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Hydroblasting

High-pressure and ultra-high-pressure water jetting that cleans industrial equipment, removes coatings and scale, prepares surfaces for recoating, and removes deteriorated concrete — without abrasive media, sparks, or dust. Find hydroblasting contractors near you and connect with local providers through Scaffold Exchange.

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What Is Hydroblasting?

Definition: Hydroblasting, also called water jetting or hydro jetting, is the use of water pressurized to thousands of pounds per square inch and directed through specialized nozzles to clean, cut, or remove material from surfaces. Depending on pressure and tooling, it is used to clear deposits from industrial equipment, strip coatings and corrosion from steel, prepare surfaces for new coatings, and remove deteriorated concrete in a process called hydrodemolition.

Industrial equipment such as heat exchangers, tanks, vessels, pipes, and boilers builds up scale, product, and deposits that reduce efficiency and can lead to failures. Hydroblasting removes those deposits without the dust and spent media of abrasive blasting, and without sparks — an important advantage in refineries and plants with flammable atmospheres. On steel structures, water jetting removes coatings, rust, and soluble salts, leaving a clean surface ready for recoating.

At the highest pressures, hydrodemolition removes deteriorated concrete while leaving reinforcing steel intact and undamaged, without the micro-cracking caused by jackhammers. Because the water stream can cause severe injuries, hydroblasting is performed by trained operators following industry practices such as those published by the WJTA-IMCA. Much of the work takes place on elevated equipment and structures from scaffolding. Through Scaffold Exchange, you can find hydroblasting contractors across the U.S. and compare their capabilities and availability.

What Hydroblasting Services Include

Service offerings vary by contractor, but most hydroblasting firms provide the following capabilities.

Exchangers

Heat Exchanger Cleaning

Cleaning of tube bundles, shells, and tubes with lances and automated systems to restore heat transfer and flow.

Vessels

Tank & Vessel Cleaning

Removal of sludge, product, and scale from tanks, vessels, towers, and silos, often with remote and automated tools.

Coatings

Surface Preparation

Water jetting to remove coatings, rust, and soluble salts from steel and concrete, preparing surfaces for recoating.

Concrete

Hydrodemolition

Ultra-high-pressure removal of deteriorated concrete from decks, slabs, and structures while preserving reinforcing steel.

Lines

Pipe & Line Cleaning

Clearing blockages and deposits from process lines, sewers, and drains with flexible lances and rotating nozzles.

Common Applications & Facilities

Hydroblasting is used across industrial, infrastructure, and commercial work throughout the United States.

Refinery and petrochemical turnarounds

Power plant boilers, condensers, and exchangers

Chemical, pulp and paper, and food processing plants

Bridge decks and parking structure concrete removal

Steel structure and tank coating removal

Water and wastewater treatment facilities

Ship hulls and marine structures

Areas where sparks or abrasive dust are not allowed

Hydroblasting often works alongside other industrial and restoration services. Here is how it compares and which situations each suits best.

Concrete Repair & Restoration

Repair and protection of concrete

  • Rebuilds deteriorated concrete
  • Often uses hydrodemolition for removal
  • Rebar treatment, patching, and coatings
  • Best for extending the life of structures
Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI)

Finding and stopping hidden corrosion

  • Insulation removal and inspection
  • Surface preparation before recoating
  • Water jetting can remove salts and rust
  • Best for refinery and plant integrity programs
Hydroblasting ← You are here

High-pressure water jetting

  • Cleans equipment and removes deposits
  • Strips coatings without abrasive dust
  • Hydrodemolition of deteriorated concrete
  • Best for industrial cleaning and surface prep
Environmental Containment

Containment of hazardous work

  • Captures debris, water, and removed coatings
  • Protects soil and waterways
  • Required when removing lead coatings
  • Best for regulated or sensitive sites
Dust & Overspray Containment

Control of dust and overspray

  • Enclosures, sheeting, and barriers
  • Protects nearby people and property
  • Used with abrasive blasting and coating
  • Best for work near occupied areas

Find Hydroblasting Contractors Near You

Use the Scaffold Exchange map to search by location, filter by service type, and connect directly with local contractors that provide hydroblasting, water jetting, and hydrodemolition.

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OSHA Compliance & Safety Standards

OSHA does not have a standard specific to hydroblasting, but the work is covered by several general requirements, including personal protective equipment under 29 CFR 1910.132, control of hazardous energy under 29 CFR 1910.147, and permit-required confined spaces under 29 CFR 1910.146 when cleaning inside vessels. Industry practices published by the WJTA-IMCA address operator training, equipment, barricades, and safe operating procedures.

  • Operators trained in high-pressure water jetting procedures
  • Protective equipment rated for the pressure being used
  • Work area barricaded to keep others clear of the water stream
  • Equipment locked out and isolated before cleaning
  • Confined space permits followed for vessel and tank entry
  • Hoses, fittings, and dump controls inspected before each use
OSHA Standard 29 CFR
1910.132

Personal Protective Equipment — U.S. General Industry Regulations

OSHA Interpretations & Rulings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Hydroblasting is the use of extremely high-pressure water to clean, strip, or remove material from surfaces. It is used to clean industrial equipment, remove coatings and corrosion, prepare surfaces for recoating, and remove deteriorated concrete.
Pressure washing operates at much lower pressures and is used for general surface cleaning. Hydroblasting uses far higher pressures, specialized pumps, and tooling capable of removing hardened deposits, coatings, and even concrete — and requires trained operators and stricter safety controls.
Hydrodemolition uses ultra-high-pressure water jets to remove deteriorated concrete. It removes weak concrete while leaving reinforcing steel clean and undamaged, and avoids the micro-cracking that jackhammers can cause in the concrete left in place.
Use the Scaffold Exchange vendor map to search by your location and filter by service type. You can see which local contractors provide hydroblasting, water jetting, and hydrodemolition, compare their capabilities, and contact them directly through the platform.
OSHA has no hydroblasting-specific standard, but PPE (29 CFR 1910.132), lockout/tagout (29 CFR 1910.147), and confined space (29 CFR 1910.146) requirements apply. Industry guidance from the WJTA-IMCA covers training and safe operating practices. Visit the OSHA website for full interpretations and rulings.
Hydroblasting creates no abrasive dust or spent media, produces no sparks, and can remove soluble salts that abrasive blasting may leave behind. That makes it well suited to plants with flammable atmospheres, sensitive equipment, and coating jobs where surface cleanliness is critical.

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