Sewer Cleaning Information

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Computing Volume:

This chart is for computing cleaning times on pipe cleaning.

Example: 500 ft of 10″ sewer line 1/2 full of debris.

The chart says 27 cubic feet of debris per 100 foot of pipe.

5 x 27= 135 cubic feet of debris or 5 cubic yards of debris.
PIPE 1/4 Full 1/4 Full 1/4 Full 1/2 Full 1/2 Full 1/2 Full 3/4 Full 3/4 Full 3/4 Full Full Full Full
SIZE CF/LF 100/LF Yds/100ft CF/LF 100/LF Yds/100ft CF/LF 100/LF Yds/100ft CF/LF 100/LF Yds/100ft
8 0.03 0.30 0.01 0.17 17.00 0.63 0.28 28.00 1.04 0.35 35.00 1.30
10 0.05 5.00 0.19 0.27 27.00 1.00 0.40 40.00 1.48 0.54 54.00 2.00
12 0.07 7.00 0.26 0.40 40.00 1.48 0.50 50.00 1.85 0.79 79.00 2.93
15 0.15 15.00 0.56 0.50 50.00 1.85 0.98 98.00 3.63 1.20 120.00 4.44
18 0.20 20.00 0.74 0.90 90.00 3.33 1.45 145.00 5.37 1.80 180.00 6.67
21 0.25 25.00 0.93 1.10 110.00 4.07 1.80 180.00 6.67 2.20 220.00 8.15
24 0.35 35.00 1.30 1.50 150.00 5.56 2.50 250.00 9.26 3.10 310.00 11.48
27 0.45 45.00 1.67 1.90 190.00 7.04 3.10 310.00 11.48 3.70 370.00 13.70
30 0.60 60.00 2.22 2.50 250.00 9.26 4.00 400.00 14.81 4.90 490.00 18.15
36 0.85 85.00 3.15 3.80 380.00 14.07 5.80 580.00 21.48 7.10 710.00 26.30
42 1.20 120.00 4.44 4.90 490.00 18.15 7.90 790.00 29.26 9.70 970.00 35.93
48 1.60 160.00 5.93 6.50 650.00 24.07 10.50 1050.00 38.89 13.00 1300.00 48.15
54 2.00 200.00 7.41 8.00 800.00 29.63 13.00 1300.00 48.15 16.00 1600.00 59.26
60 2.50 250.00 9.26 10.00 1000.00 37.04 16.25 1625.00 60.19 20.00 2000.00 74.07
72 3.50 350.00 12.96 14.00 1400.00 51.85 22.25 2225.00 82.41 28.00 2800.00 103.70
84 4.80 480.00 17.78 19.50 1950.00 72.22 31.50 3150.00 116.67 39.00 3900.00 144.44

Evaluating Nozzles:

Nozzles perform one of two basic functions-

  • Cleaning debris off walls - A line with heavy grease requires a different nozzle than a line full of sugar sand.
  • Moving debris down the line - How far does the debris move before it falls out of the nozzle flow?

Factors effecting performance-

  • Angle of Jets – A nozzle with less angle will pull up the line better than a nozzle with high angle
  • Number of Jets – Nozzles with 3 jets will leave stripes on the pipe walls when cleaning grease
  • Placement of Jets – Is the nozzle stream clear of the nozzle shank and hose fitting?
  • Size of Nozzle- weight does effect the speed the nozzle travels up the line
  • Efficiency of Nozzle – How internal design effects flow of the water

Step Cleaning: Utilizing a method of taking small measured steps. This system is based on several basic assumptions.

  1. A nozzle can carry a given amount of material before it is overloaded and starts dropping material as it travels down the  pipe.  Example-A nozzle working at  2000 psi @ 35 gpm can carry approxmiately 1.5 to 2 cubic feet of material of debris in optmium conditions.
  2. Proper step size is important to consistent line cleaning.
  3. Taking a larger step than necessary creates several situations:
  • Increases the potential for pushing water into a home
  • Increased the chances of hanging up the hose in the line
  • The operator loses some sense of what is going on in the line

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