See a complete breakdown of an average sewer line inspection cost. We discuss what is typically included, extra factors to consider, and more.
Sure, it’s not pleasant to imagine what’s coming and going in the pipes and infrastructure underneath
your home, but there are times when getting to know your sewer line better can save you from messes and unnecessary spending.
Curious about total sewer line inspection cost?
We have the answers to that question and more. Read on to learn more about what an inspection includes and a few reasons you might need one.
Buying a Home with a Sewer?
Don’t laugh. Not every home connects to a community sewer system. They all generate wastewater, but some homes are on a septic system and some are on the system owned by their local municipality. Today we’re talking about sewer line inspections. If you have a septic tank, that’s a whole different conversation.
If you’re in the process of buying a home connected to the city’s sewer, pay attention.
You’ll likely have a home inspection. While that doesn’t usually include a sewer line inspection, if the home is more than 20 years old go the extra mile and schedule one because old homes can have issues ranging from tree roots invading the sewer line to old Orangeburg pipes.
New homes can also have issues with the sewer line. For example, due to the way some crews build homes, you may have an issue caused by ground settling. An inspection could pick up on a sheared sewer line.
Other Reasons You Might Need a Sewer Inspection
We’ve already talked about why you should have a sewer inspection when buying a home. Once you’ve moved in, there are a few other reasons why you might need an inspection.
A Stubborn Clog
Sometimes you have a backup in a toilet, sink, or bathtub that you can’t fix with a plunger or other DIY clog removal method. If that happens it may mean the clog is located too far down the line. A sewer inspection can locate the obstruction and deal with it appropriately.
Collapsed Pipe
A collapsed pipe is easily confused with a clog. It acts like a clog because the water won’t flow. No amount of plunging will fix a collapsed pipe. A sewer inspection can identify the damage.
Identification of a Foreign Object
Whether it’s a child flushing their prized G.I. Joe down the toilet for covert operations or a ring accidentally dropped down the drain, there are a variety of reasons you might have a specific object stuck in your plumbing. If someone in your home flushed something they shouldn’t have, an inspection can locate the object and use a special tool to pull it out.
While we know you hope an inspection only finds clogs and toys, Eyman is equipped to handle the bigger things too.
Ready to Look into Your Sewer Line?
When you schedule a total sewer line inspection, a plumber will bring a camera designed to looks into the pipes. Depending on the type of technology they use, your plumber may also bring a video camera.
The high-resolution video camera sits on the tip of a flexible pole. The plumber inserts the pole into the pipe and the camera records things like obstructions and defects.
The plumber then uses the video footage to help them determine the depth and the physical location of any obstructions. The camera is especially helpful when clearing tree roots. If you’re with the plumber during the inspection and see evidence of tree roots, ask about on-the-spot tree root removal.
If you haven’t bought the home yet, it’s something you should consider requesting from the home’s current owner.
The Sewer Line Inspection Process
Wondering how the plumber gets a camera in pipes that sit 5-6 feet under your house?
First, they look for a way in—a point of access or clean out. Most plumbers prefer going in through a clean out, but if you don’t have one or its not accessible, they will discuss other options.
A clog or other obstruction is usually removed with a power snake or by hydrojet before the camera recording begins.
Once the plumber gains clear access, they push the camera through the pipe starting at the clean out and ending at the main line to the city sewer. Then, they inspect the line.
Does the Sewer Inspection Find Every Problem?
Clogs and broken sewer lines aren’t the only things that cause plumbing problems.
You may have a leak in a pipe. As a stand-alone tool, a sewer inspection can’t prove whether you have a leak or not. It can’t isolate a leak either.
Water leaks out through a hole or crack. The sewer camera only sees activity inside the pipe. Pipe material, especially if it has corrosion build-up, can also make it difficult to determine if what the plumber sees on the camera is really a hole or crack.
A sewer inspection is sometimes used as a secondary tool when detecting and repairing leaks.
Sewer Line Inspection Cost
If you’ve determined you need a sewer line inspection, you’ll pay anywhere between $227 and $797. At the high end of the scale, you could pay up to $1,200.
The cost depends on where you live and who you call. It also depends on the equipment the plumber uses and how long it takes to complete the inspection.
This is for the sewer camera inspection. If the plumber uses a video camera, the price may increase.
Need Help Troubleshooting a Sewer Problem?
If you have a drain that doesn’t drain, a toilet that doesn’t flush, or a back-up somewhere else in your plumbing line, consider hiring a plumber for a sewer line inspection.
To schedule an inspection, discuss our sewer line inspection cost, or get help for another plumbing and heating issue, call us today at (402) 731-2727.
When you see the big red truck, you know you have a plumbing company you can trust taking care of your home.