every size shares the same layout: a power source (an electric motor, a gas or diesel engine, or a truck's drivetrain), a positive-displacement pump, a water supply, a hose on a reel, controls, and a kit of nozzles. What changes between a small electric unit and a municipal truck is how much water the pump moves, how long a hose it can drive, and what extras it carries.
The parts and how they work together are introduced in what is hydro jetting. This guide looks at the machines themselves: the classes, the specifications that matter, the hose, and what each class costs to own.
02 /What are the main types of jetting machines?
Jetting machines fall into six broad classes, and flow is the clearest dividing line between them. The ratings below are indicative ranges drawn from typical equipment in each class; individual models vary widely, and manufacturer specifications always take precedence.
| Class | Power | Typical rating | Hose | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure-washer jetter kit | Consumer pressure washer | About 1,500–3,000 psi at 1–3 gpm | Thin hose, often 15–30 m | Short 1.5–2 inch branch lines |
| Small electric drain jetter | Plug-in motor | Often 1,500–3,000 psi at low single-digit gpm | Small-diameter hose on a reel | Kitchen, bathroom and laundry branches |
| Cart or portable gas jetter | Small gas engine | Around 3,000–4,000 psi at roughly 4–8 gpm | About 1/4–3/8 inch hose | Branches, stacks and some 3–4 inch lines |
| Trailer jetter | Gas or diesel engine | Often 3,000–4,000 psi at roughly 8–18 gpm or more | About 3/8–1/2 inch hose, commonly 60–150 m | Residential building sewers and laterals; light commercial |
| Truck-mounted jetter | Truck or dedicated engine | Often 2,000–3,000 psi at many tens of gpm | About 1/2–1 inch hose on long reels | Commercial lines and municipal mains |
| Combination (jet-vac) truck | Truck systems | High-flow jetter plus a vacuum system | Large hose plus a vacuum boom | Mains, catch basins, wet wells and interceptors |
The Jetter Power Calculator sorts machines by flow the same way: under 3 gpm reads as pressure-washer class, 3 to 8 as small electric or cart, above 8 and up to 20 as trailer, and over 20 as truck or combination unit. Enter a machine's rated psi and gpm to see its class, its hydraulic horsepower and the line sizes it is usually paired with. The largest rigs are described in commercial and municipal jetting.
03 /Which specifications matter when comparing machines?
Flow, pressure and the hose matter most, followed by the controls and the extras. A specification sheet that leads with psi and tucks gpm into the small print is worth reading twice.
| Specification | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Rated pressure (psi) | Maximum pump pressure | Sets jet velocity; not a measure of cleaning ability on its own |
| Rated flow (gpm) | Water delivered per minute | Sets thrust and debris carrying; the main factor in what pipe sizes a machine can clean |
| Hydraulic horsepower | psi × gpm ÷ 1,714 | A fairer single figure for comparing machines |
| Pump type | Plunger pump or lighter-duty design | Plunger pumps are built for long runs at rated pressure |
| Hose size and reel capacity | Inside diameter and length carried | Longer, thinner hose loses more pressure to friction |
| Water supply | Onboard tank size or inlet requirement | A tank frees the rig from house supply limits and simplifies backflow protection |
| Controls | Foot pedal, dead-man valve or remote | Instant stop is a safety feature, not a convenience |
| Heat | Hot-water module | Speeds grease work and is needed for thawing ice |
| Pulsation | Hose vibration feature | Helps hose travel through bends and long runs |
Two machines with the same pressure rating can clean very differently because of flow. The full physics, including why flow does most of the carrying and how hose friction eats pressure, is in pressure vs flow.
04 /How are jetter hoses sized, and when are they retired?
Jetter hose is sized so the pump's flow reaches the nozzle without losing too much pressure along the way, and so the hose can physically travel through the pipe being cleaned. Small hose is flexible enough for 1.5- and 2-inch lines with tight fittings, but it loses pressure quickly and has to be kept short. Larger hose carries more flow with less loss, but it is stiffer and needs bigger pipe. That trade-off is why many contractors carry two or three reels.
| Hose inside diameter | Common use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| About 1/8 inch | Small branch drains | Very flexible; high friction loss; short runs only |
| About 1/4 inch | Branches and small stacks | Common on small electric and cart units |
| About 3/8 inch | 3–6 inch building drains and laterals | A common residential trailer size |
| About 1/2 inch | Larger laterals and small commercial lines | Carries more flow with less loss |
| 3/4 to 1 inch | Municipal mains | Truck and combination unit reels |
Hose is a consumable, and a failing hose is dangerous. Retire it when any of these appear:
- Exposed or broken reinforcement showing through a worn cover.
- Bulges, blisters or flattened sections that do not recover their shape.
- Permanent creases from kinks, which weaken the reinforcement at that point.
- Damaged or weeping fittings, especially at the nozzle end, close to the operator's hands.
- Worn-off end markers; the marked section near the nozzle is a safety feature and should be restored.
05 /What does a sewer jetting machine cost?
Purchase prices climb steeply with flow and features. The ranges below are rough 2026 planning estimates for new equipment in Canadian dollars, given only to show the scale of each class. Brand, specification, heating, trailer and tank size, and dealer support all move the price.
| Class | Rough price scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-washer jetter kit (hose and nozzles only) | About $30–$250 | Needs a pressure washer you already own |
| Small electric drain jetter | Low thousands, up to around $10,000 | Wide spread between light-duty and contractor-grade units |
| Cart or portable gas jetter | About $5,000–$20,000 | Engine, pump quality and reel drive the price |
| Trailer jetter | Tens of thousands of dollars; hot-water and high-flow units higher | Tank, heater and reel options add substantially |
| Truck-mounted jetter or combination truck | Hundreds of thousands of dollars | Commercial and municipal fleet equipment |
Running costs matter as much as the purchase: fuel, pump maintenance, replacement nozzles and hose, winter storage or heating, and the trailer or truck itself. For a homeowner with one troublesome line, those numbers usually make hiring a contractor or renting the sensible choice. Renting is covered in how to use a drain jetter, and contractor pricing in hydro jetting cost.
06 /Should you buy, rent or hire?
| Situation | Usual best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One-off clog in a building sewer | Hire a contractor | Right-sized rig, camera and experience |
| Occasional grease in a kitchen branch, experienced DIYer | Rent a small unit, or hire | Small line and soft material |
| Property manager with several buildings | Maintenance contract, or a small owned unit for branches only | Volume justifies scheduled service |
| Restaurant with frequent kitchen line build-up | Scheduled contractor service | Hot water and service records matter |
| Plumbing or drain business | Buy the class that matches most jobs | Regular use pays for the machine |
Whichever route you choose, the machine has to match the line. A small unit cannot clean a 4-inch lateral well, and a trailer rig is overkill for a bathroom sink. When hiring, ask what rig and hose the contractor will bring, and check it against your line size. The quote request form lets you describe the line so contractors arrive with the right equipment.
FAQQuestions people ask
How much is a drain jetter?
As rough 2026 planning estimates, pressure-washer jetter kits cost tens to a couple of hundred dollars, small electric drain jetters start in the low thousands, and trailer jetters cost tens of thousands. Prices vary widely by specification.
What is a sewer jetting machine?
A pump, power source, hose reel and nozzle kit that sends high-pressure water down a hose to clean drain and sewer pipe. Classes range from small electric units to truck-mounted rigs.
What size hose does a sewer jetter use?
It depends on the pipe. Small branches use about 1/8 to 1/4 inch hose, residential laterals commonly 3/8 inch, and municipal mains 1/2 to 1 inch.
Is a pressure washer the same as a jetter?
No. A pressure washer can drive a small jetter kit, but professional jetters deliver far more flow and are built for sustained jetting duty.
Is it worth buying a sewer jetter for home use?
Rarely. For one home, hiring a contractor, or renting for a small line, is usually cheaper and safer than owning and maintaining a machine.
What is a triplex pump?
A pump with three plungers working in sequence to deliver smooth, sustained high-pressure flow. It is the usual pump type on professional jetters.
NETWORKGo deeper across the HAUSE Sewer network
Renting vs buying a drain auger, and when to hire it out instead
Renting vs buying a drain auger in Canada: which tools are worth owning, what to check on a rental machine, planning costs and when to hire a drain cleaner.
PipeCleaning.caWashing machine drain pipe: where it is, what size it is and how to clean it
Washing machine drain pipe guide: where the standpipe or laundry tub drain is, what size it should be, why it overflows, and how to clean out lint and scum.
SewerCleaners.caSewer cleaning equipment explained: machines, jetters, cameras and trucks
Sewer cleaning equipment explained: drum and sectional machines, cable heads, jetters and hose, cameras, combination trucks, and what you can rent.