What's hiding in your pipes?
A sewer scope inspection uses a camera attached to a snake-like cable to examine the home’s main sewer line. This privately-owned pipeline leads from the house to the publicly owned main sewer line or septic tank. Sewer scope inspection can reveal damage to the pipes, blockages, and other problems. These problems, if not repaired, could lead to extensive costs and damages.
Regardless of the age, every home should get a Sewer Line inspection as the only way to truly know the condition of your pluming system is with a video camera.
- The sewer line may be nearing the end of its lifecycle on homes that are 40 years and older.
- Homes that have trees and shrubs in the yard can have roots that penetrate the sewer line.
- Verify that the line does not have any build up or blockage from food, soaps, etc. that have gone down the toilet or drains.
- Ensure that the plumbing lines of new construction homes were installed correctly without any existing bellies or debris.
What it Includes
At AJF Inspections, we understand the importance of a well-maintained sewer system for the overall health of your property.
Choose us for sewer scope inspections that provide valuable insights into the condition of your sewer lines, helping you make informed decisions and prevent potential issues.
SEWER LINE VISUALIZATION
Utilization of specialized, top of the line, cameras to visually inspect the interior of sewer lines, identifying any obstructions, damage, or potential issues.
PIPE MATERIAL AND CONDITION
Assessment of the sewer line material and condition, pinpointing any signs of deterioration, corrosion, or wear that may affect performance.
ROOT INTRUSION DETECTION
Identification of tree root intrusion, a common cause of sewer line blockages and damage.
OBSTRUCTION ANALYSIS
Detection of any debris, clogs, or other obstructions that could impede proper wastewater flow.
REPORTING
Comprehensive reporting that includes visual documentation of the sewer line condition, accompanied by professional insights and recommendations.
FULL PICTURE
Sewer scopes provide insights into the complicated and high repair costs of the plumbing system hidden within and under your home, so you can make educated decisions before purchase
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is your sewer line accessed for inspection?
Modern homes are equipped with sewer access points known as cleanouts. Cleanouts are specifically designed with the intention to allow access to the main and secondary lines to “clean out” potential blockages and clogs. These access points also allow for the usage of cameras to inspect the drain lines. Older homes, before cleanouts were installed during construction, have larger roof vents intended for accessing the main sewer line in the event of a clog or issue.
What if I can’t find my cleanouts?
If a home was constructed with cleanouts, they are often covered up or hidden by landscaping changes over the years. When this occurs secondary access points may be used to locate them. Secondary cleanouts are smaller and do require a smaller camera to be used. Unfortunately,sometimes these smaller access points prevent the cleanouts from being found. In the event a secondary cleanout is not a usable option, a roof vent may be used. As construction requirements shifted to require cleanouts, this allowed for roof vents to be smaller and have more aggressive turns. Due to these changes, there are instances where a roof vent may not be adequate in finding the cleanouts. In these instances, a toilet will need to be removed to access the sewer line with the camera.
Why should I have my sewer inspected?
Sewer systems are a very out of sight out of mind aspect of a home until there is an issue. These issues can be extremely costly, inconvenient, and damaging to your home if left unaddressed or undiscovered. Sewer line issues and defects are not only found in older homes, but homes of all ages and even found in new builds. Homes utilizing septic systems also should be scoped.
What kind of issues can be found?
- Root intrusion
- Cracked/damaged pipes
- Rust/scale
- Belly/sagging pipes
- Sludge buildup
- Offsets/shifted pipes
- Improper installation
- Foreign objects/construction debris
- Orangeburg (recalled piping material)
What if the inspection report reveals problems?
It is important to note that no house is perfect. At the end of the sewer line inspection, we will provide a detailed report that describes the physical condition of the observable sewer line with images and video highlighting what may need repair or replacement. Some defects can be resolved or regularly maintained through sewer line hydro jetting, while others may require a more involved repair/replacement. AJF partners with a trusted plumbing company to provide repair cost estimates quickly based off our Sewer Scope report.
What is a root intrusion?
Root intrusions are a common find in sewer lines. Any occupied home has a steady and consistent flow of water through the drainage system. Roots of all types are attracted to the consistent source of water and will seek out seems or cracks to access it.” Then add “Root intrusions can clog the sewer line or damage the pipes. Hydrojetting can be a cost effective way to temporarily remove roots until sewer line repair or replacement becomes necessary.
How do roots get in the sewer?
Older homes with outdated sewer materials are more susceptible to root intrusion. As metal pipes corrode over time, they become rusted and brittle, once worn through the roots will begin to find the water source and move in through these voids.
Clay and concrete sewer pipe are made in very short sections creating many joints in the sewer line. These sections of pipe were most commonly joined by only a thin rubber gasket, once this gasket has failed or worn out it leaves numerous opportunities for growth.
Transitions of pipe materials are also a very common place to find roots. When transitioning materials many times the only way to make the connection is with a rubber coupling. Over time these connections can be damaged, become loose, and wear out leaving a clear pathway for roots to move in.
Once roots are present in a sewer line they will continue to grow until the pipe is closed off and completely overtaken.
Issues We May Uncover During an Evaluation
Tree Root Intrusions
Sewer Line Failures
Broken Pipes
Sags in Pipeline
Construction Debris
Clogs of Any Kind
Action Item FAQs
Rust/Scale buildup:
Cast iron pipes begin to rust after years of being exposed to water and moisture. As this process happens the rust deposits can become very rough and jagged, causing paper and waste products to stick or slow down when traveling through the sewer system, ultimately leading to blockages and narrowing of the pipe.
Clay and concrete sewer pipe are made in very short sections creating many joints in the sewer line. These sections of pipe were most commonly joined by only a thin rubber gasket, once this gasket has failed or worn out it leaves numerous opportunities for growth.
Transitions of pipe materials are also a very common place to find roots. When transitioning materials many times the only way to make the connection is with a rubber coupling. Over time these connections can be damaged, become loose, and wear out leaving a clear pathway for roots to move in.
Once roots are present in a sewer line they will continue to grow until the pipe is closed off and completely overtaken.
General pipe damage:
There are a number of factors that can contribute to pipe damage including: roots, age, construction damage/interference, settling of the ground, etc.
Clay and concrete sewer pipe are made in very short sections creating many joints in the sewer line. These sections of pipe were most commonly joined by only a thin rubber gasket, once this gasket has failed or worn out it leaves numerous opportunities for growth.
Transitions of pipe materials are also a very common place to find roots. When transitioning materials many times the only way to make the connection is with a rubber coupling. Over time these connections can be damaged, become loose, and wear out leaving a clear pathway for roots to move in.
Once roots are present in a sewer line they will continue to grow until the pipe is closed off and completely overtaken.
What is a “belly?”
Belly is a common term used in the plumbing industry to describe what occurs when there is a significant sag in the sewer line. A sewer line is supposed to follow a steady decline to allow the water, paper, and waste to flow all the way out of the sewer to the point of termination. If the sewer line does not follow a smooth decline and has a low spot it causes the contents to climb. In some instances, the belly in the line can be severe leaving standing water to stay in the sewer at all times. When water is unable to leave the pipe, anything put into the drainage system will be slowed down by the standing water and start to collect. Over time the collection of paper, waste, and all other products can lead to blockages and severe restriction of flow.
What is sludge?
Sludge is a broad term that encompasses a variety of types of buildup found in drains. This buildup can consist of everything put down any drain in the house from waste, food, soaps and detergents, beauty products, toothpaste, cooking waste, and anything else that makes its way down the drain in your home. Significant buildup throughout the line can obstruct the view of the camera and hide any defects that may be present in the sewer. Once this sludge buildup reaches a significant point it will also slow down drain function and ultimately lead to blockages.
What is an offset?
Offsets occur when a joint in the pipe does not line up properly with the next. Offsets can occur from improper installation, normal expansion and contraction of the soil, weight of traffic, and root system pressure. An offset acts as a speed bump in the drain system causing waste products to slow down and can contribute to blockages. In some cases, offsets can be severe enough to completely restrict the flow on their own.
Improper installation/Repair:
Older homes are not the only candidates for sewer problems, improper installation of sewer components and improper grading can lead to a belly in the line or restricted flow. Repairs done by underqualified individuals or done incorrectly are often found and lead to issues.
Foreign objects/Construction debris:
Many times during construction or a remodeling process accidents and negligence can lead to foreign objects falling into drains, building materials, and construction debris. Any of these items can lead to severe sewer issues and blockages.
Orangeburg:
Orangeburg pipe is a type of sewer line used in many properties built from 1945 to 1972. Orangeburg is a type of bituminized fiber pipe made from a mixture of hot pitch and wood pulp. Orangeburg pipes absorb moisture and become distorted, oftentimes in an ovular shape, under pressure. Layers of this material are also subject to bubbling up and closing the pipe off. Once Orangeburg begins to fail it is typically a very fast process.
- Detailed evaluation of all components inspected
- Digital report delivered within 24 hours of inspection
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