Nozzle Selection for Hydraulic Pipe Cleaning Equipment – Determining What to Buy

Hydraulic pipe cleaning machines, referred to as a flushing or jetting machines, are commonly used to maintain sanitary sewer collection systems. These machines are available in a variety of configurations from trailer mounted to truck mounted systems; some machines are equipped with vacuum systems and are referred to as “combination cleaners.”The water systems on these machines that produce the cleaning action in pipes vary in dynamics, which are typically defined by water flow in gallons per minute (gpm) and water pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). This flow and pressure can be configured for specific uses in pipe cleaning. For example, in small pipe cleaning applications (3-inch to 6-inch diameter) low flow coupled with high pressure is typically employed to remove materials and keep the volume of water in the pipe being cleaned at low levels. Conversely, for cleaning larger pipes (8-inch to 15-inch diameter), a higher flow using lower pressure is employed to provide the necessary hydraulic force to move large amounts of materials.A key factor in successful equipment performance is the nozzle that is used at the end of the sewer cleaning hose that directs the pressurized water to clean pipe. The broad spectrum of hydraulic cleaning machine systems has generated an even more broad market of cleaning nozzles used for specific cleaning functions. The resultant inventory of available nozzles has made it increasingly difficult to select specific nozzles for to be used to perform many pipe cleaning applications common in collection system maintenance.Due to the differences in cleaning equipment configuration, collection system construction, age, and composition of materials found in pipes, no two collection systems are alike in regard to what nozzles will perform this work well. This presentation will provide an overview of how field operations personnel can assess nozzle technology in a standardized process, to select nozzles for their specific equipment and pipe cleaning issues.