Today we are going to take a look at what a sewer inspection is and why you may want to have one done
We have over 25 years of experience in the home plumbing and water softener industry, and we'd love to share our expertise with you.
Here, we will give you a breakdown of what is involved in a sewer inspection so that you will know what to expect. So, let's get started.
What Is a Sewer Inspection?
A sewer inspection involves guiding a specially designed camera into your drains to take a look at the health of your plumbing and sewer system.
Your plumber will use a specially designed waterproof camera that is attached to a long wire. It looks a lot like a plumbing snake and can be easily navigated and directed inside and through all of your pipes.
These professional cameras are able to give a very accurate and clear picture of the inside of your pipes and they can pinpoint the exact location of any possible problems.
As the camera passes through your pipes, a video image is transmitted onto a screen that you and your plumbing technician can view. The images allow your plumber to accurately assess the issue and offer you the right solution to fix your problem.
An inspection camera can take images of what is inside your sewer lateral - Image Source: Amazon.com
When Should You Get a Sewer Inspection?
There are a few time when getting a sewer inspection done would be helpful for you. They include:
Buying Your Home:
If you are buying a home, then getting a sewer inspection could help you know what state the sewer of your potential home is in. It can alert you to any potential problems that you could address with the seller.
A sewer inspection can also tell you the material that your sewer pipes are made out of. If you are buying an older home, you want to check if it has galvanized pipes (steel or lead pipes with zinc coating) on both the water supply and drain lines.
If it does have galvanized pipes, then this could be a problem and should be factored into the selling price of the house. This is because galvanized pipes can cause problems such as:
Over time, the zinc wears off and can expose your water to lead which can cause health issues.
They corrode from the inside so that you’ll experience reduced water pressure and eventually they will totally close off and you will have no water flow.
The corrosion could damage your pipes so that they leak or rupture, causing flooding in your home.
Remember that you will need to coordinate a time that works well for everyone involved including the seller, your plumber, your realtor, and yourself.
Check the type of sewer pipes an older home has before purchasing it
Remodelling Your Home:
Remodelling often involves moving or adding plumbing and moving or adding walls. Getting a sewer inspection will show you any potential problems that you have in your plumbing. This would be a good time to address those issues, since you may be already opening up walls that contain the problems.
Experiencing Issues:
If you are having problems with your plumbing, a sewer inspection can be the fastest and most accurate way of detecting where and what those issues are.
An inspection can point out potential problems with your sewer
Major Benefits of Getting a Sewer Inspection
Faster Resolutions: A sewer inspection can provide you with a faster resolution for your problem. It can find the source or origin of the problem much faster than traditional "educated guessing" methods.
Less Mess and Disruption to Your Home: Because a sewer camera can give the exact location of a problem, your master plumber will know exactly where to open up your wall to fix your problem.
Only the smallest section of your wall needs to be disturbed because your plumber will have the precise location that needs to be accessed.
Less Mess and Disruption of Your Yard: If a tree root has infiltrated your pipes and caused a leak or damage to your pipes, then a sewer camera will let your professional plumbing service know exactly where they need to dig to fix the problem, resulting in a smaller hole with less mess and no guesswork.
A sewer inspection can locate the source of your problem
Kinds of Problems a Sewer Inspection Can Detect
A sewer camera can effectively locate the source of your plumbing issue and can point out useful information to help your plumber come up with the best solution. It can tell you:
The source of a blockage in your sewer
The reason your sewer is backing up
The location of buildups and blockages in your sewer
The precise location of a leak or damaged area in your sewer
The infiltration of tree roots into your pipes
A sewer inspection can also tell you how your drainage pipes are placed. For your water to flow out of your home, they need to go from a higher level to a lower level.
Tree roots and settling can cause your pipes to move so that water can't flow out of your home. A sewer inspection can help detect this.
An inspection can tell you if your sewer pipe is properly positioned to allow water to flow out of your home - Image Source: Keene, E. S. (Edward Spencer), b. 1864 [No restrictions]
Sewer Inspection: What To Expect
The camera will enter through one of your cleanouts: There are usually one or two cleanouts in your home. The main cleanout is located just before your sewer leaves the foundation of your home and there will should also be one on the main stack (the pipe that comes down from your floor above).
The main cleanout is the best one to use for your sewer inspection. It will look like a metal or plastic plate on the concrete floor of your foundation.
Your plumber may do a home "walk-through:" Before the inspection begins, your plumber may wish to do a "walk-through" of your home to get a better sense of the plumbing layout in your home.
The camera will go through your sewer lines: Your plumber will start the inspection at the cleanout, but they may have to also feed the camera through some other access points if there is a blockage or damage to the pipes that stops the camera from getting through.
The sewer camera will be inserted into your main cleanout
How Long Will Your Sewer Inspection Take?
A sewer inspection will usually take about one hour to complete, however, it could take longer if the location of the problem is unknown or if your plumber encounters a challenging problem.
WaterSmart Can Assist You with All of Your Plumbing Needs
Not only does WaterSmart offer an effective sewer inspection service, but we are also a full service plumbing company. Our services include but are not limited to:
Kitchens/Bathrooms: new plumbing and renovations
Toilet & Taps: installations and repairs
Clogged or Slow Moving Drains: leaks and repairs
Countertops: pre and post installations
Dishwashers: installations
Tankless Hot Water Heater & Sump Pump: repairs and installations
Backflow Devices: testing and installation
Contact us today to book an appointment.
“I would highly recommend WaterSmart for your plumbing needs…This was our first time using WaterSmart (I had called four companies in total and went with them and so glad I did) They clearly treat their clients with care, respect, knowledgeable/quick service and are immensely trustworthy - I am sure they pride themselves on their standards and it shows!! Thank you…”
