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A hydro jetter is a significant investment for any plumbing professional. Hydro jets pack a considerable punch, and they help you get all manner of difficult obstructions out of a clogged line. When no other tool has been able to get the job done, this is one of your best options. As such, you will want to make sure that such a drain cleaning tool is given the utmost care and maintenance on a regular basis. Spartan Tool is here to provide you with a number of tips on hydro jetter maintenance and troubleshooting to help you keep your machine running at its full capacity.
Daily Hydro Jetter Maintenance
There are a variety of different types of hydro jetter maintenance that should be performed on a regular basis. Some of them every time you intend to use it, just to make sure that everything will be operating in a safe, efficient, and optimal manner. Some of them might seem like a bit much for every time you do a sewer and drain cleaning job with your hydro jetter, but nothing could be further from the truth. These daily hydro jet maintenance tips can help you and your machine do the best work possible for a long time to come, without having to do anywhere near as many major repairs or replacements.
Check Engine Oil
Like with many types of heavy machinery, such as cars, boats, construction equipment, etc. it is important that you frequently check your hydrojet drain cleaner’s oil. You will want to be certain that everything currently matches all of your specific water jetter’s manual’s stated specifications so that everything keeps moving as it should.
Check High-Pressure Pump Oil
One thing that needs to be done when you are checking the oil in your sewer jetter is to check the level. Most high pressure pumps will come equipped with a dip stick or sight gauge. You will want to check your sewer drain cleaner’s manual to know the exact level and coloration you should be looking for.
Check & Clean Water Filters
An important thing to do before using your hydro jetter each and every time is to ensure that the filter systems are completely cleaned out. If you are filling your tanks up from a hydrant, you will want to flush it first to remove any sediment and debris first. Most hydrojet drain cleaning machines will have a dual filtration system equipped that consists of a sock filter for its water tank as well as an inline micron filter set before its pump.
Check for Any Leaks
One of the most vital things you should do before using a hydro jetter is to check for any possible leaks. To do this, inspect the inlet plumbing, water systems, and pump for anywhere that a water leak could occur. Such a leak could take away from the performance of your water jetter, and make it much more difficult to complete a job. Additionally, you will want to inspect the engine, hoses, as well as hydraulic systems for potential oil and fuel leaks. These kinds of leaks could make a job considerably dangerous both to you and the hydro jet itself, and should be avoided at all costs.
Check Tire Inflation
If you are using a hydro jetter that has wheels on it, another thing you will want to have a look at before each use is where the level of inflation of its tires is currently at. Whether it is a trailer based hydro jet or a cart based one, it is important to check the recommended PSI listed on the tire for maximum load capacity and fill to that level if necessary. This will keep your hydro jetter moving efficiently and safely to where it needs to go every time.
Check Trailer/Truck Lights
Should you be using a trailer jetter, it is of particular importance that you ensure that your various lights are in proper working order before you head out to your next drain cleaning job. You will want to check all Stop, Turn, Brake, and Hazard lights in order to make sure that others in traffic can safely anticipate your next move and not be taken by unwelcome surprise.
Check Trailer Chains & Hitch Connection
In relation to checking the lights on your trailer jetter, you will also want to check that your hitch has been correctly connected using the proper sized ball. Additionally, you will want to be sure that any break engagement and safety chains are connected from your trailer jetter to the vehicle that is doing the towing to and from the sewer and drain cleaning job.
Check Nozzles
Your hydro jetter nozzle is one of the most important pieces of hardware used in sewer and drain cleaning. Because of this, it is imperative that you check it for any clogged orifices daily. If a nozzle should become blocked for one reason or another, it will change the dynamics and cut down on the efficiency of your hydro jet’s work.
Any excess pressure that builds up in a water jetter nozzle is relieved through dumping pressurized water through a relief valve that is built into the back of the hydro jetter’s water tank. As a result, this reduces your machine’s cleaning ability and cuts down on your overall productivity.
In addition, it is important to take note that hydro jetter nozzles have a tendency to bore and wear out over time. This makes it more difficult for your hydro jetter to have to work even harder to get you the amount of water pressure that you need to get the job done. This can end up causing extra wear and tear on your hydro jetter in the long run, which could end up leading to more expensive fixes being required. Because of this, you need to check your nozzles regularly and replace or repair them if need be.
Anti-Freeze/Winterization
One of the things you need to be concerned with when doing line cleaning jobs during the colder months is that proper winterization is absolutely vital. Water turns frozen at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and if any is left inside of a hydro jetter after you are done with a job, this can cause some highly significant damage to it. Some hydro jets come equipped with an air-purge valve to provide protection against freezing. These displace all water from a water jetter’s system.
That being said, you should absolutely NEVER start your hydro jetter if you think it may be frozen. You will want to be absolutely certain that any and all people who operate it are well educated in the procedures involved in winterization. This can in the long run save you and your company a great deal of money and hassle. You should also look through the hydro jetter’s user manual for its individual instructions regarding air-purging and anti-freezing, as this is not a one size fits all procedure.
Occasional Hydro Jetter Maintenance
There are some types of hydro jetter maintenance that does not need to be performed as often as the things mentioned above. However, they are still just as important and vital to the overall performance and well-being of your hydro jet drain cleaning machine. The following are tasks that should be carried out on occasion to keep your sewer jetter running at its absolute best for as long as possible:
Change Fluids and Filters
One of the most important types of maintenance you can do for your hydro jetter is to change its fluids. Like with a motor vehicle, hydro jets need to get things like their engine oil, hydraulic oil, pump oil, engine filter, air filter, pump filter, and hydraulic filter changed on a regular basis. Most vehicles need their oil changed every 3,000 miles, but depending on how much use your hydro jetter gets, you will need to do so every 250 hours of use or once per year.
Depending on the frequency of use, climate factors, and conditions however, you may need to change your water jetter’s fluids and filters more frequently. You will want to get in touch with your hydro jetter’s manufacturer and look at your machine’s manual for more detailed information and instructions.
Check Axles/Bearings
It is important that you occasionally check your brake shoes, axles, and bearings on your hydro jetter. Most hydro jetters that have wheels have wheel bearings that have a lube zerk fitting that is easy to get to and use. If they do not, they have a dust cap and hub pack that can be removed in order to put grease in. To find any specific instructions on how to go about this, consult your individual unit’s user manual. You can also bring it to a qualified inspection facility.
Check Lug Nuts
It is important to occasionally torque lug nuts to your hydro jetter’s individual recommended specifications in order to keep everything tightened and working properly.
Grease Engine Stub Shaft
Many engines, such as those found in hydro jetters will have a grease zerk fitting where power will be transferred from said engine to the machine’s pump drive system. It is important that you keep these properly lubricated on a regular basis, as the power packs turn at a high level of RPMs.
Check Pump/Engine Drive Belt
While your hydro jetter is turned off, you will want to remove its guard or cover in order to be able to access the belt. From there, you will check the belt to make sure that it is tensioned and aligned the way it should be. For appropriate deflection for your individual model, consult the manufacturer’s recommendation. Most importantly, NEVER perform belt maintenance of any kind while your water jetter is running.
Check Hydraulic Oil
When changing hydraulic oil, you will want to consult your hydro jetter’s user manual for its recommended oil specifications to keep its hydraulics moving and functioning properly.
Check Hydraulic Selector
You will want to on occasion ensure that your hydro jet drain cleaning machine’s hydraulic selector handle is continuing to move smoothly. If it is not, you will want to consult its manual to find out which selectors may end up needing lubrication.
Check Battery Connections
Electrical damage is serious business, so from time to time you will want to make sure that all of your hydro jetter’s battery terminals and connections are completely secured and free from any corrosion.
Grease Hose Reel Bearing
If your hydrojet drain cleaner has a swivel or pivot jetter hose reel that enables you to position a reel system at different intervals, you will want to be certain that you grease its bearing on a regular basis in order to keep any undue seizing or wear to coming about. To find your unit’s exact location of reel bearings or grease fittings, check with its user manual.
Check Engine Belts
From time to time, you will want to make sure you inspect your hydrojet drain cleaner’s alternator for anything like cracks, wear, or fraying. If you need to replace a belt, do so as soon as you can in order to make sure your jetter keeps working properly and no damage happens.
Check Frame
Your frame will also need occasional visual inspection of all of its components for things like fatigue or cracks. This is important to do on every single weld, joint, seam, etc.
Hydro Jetter Troubleshooting
There are a number of different issues that can cause common problems when it comes to hydro jetters. By being mindful of them and responding accordingly, you can resolve many of these kinds of problems.
Some of the most common issues that hydrojet drain cleaner operators often run into with pump failure are the following:
- Not enough water in your water jetter’s tank
- Water in your tank that is too hot (usually 160 degrees Fahrenheit or above)
- Water that is frozen
Furthermore, doing the following can help you avoid various other hydro jetter problems:
- Ensuring that your water supply has enough water
- Checking the inlet filter to prevent water supply restriction
- Ensure that your water supply hose is of high quality to meet your hydro jetter’s needs
- Checking your jetter nozzle to ensure that it is not worn and failing to produce the necessary amount of pressure and causing occasional pressure spikes.
- Making sure your inlet filter is not clogged in order to keep the water flow from being restricted.
- Inspecting your various jetter hoses, swivels, and all of the other connections that may cause a loss of pressure.
- Do not overly tighten the unloader, as it could destroy the pump.
