Sewer Inspection Camera Service

A sewer camera inspection involves the insertion of a special sewer video camera head into your property’s sewer line cleanout. The camera head is connected to a flexible cable and is snaked through the pipes to inspect the pipes and locate the damage. With the help of a monitor, the drain specialist can see the inside of the sewer line as the camera sends a live feed to the monitor.

Who Needs It? 

A sewer camera inspection is ideal for both residential and commercial properties. If you notice problems in your property’s drain system, the first and most important thing the sewer specialist should do when they come over is run a special sewer camera through your sewer line. 

At N.W. Sewer and Drains, we use a sewer camera to detect the nature of the problem, and determine the best approach to solve it. So, a sewer camera inspection is essential for resolving almost every sewer line-related issue. Keep in mind, however, that there’s a limit to what a sewer camera line can see. It cannot see all the problems in your drainage system.

Signs You Need Sewer Camera Inspection

So you’re having issues with your plumbing system, and you’re wondering if you need to carry out a sewer camera inspection. Here are some pointers to help you know if a sewer camera inspection is necessary:

1. Toilets start to gurgle: When you hear gurgling sounds from your toilet, it is a sign that something isn’t right in the drain pipes. It could be an unusual buildup of clogs or stubborn waste. 
2. Slow-moving drains: Slow-moving drains are often indicative of blockages or clogs in your drain pipes. With a sewer camera, the sewer and drain specialist can detect this. 
3. Backups of sewage: When you begin noticing sewer backups and standing water, you need to act fast. It can either be an issue with your own system or a problem arising from multiple properties in the neighborhood. 
4. Obnoxious odors emanating from your plumbing system: One usual telltale sign of a sewer drainage problem is a foul odor. You can tell that the drains are not flowing out as they should because the odor of the accumulated waste makes its way from the pipes into your living space. 
5. Septic waste pooling in your yard: Soggy spots appearing in your yard can be an indication of broken or leaking sewage pipe. Obviously, you can tell that this is a broken pipe or damaged pipe problem. It can also result from sewer backup, but a sewer camera inspection can help you identify the exact issue. 
6. Unusual patches of green grass growing in your yard: You may, at a time, notice some unplanted patches of lush green grasses growing out in front or around the house. This could be as a result of the fertilization coming from the sewer leaking into the surrounding soil. 

Sewer camera inspection works well for detecting issues like blockages, broken pipes, and cracks in pipe walls. The sewer and drain specialist first inserts the camera line into the drain pipes and, with the aid of the long flexible cable attached to the camera head, snakes it through the pipes. 

Remember that this is where all your junk, wastewater, and gunk flows through, so you can expect the view to be quite murky. 

 To solve this problem, the camera often carries a light on its head. This helps the technician above on ground level to see through the dirt on the monitor. The length and flexibility of the cables is a key factor in the effectiveness of any sewer camera inspection. In fact, it can extend a long way down sewer pipes and even to the sewer line outside your home – which is often very helpful when you’re investigating the cause or origin of a sewer backup. 

 Using a sewer camera line in this way can save you the trouble of having your yard or lawn dug up to detect/solve plumbing issues. This is why they are a major part of contemporary sewer repair methods, such as pipe relining and pipe bursting.

What Can a Sewer Camera Inspection See?

Locate lines: Sewer inspection cameras often have a location device attached to them. With the aid of a special receiver above the ground, the specialist can detect the camera and know where the sewer line runs below the ground. 

This can be very helpful when you need to dig the ground. Digging may be necessary if the issue is an old damaged pipe that cannot be fixed with trenchless pipe repair. In this case, the sewer and drain specialist knows exactly where to dig, hence minimizing the possible damage to your yard. 

Determine pipe types: Using a sewer camera, you will be able to tell what kind of pipe was installed in the sewer line. Whether it is PVC or cast iron pipe. This is important when doing a replacement of the bad drain pipes.

Locate clogs in your sewer line: Over time, your drain system may become slow in flushing out wastewater and the likes. This is often a result of a build-up of dirt in your sewer line. As the grease, dirt, and wastewater flow through, they tend to cling to the surface of the drain pipes, restricting the flow of waste.

At other times, solid materials washed down the toilet may refuse to flow through, thereby causing a blockage. If you live in an area surrounded by trees, you might also experience the growth of tree roots inside your durian pipes. A sewer camera line can detect all these issues, making it easy for the plumber or drain specialist to address the problem appropriately. 

Study your drain and sewer system: Sometimes, to solve sewer line issues, your plumber will need to analyze your sewer system. Without the camera, it would be impossible to see the tees, fittings or know what kind of pipe was used in the installation. 

At N.W. Drains and Sewer, a camera inspection allows us to see how the lines connect and where the waters are flowing from or flowing to. A camera inspection also tells us if the pipes are more modern types or older, sometimes more than a hundred years old.

What Can a Sewer Camera Inspection Not See?

Finally, getting to what a sewer camera cannot see, the most important thing to note is that it cannot see leaks. Many plumbing companies may run a camera inspection of your sewer system and tell you that you have a leak here and there. 

Unfortunately, a sewer camera cannot see leaks because of the murky nature of the inside of a pipe. A leak means water seeping out of the pipes or entering into the pipes through tiny holes or openings. Since the camera is inside the pipe, there is no way it can see whether the water is coming into or leaving the pipes. 

Besides, what may look like a leak may, in fact, not be a leak, and vice versa. Remember that the plumber is observing and interpreting from a camera. Sometimes, the walls of the pipes are covered with multiple layers of gunk and all sorts of dirt. A crack in one of these can seem like a leak, whereas it is not. 

The findings from a sewer camera inspection can inform the repair procedure that the sewer and drain specialist might suggest. For instance, if the inspection reveals a clog is blocking the flow of waste, they can either recommend snaking or hydro-jetting to dislodge the clogs and free up the flow. 

At N.W. Drain & Sewer, we often advise our clients to opt for hydro-jetting, as it is the most effective method for removing blockages and clogs from your drain pipes, including root intrusions. Snaking is equally effective but may not completely clean out stubborn debris. 

If the camera detects broken, old, or damaged pipes, your best approach is to get a replacement. In a few cases, the company might recommend digging trenches to remove and replace the bad pipes. But this can often be quite destructive to your yard, pathways and driveway and can often be more expensive, invasive. It can be more expensive and invasive. An alternative, which works the majority of the time, is trenchless sewer repair. We utilize trenchless sewer repairs for replacing broken, leaking, or damaged pipes. 

It is cheaper, less invasive, and eco-friendly. The most significant benefit of using a trenchless pipe repair method is the comfort it offers you. And this is because it utilizes a sewer inspection camera and can replace bad drain pipes even without digging any trenches.

Is a Sewer Camera Inspection Enough to Detect the Problem in My Plumbing System?

Unfortunately, a sewer camera inspection is not always enough to find the faults in many plumbing systems. Whether in residential or commercial buildings, a sewer camera inspection may not be adequate to diagnose the problems in your plumbing system fully. 

 Note that if you’re looking for leaks, the plumbing company may not be doing a thorough job if they only rely on sewer camera inspection. For more complicated sewer line issues, your plumbing service provider may need to incorporate other plumbing techniques to understand the nature of the problem fully. 

When Plumbing Issues Originate from Outside Your Property

Your home’s sewer line connects to a larger public main sewer (outside your home) under the street, which in turn leads to the city’s sewer. A residential sewer line typically starts where the home’s main drain exits the house foundation, then connects to the city’s sewer. 

Sometimes, a sewer backup may not arise from a broken or clogged pipe, or even your home’s plumbing system. It could be due to the accumulation of clogs from other houses in the neighborhood. And it can also be from the municipality’s sewer line. Having a professional sewer and drain company run a sewer camera inspection of your plumbing system can help you understand whether the backup is from within or outside your home.

The cost of sewer camera inspection varies depending on the nature of the project and the company you hire. The prices you get differ across companies, so there’s no definite price for a sewer camera inspection. Some companies will charge you based on the number of hours it takes to pinpoint the problem. 

Others may charge you based on the manpower required to sort out the issue. But in some cases, what a sewer camera inspection will cost you depends on both the manpower and the time spent on the job. So, it is best to contact the company and inquire about their price before hiring.

When you compare prices from different companies, you can choose the best according to your budget. Keep in mind that hiring a cheaper sewer camera inspection is more likely to get you a lower-quality job. If you’re looking to get the best services, consider reviewing your budget. 

One thing worthy of note is that a sewer camera is an important tool used in sewer camera inspections. These cameras come in different qualities, and you can easily tell that a cheaper price is synonymous with a lower-quality sewer camera. Below, we discuss some salient tips to keep in mind when hiring a drain and sewer company for a sewer camera inspection.

If you’re experiencing a sewer backup, slow-moving drain, or a drain pipe blockage, you need a sewer camera inspection done to ascertain the nature and extent of the problem. For this, you need a reliable and experienced company with a track record of carrying out successful video camera inspections of your sewage line.

Because of the technical nature of the job, be on the lookout for a known name and trusted name in your neighborhood or city. You can’t afford to have an inexperienced plumber experiment with your sewer line. If possible, ask to see their website, portfolio, and reviews. One good way to spot a good company is by checking if they’re registered with the relevant regulatory bodies. Do note that this differs depending on where you live.

Why You Need a Professional Company for a Sewer Camera Inspection?

The importance of a sewer camera inspection can hardly be overemphasized. If you need to locate the dig point, you need to be sure of the exact location of the lines to avoid digging in the wrong parts of your yard. It takes a professional to use the equipment effectively.

If it is a blockage that you need to clear, you want to be sure that a professional is handling the job. This makes it easy to determine the exact cause of the blockage and the best corrective actions to take. Generally, considering that a sewer camera inspection is often needed to inform another important corrective approach to sewer problems, it only makes sense to have the right company handle the job.

Residential & Commercial Sewer Camera Inspection from N.W. Sewer & Drains

Whether you need sewer camera inspection for residential or commercial property, you can rely on the quality of our services at N.W. Sewer & Drain. We follow the best practices for resolving all kinds of drainage and sewer line problems. 

The procedure for commercial properties is basically the same as with that of residential buildings. However, the cost of commercial sewer camera inspection may be more than the residential alternative. It can also vary depending on the size of the building and the nature of the plumbing system in the building. Massive office complexes often have a complex plumbing system, and it may take more time to detect the issue.

Reliable Sewer Camera Inspection from N.W. Sewer & Drain

At N.W. Sewer & Drain, we have a reliable team of experienced sewer and drain specialists  who are committed to helping all our clients fix all their drainage issues and free clogged pipes in their homes and facilities. An essential aspect of our services is a preliminary camera inspection. This helps us advise our clients on the most appropriate remedies for their sewer problems.

We currently service residential and commercial properties in Seattle and in surrounding cities , including Edmonds, Marysville, Everett, Arlington, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Bellingham, Bellevue, Kirkland, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Auburn, etc. For about 20 years, we have maintained top-notch drain cleaning services. Whether snaking, hydro-jetting, or trenchless sewer pipe repair, we follow the best practices in the industry.

Our hydro-jetting solution is highly effective in clearing sewer and drain lines of all kinds of stubborn debris and clogs. We are not only reliable but also affordable. If you are on the lookout for an affordable and reliable sewer camera inspection service, feel free to contact us today at 206-931-7728 to schedule an inspection of your drain lines.