Step 4 · Turn on the Water

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Grip the garden hose firmly with both hands, bracing yourself for the backward pressure. Signal your helper to turn on the water, or if working alone, turn it on yourself. Start with a low flow and quickly increase to full pressure. You will feel the hose tense up and may feel pulsing as the bladder inflates, seals the pipe, and pushes bursts of water against the clog. It is absolutely critical to hold the hose securely during this entire phase to prevent it from shooting out of the pipe.