Sewer Inspection: A Quick and Reliable Guide

Sewer inspections clarify the status of a home's sewage networks and plumbing. This information helps homeowners to schedule repairs and fixes before the problem gets out of hand. Here is what you need to know about sewer inspections.



Process of Sewer Inspection

The process begins when an inspector inserts a long tube with a video camera into the drains. Inspectors will examine your home to determine where to insert the camera. It is best if it's easily accessible, so if there is no obvious clean-out fitting to run the camera line into, they may need to remove a toilet, which gives the best access point. The inspector will then guide the tube along your pipes and receive a live feed of your sewers. If the inspection reveals damages or blockages, the inspector will mark the position of these problems on the floor or in your yard, along with the depth of the pipe.

When to Get a Sewer Inspection

A sewer inspection are a good idea every 5 years or so, and more often as the sewer line gets older. Here are other situations that might require a sewer inspection:

Clogged Toilets

Toilets may clog up once in a while, but a toilet that clogs up regularly, especially if it's on the lower floor where the sewer line leaves the residence, can indicate a problem with the sewer line. Running a camera down that line will help determine the problem areas. 

Green Grass

The grass in your lawn may suddenly appear green, even when you don't water the lawn. This may be due to cracks and small holes in your drains supplying nutrients and water to the grass.

Buying a Home

The condition of the sewer can be a huge determining factor in the price of a home. An inspection can identify potential sewer problems that can help you negotiate the price of the home. Sewer inspections also help potential home buyers to determine the type of material of the sewer system. The types of sewer pipes are: Plastic; galvanized steel; cast iron; cement, and clay. If you find your potential new home has cement or clay, it would be a good idea to consider adding the cost of sewer pipe re-lining, which can make old pipes like new!

Benefits of Sewer Line Inspections

Expect the following benefits when you schedule a sewer line inspection: 

• Save money and protect the landscape. Traditional sewer line inspections required inspectors to dig trenches and disrupt the landscape. But modern video inspections maintain your landscape and save you the cost of digging and filling trenches.
• Identify root intrusion. Roots of shrubs and trees in the yard naturally grow towards sewer lines to get moisture. Since the growth is underground, you may only immediately identify the problem if you schedule a video inspection.
• Track the health of the pipes. Trash, rotten food, soap scum, and other materials are likely to cause grime and gunk to accumulate on the inner walls of the sewer pipes. A video inspection can help you monitor the pipe walls' status and determine when cleaning is necessary.

Ultimately, sewer inspections improve your home's functionality and increase your sewer lines' durability. Call the experts at Aurora Plumbing and Electric. and schedule a sewer camera inspection.