Start with the homes. Lakewood grew as a suburb of Tacoma and the base, so most of the housing is 1940s to 1970s: wartime and post-war ramblers in Tillicum and Springbrook, larger mid-century homes in Oakbrook and Lake City, and grand old estates on Gravelly and American lakes. There are 1980s and 90s apartments and a steady run of newer townhomes near the Towne Center. Copper and cast iron dominate, with galvanized in the oldest homes. At about 45 minutes from Port Orchard, over the Narrows Bridge and south through University Place or down Interstate 5 from Port Orchard, Lakewood is a regular line on our schedule, not a special trip.
Why hydro jetting is a little different in Lakewood
Septic is common in and around Lakewood, and that shapes how we jet. Everything we flush from the line goes into the tank, so we ask when it was last pumped before we start, and we will say so plainly if the tank should be handled first.
Then there is what is under the yard. A flat glacial outwash plain dotted with lakes. The gravelly soil drains fast on most of the plain, which is a blessing for crawlspaces, but the lakefront lots and the low ground near Chambers Creek have a high water table and soft ground.
Local conditions that affect hydro jetting in Lakewood
The pattern we see most in Lakewood is this: Pressure reducing valves failing on homes near the district's booster zones
Some Lakewood properties sit on long, flat drain runs to the street or to a pump chamber, and those lines collect sludge whether or not anything is wrong. Jetting on a sensible interval keeps a flat line from becoming an emergency in the middle of a holiday weekend.
Local conditions shape the work. In Lakewood: Garage water heaters freezing and rusting out in older homes
The older housing in Lakewood often has cast iron drains that have built up decades of rust scale inside. A cable rides over that scale. A rotary nozzle on the jetter breaks it loose, which is often what gives an old drain another decade of service before anyone has to talk about replacement.
Signs Lakewood homeowners call us for hydro jetting
Worth a call
- A camera inspection showed heavy scale in a cast iron drain
- Roots keep returning to the sewer lateral every fall
- Grease smell comes up through a kitchen drain even after cleaning
- A parking lot catch basin overflows during heavy rain
- Sand or silt keeps settling in a floor or yard drain
How we handle hydro jetting in Lakewood
Our hydro jetting process in Lakewood is describe the history, inspect the access and quote, camera the line when the pipe is in question, jet from the downstream end, verify and show you, then set a schedule if the line needs one, with the written price coming before any tool is picked up.
Read the full step-by-step for hydro jetting →
Lakewood neighborhoods and areas we serve
From Custer and Bridgeport Way to Lakewood Towne Center and Colonial Center, with plenty of stops around Lakewood Towne Center and Fort Steilacoom Park and Waughop Lake, Lakewood is well-worn ground for our trucks.
Hydro Jetting questions from Lakewood
How do I know if my Lakewood drain needs jetting or just a cable?
If it has clogged once, a cable is usually enough. If it has clogged repeatedly, drains slowly everywhere, or a camera showed grease or scale on the pipe wall, jetting is the better value. We tell you which before quoting.
Can you jet my sewer line in Lakewood if there is no cleanout?
We can work through a roof vent or a pulled toilet, but jetting is far cleaner and faster from an exterior cleanout. We will quote installing one so this and every future cleaning is easier.
Is hydro jetting safe for the old pipes in my Lakewood house?
When the pressure and nozzle match the pipe, yes. On older cast iron or any line with unknown history we run the camera first so we are not jetting a pipe that is already broken.
Do you offer scheduled jetting for Lakewood businesses?
We do. Restaurants, apartment complexes and commercial lots in Pierce County use us for quarterly or semiannual grease line and storm drain service, with records kept for each line.
Can you jet a sewer line on a septic system?
Yes, with one caveat. What we flush out of the line goes into the tank. If the tank is full or the outlet baffle has failed we would rather you had it pumped first, and we will say so rather than risk your drainfield.
We bring the same equipment to Lakewood that we use at home in Kitsap: sectional and drum machines, a push camera with a monitor, our own hydro jetting truck, and a van stocked for the common repairs.