Converting a pressure washer to unblock pipes

[Doing it for the kids]

Has anyone tried to do this before with much luck?

I have a pipe that isn't blocked but isn't full flowing, I think the bottom 1/3rd has mud in it impeding flow. A proper jet washer would easily clear it but they charge a bit to come out.

I have a few pressure washers here, you can get fittings like this

https://www.screwfix.com/p/karcher-drain-gutter-cleaning-kit/91778 with ends to go on like this https://www.kaercher.com/uk/accessory/pipe-cleaning-nozzle-57630160.html

I wonder if they are powerful enough though to be worth the effort?

 

[Bongodog]

I went to screwfix and got the same kit, have used it on blocked sewers and drains, it cleared them all, only issues I experienced are as follows:

Not always easy to see where you are going to start with if the gully/drain is full of dirty crap, advantage to know which way the drain goes.
If there's a U bend involved you may need to pre bend the pipe to help it round the corner
make sure you have the nozzle well below the waterline before you pull the trigger, blowback is not good.

The nozzle shape enables it to pull itself along quite successfully, its best to start from the outfall if at all possible.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I went to screwfix and got the same kit, have used it on blocked sewers and drains, it cleared them all, only issues I experienced are as follows:

Not always easy to see where you are going to start with if the gully/drain is full of dirty crap, advantage to know which way the drain goes.
If there's a U bend involved you may need to pre bend the pipe to help it round the corner
make sure you have the nozzle well below the waterline before you pull the trigger, blowback is not good.

The nozzle shape enables it to pull itself along quite successfully, its best to start from the outfall if at all possible.

very helpful, thanks

I know where all the drains go to, not always easy access but I am pleased from what you have said. A few of the negative reviews on screwfix said it was ok for leaves but that's about all. Some of the ends only seem to have backward facing holes so you are relying on the push to clear the blockage. Since found one with a 4th pin hole in the middle that blasts into the blockage.

what power / spec / type of pressure washer are you using it with? I have a billy basic and a fancy hot and cold one. I suspect the basic has not go much power so wonder how useful that would be.

What sort of blocks have you tackled? a bit of toilet paper impeding flow is one thing but dealing with my tenants putting whole bananas down the sewer may be more challenging...

 

[sjt01]

We got our fittings from the useful selection from Dual Pumps https://www.dualpumps.co.uk/groups/SANDBLAS__Sand_Blast_Drain_Cleaning
The single phase pressure washer is OK up to 4" pipes, above that you really need the 3 phase machine for some oomph

 

[curlietailz]

I have one of these and it does an awesome job of cleaning sewage /drains. Start at the outfall end and keep pulling it back to swish the stuff out

 

[curlietailz]

Mine has the little brass bullet end. It sort of squirts the water backwards and shoots itself up the drain. A bit like one of those water jet backpack things.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Mine has the little brass bullet end. It sort of squirts the water backwards and shoots itself up the drain. A bit like one of those water jet backpack things.

how many holes? it seems you can either get 3 that all fire backwards to propel it forwards but one has 4, 3 like previous but one forward facing?

what size / spec pressure washer are you rigging it up to?

 

[curlietailz]

Mine has 3 backward facing. None forward. And just an ordinary karcher pw. Might not have massive power to clean silted up field drains but owts better than nowt ?

 

[milkloss]

very helpful, thanks

I know where all the drains go to, not always easy access but I am pleased from what you have said. A few of the negative reviews on screwfix said it was ok for leaves but that's about all. Some of the ends only seem to have backward facing holes so you are relying on the push to clear the blockage. Since found one with a 4th pin hole in the middle that blasts into the blockage.

what power / spec / type of pressure washer are you using it with? I have a billy basic and a fancy hot and cold one. I suspect the basic has not go much power so wonder how useful that would be.

What sort of blocks have you tackled? a bit of toilet paper impeding flow is one thing but dealing with my tenants putting whole bananas down the sewer may be more challenging...

we have an 18 litre per minute three phase jobby that I got some jetsand thermoplastic pipe for. Put a screw on coupling in place of the lance on the trigger so can easily control the water. I found that the forward facing jet can actually reduce the pull of the pipe quite substantially when it reaches a blockage such as straw/silage and several pulls of the trigger are needed to thump it into the blockage.
get both nozzles (one with forward facing jet as well as back facing and another without the forward jet) specifically to the size of your machine..... they have numbered sizes.
I used exchange Engineering.... very helpful.
Beware that the thermoplastic pipe can’t cope with high pressure (150bar plus I think) but is very light so it zips up the pipe.

Oh, and when it’s small stuff the nozzles block very easily so consider a filter for the incoming water.

 

[StaffStonemasons]

This kit on amazon will attach to a Karcher just have to check if it fits your model.


STYDDI Pressure Washer Drain Pipe Hose Cleaning Kit for Karcher K2-K7 Series and LAVOR Pressure Washer, with Jet Nozzle and Rotating Jet Nozzle, 15 M, 180 Bar https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082M52JD6/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_3QRXEbNXRD7KQ