Jetters 101: Maintenance

Proper jetter maintenance may be one of the easily overlooked business items as a drain cleaning professional. In this blog, we’ll provide a look at specifics for the jetter models we offer here at MyTana.

All models

Regular inspection and maintenance are key to preventing breakdowns and prolonging the life of jetting equipment. As with any equipment investment, keeping the machine clean and dry maximizes performance and longevity.

Following are some general tips for all MyTana jetters. Maintenance schedules for each model appear after this.

• Never let pump run dry! Pump cavitation can occur in only a few seconds of low water supply. Ensure adequate source supply before running by measuring flow for 1 minute.
• Avoid running anything abrasive through pump. Abrasive materials will damage pump components, resulting in total malfunction or loss of pressure capability.
• Keep jetter hose away from sharp edges (all models) and muffler (gas models).
  While hose is easily replaced, damaged hose is prone to bursting at any time, causing unexpected delays and downtime
  • Sharp edges can scrape, slice and generally damage hose quickly. Buffer sharp edges with rags, tape, cardboard, etc. or use a TigerTail™ guide, available at MyTana.com.
  • The hot muffler on gas engines can damage the coating on the hose causing a weak point that may not hold up under pressure
• Do not use pulse valve more than necessary.
• Never run pump if there is ice in pump or outlet hose.
• Blow water out of system every day to prevent corrosion of components.
• Run antifreeze through your system. This helps with lubrication, prevents O-rings from drying out and greatly reduces the chance of rust, minerals and other contaminants damaging the pump or fittings.
  • Antifreeze should be done regularly no matter the season – for jetters used daily or every other day in normal temps, antifreeze should be run
    • through your pump every few weeks
    • through the pressure hose every few months – this is done primarily to lubricate and protect the fittings
  • If you know there will be a period of 2-3 days when the jetter will be idle OR if the jetter is stored in potentially freezing weather, make sure to run antifreeze into pump, bypass hose and pressure hose as part of your shut down procedure. In cold temperatures it is always best to store the jetter in a heated environment.

Maintenance Schedules - Specific Models

Follow these maintenance schedules to maximize the life of your jetting equipment.

M20 or M20T

SHUT OFF AND UNPLUG MOTOR BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE.

Antifreeze procedure: Insert a short length of garden hose into a gallon of antifreeze and connect to the inlet valve. Turn on the pump and run until you see antifreeze coming out of the nozzle end of the hose.

• To add antifreeze to pump only, run ½ of a quart of antifreeze, then shut down.
• At next use of jetter, you can recover most of that antifreeze when you hook up to your water source. Antifreeze can be used multiple times. However, if it gets too diluted (more than 50% water) or if there is any discoloration, discard that antifreeze and replace with new.

We recommend using RV antifreeze.

M30 Gas Jetter

SHUT OFF ENGINE BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE.

*Refer to engine manufacturer’s manual for more details.

Antifreeze procedure: Insert a short length of garden hose into a gallon of antifreeze and connect to the inlet valve. Turn on the pump and run until you see antifreeze coming out of the nozzle end of the hose.

• To add antifreeze to pump only, run ½ of a quart of antifreeze, then shut down.
• At next use of jetter, you can recover most of that antifreeze when you hook up to your water source. Antifreeze can be used multiple times. However, if it gets too diluted (more than 50% water) or if there is any discoloration, discard that antifreeze and replace with new.

We recommend using RV antifreeze.

MV84, MV80 or MS80

SHUT OFF ENGINE BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE.

*Refer to engine manufacturer’s manual for more details.

Our new Antifreeze Kit for the MV84 (or MV80) delivers antifreeze to all parts of the pump system: the pump, bypass hose and float valve. It is included with machine purchases after October 2022. Instructions for use are online at MyTana.com/product-manuals. Follow the link below for more information or to purchase.