Tools for Cleaning Concrete Irrigation Pipes

Water Blaster

• A water blaster is a device that pushes water through your pipes at a very high speed. Use a machine that provides you with at 15,000 psi of pressure to remove debris from your pipe. As the water moves through your pipe, it removes buildup of sediments, debris, or sewage residue from the walls of your concrete pipe. It keeps a constant pressure as it navigates your pipe systems, and it deposits the debris at the outlet of the pipe.

Foam

• If you don't want to shut your pipe down, you can use foam wiper balls in your system. These balls travel the length of your pipe removing debris, and you can also use these tools to break apart fluids. These balls are made of rubber and bump along your pipe, and they can pass through all of your pipe systems, including diverters and mechanical and liner running tools. You can also use these tools in different types of pipes.

Drain Auger

• A simple drain auger allows you to clean short concrete pipes. These tools usually have a round head that rotates as it moves through the pipe, and the simple augers are attached to a spring or a short cable. These are usually mechanical-driven tools, but certain types require you to manually move the auger through the pipe. You lower the auger into your drain, and turn it on. If you know where the clog is, and you can access the pipe from that location, you can quickly use this tool to remove the debris.

Snake

• A drain snake is similar to a drain auger, but it's for larger jobs. A drain snake has an auger head, which is attached to a long piece of cable. This cable is attached to a mechanical crank, which pushes the snake through the concrete pipe. When the snake stops, it has reached the clog. Turn the auger head on, and let it rip through the debris. When the snake stars moving again, the debris is cleared.