A sewer camera inspection is a great way to see what’s going on inside of your plumbing pipes without needing to excavate and tear up your front yard.
The problem is… many homeowners don’t know what to expect when it comes to the cost of sewer line inspection or video sewer line inspection!
In this blog post, we are going to break down the benefits, factors, associated costs, and results of a sewer line inspection so that you can make a more informed decision the next time you pick up the phone to call a plumber.
What is a sewer line inspection?
A sewer line inspection is a video camera inspection of the sewer line running beneath your home, yard, or the street/sidewalk in front of your home.
To perform an inspection, a plumber will send a camera down into the main sewer pipe (the one that drains water) and record video footage of what is going on inside the line. The plumber can then use this footage to determine if there are any problems with roots, cracks in pipes, or other problems that need to be addressed.
Watch this short video to understand how we perform a sewer line video inspection:
At Western Rooter & Plumbing, we are able to see the inside of your sewer line as it connects to the main community sewer system, and we can check to see if there are any breaks or issues in your private sewer line leading up to the main pipe.
This is sometimes referred to as a “sewer lateral” inspection, and it’s very important since these smaller pipes (lateral lines) are what drain water from your home into the main system. Without proper drainage into the main system, you’re going to get unpleasant sewer line backups, which lead to a lot of expensive damage and unwanted (& smelly!) problems.
A sewer line inspection is one of the best ways for homeowners and business owners alike to ensure that their plumbing system works properly, and it’s also one of the least-expensive ways since there isn’t any digging required!
Why would you need a sewer line inspection?
There are many general reasons why a homeowner might want to get a sewer line inspection, and here are some of the most popular:
Buying a new home…
If you’re buying a new home, then make sure that the sewer line is in good shape! This is because the previous homeowner may be responsible for any damages that occur to the sewer line after they’ve moved out, and you may be able to ask for them to fix it, or get a reduction in price.
While most sellers will disclose any known problems with the home, it’s always best to have a professional take a look just in case there
Sewer line inspection for real estate agents…
If you’re a real estate agent looking to list homes on the market, it’s important that your inspection is up-to-date and includes sewer line inspections. This way you can disclose the information to potential buyers when listing these properties for sale or renting them out – helping them to avoid potential problems later on down the road.
This will help the buyer make a more informed decision, and leads to quicker sales & happier buyers!
Stubborn or recurring clog…
Do you have a stubborn clog in some (or all) of the drains in your home that just keeps coming back? You know… the kind of clog that comes & goes every couple of weeks or months?
No matter what you do to try and unclog your drain, it just keeps coming back.
It’s probably a sewer line clog, but there’s no way to be 100% certain without a video sewer line inspection. These types of clogs are often caused by a build-up of grease, hair, and other debris that can’t be cleared with traditional methods like plunging or using a snake.
It’s important to get the problem diagnosed and fixed as soon as possible so you don’t have to deal with this issue on a regular basis!
A broken or collapsed plumbing pipe…
A broken/collapsed pipe looks nearly identical to a clog or sewer line clog above-ground, but in reality, a broken/collapsed pipe is much more dangerous and potentially more expensive to fix.
This is because if your sewer pipe is broken, corroded, or collapsed, the sewage coming out of your home is leaking directly into the surrounding soil, which is a huge environmental hazard. This is also very bad for your home’s foundation and overall structure, so it must be fixed immediately!
What is the inspector looking for?
A trained plumber knows exactly what to look for when performing a video sewer line inspection with a sewer line camera. There are several things we need to look out for, but here are the most common problems we can identify with a sewer camera inspection:
Blockages…
Any blockages in your sewer line will be easily identified by our sewer line camera. This could be caused by a build-up of debris, tree roots growing into the pipe, or even a broken/collapsed pipe.
Tree roots…
Tree roots are one of the most notorious invaders of sewer lines, and can cause a lot of damage if left untreated. In fact, tree roots are one of the top causes of sewer line blockages!
Here’s how it works…
The tree root grows into your sewer pipe until it reaches the septic tank or city mainline that feeds to your home and begins growing outwards across this new area in search of more water. The tree’s roots are attracted to the wastewater in your sewer line, and will even cut their way through solid cast iron if it is corroded enough.
Pipe damage…
Pipe damage can be easily mistaken for a blockage, but an expert sewer line inspector will be able to tell the difference between the two. Pipe damage can be caused by a number of things, such as corrosion, wear and tear, or even an accidental hit with a shovel or other tool.
If your home was built between 1945 and 1970 and has never had a sewer line replacement in its history, it’s very possible your sewer line is made of a material called Orangeburg Pipe, which is notorious for nasty corrosions. If your pipes are collapsed or corroded and nearly collapsed, then performing a sewer line inspection will help you get an estimate for a trenchless sewer line repair service.
Sewer line inspection cost:
A typical sewer line camera inspection cost ranges anywhere from $175 to $350+, depending on where you live, what plumber you go to, and how far down the line your blockage is located.
Here at Western Rooter & Plumbing, our sewer line inspection service is $175 flat. You can read more about our plumbing pricing here.
Get a FREE sewer line inspection from Western Rooter & Plumbing!
We offer 100% complementary sewer line video camera inspection services with any drain cleaning service – meaning all you need to do is buy a drain cleaning from Western Rooter & Plumbing, and we will perform the cleaning AND inspect your sewer line using our state-of-the-art sewer video camera absolutely free!
Give Western Rooter & Plumbing a call at (626) 448-6455 and let’s get your sewer lines properly taken care of.
We got this!
