What Should You Expect When Your Sewer Line Is Examined?

For many homeowners, little thought is given to the sewer line until something goes wrong with it. After all, it's out of sight and out of mind, so long as it operates properly. But if something is going awry with your plumbing and clearing the indoor pipes hasn't resolved the problem, it may be time to have your sewer line inspected. Here's what you should expect from the process.

Camera

When your plumber arrives to examine your sewer line, you'll be glad to know that they shouldn't have to create any significant disturbance to your yard or home. They inspect the sewer line by using a camera that displays results in real-time on a television screen or mobile device, like a phone.

Your plumber will insert the camera through the sewer line's access point in your yard. From there, they'll move the camera down until the entire stretch of the sewer line has been examined, extending from your home to the sewer main in the street. As necessary they'll take pictures to keep track of problem areas and to report back to you at the end of the process.

Cleaning

If blockages are found in your sewer line, your plumber will recommend cleaning them out while they're there. For many people, this resolves the problems that they're having indoors. Blockages outdoors in the sewer line can prevent anything from leaving your home through the sewer system, even if the pipes are clear inside.

To do this, your plumber will route a plumbing snake or other plumbing device through the same entrance they inserted the camera. This will allow them to intercept the blockages and break them up so that they can be flushed down with water.

From there, they may ask you to either run the plumbing indoors or come inside to do it themselves. This will help them to determine if things are functioning normally again.

Problem Reporting

From there, your plumber will talk with you to discuss what their findings were. With any luck, the blockages were the only issues detected and with them out of the way, things will return to normal. However, there are sometimes other issues detected, like cracks in the sewer line, breaks, or the invasion of external elements coming into the pipe, like tree roots. If these issues have been found, additional steps will need to be taken in order to fix the problem. With cracks and breaks, the pipe will likely need to be replaced. In some cases, this can be done with a trenchless method that will prevent your yard from being dug up.

For more information, contact a plumbing service in your area.