7 Signs You Need a Sewer Camera Inspection

Sewer line issues aren’t always immediately evident to a homeowner. Sometimes, you might find that a specific drain is slow, a toilet gurgles, or a distinct sewer odor comes and goes in a certain area like the basement, bathroom, or the yard. Many Colorado Springs homeowners wait for a sewage backup in their home before calling for repairs, but a sewer camera inspection may help identify the underlying problem before it becomes more complicated. Below ground, sewer lines in Colorado Springs can be affected by old pipes, lawn roots, soil changes, freezing weather, and daily household use. A professional video sewer inspection allows a sewer line contractor to inspect the sewer line and look underground to find the issue. Doing so can determine whether the problem is due to a clog, an intrusion of tree roots, a separated pipe, cracks, a buildup of debris, or a broken section of pipe that needs replacement. Here are seven signs that it is time for a sewer camera inspection in Colorado Springs.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

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What Is a Sewer Camera Inspection?

A sewer camera inspection can help identify the problem inside your line and give you a clearer path forward before the damage becomes more serious. Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair provides sewer camera inspections, sewer line repair, sewer replacement, and sewer cleaning for homeowners in Colorado Springs and nearby areas.

1. Multiple Drains Are Running Slow at the Same Time

One clogged sink or shower drain can indicate a local clog near that fixture. However, multiple drains slowing simultaneously could be a sign of a bigger problem with the sewer main. Check the bathtub, shower drain, toilet, laundry, or floor drain for the issue. If everything is acting up at the same time, the wastewater might be slow-moving through the primary drain pipe. A sewer camera video inspection will show whether the line is blocked, damaged, or narrowing due to buildup.

2. Toilet or Drains Are Gurgling

Gurgling noises from a toilet, tub, shower, or sink could indicate trapped air inside the plumbing system. Air is getting into the pipe when wastewater cannot flow freely through the sewer pipe. Toilets gurgling after a washing machine finishes its drain cycle, or water bubbling in the tub when you flush the toilet, are warning signs that you should take action. These types of noises could be due to a blockage or obstruction in the primary line.

3. Smell Sewage from the Drains or Yard

A sewer odor coming from the drain of a sink or toilet, or an area where the sewer line passes under the home, could be a sign of a crack, a broken seal, or a blocked vent. Odor is also common when wastewater has not properly flowed in the sewer line. A sewer inspection with a sewer camera may detect a damaged line, a buildup of waste, or a section of the sewer line that needs professional repair. If your home has a strong sewage smell, especially when accompanied by signs such as slow drains, wet areas in your yard, or plumbing backups, the problem should be resolved immediately.

4. Sewage or Dirty Water Backs Up Into The Home

A sewage backup in the home is a clear warning sign that you have a problem. Dirty water may come through a basement floor drain, a shower, a tub, or a toilet. It can also occur when you use fixtures, such as a flush, washing machine, or several sinks or toilets, in rapid succession. A sewage backup indicates a possible blockage or damage in the main sewer line. More water entering the sewer line will only exacerbate the problem by pushing the line to capacity.

5. Clogs Repeatedly Occur After They Have Been Cleaned

If a clog occurs once, then it is just an isolated plumbing issue that must be removed. If a clog is recurring, then a problem deeper in the plumbing system may exist. The sewer line may have rough pipe edges, root intrusion, heavy scale or grease buildup, or an improperly placed line where waste collects rather than flows away. Although cleaning the line is possible, the sewer line is likely the real problem and should be considered when the same service call keeps recurring for the clog to persist.

6. The Yard Has Wet, Sunken, or Greener Areas

Sometimes, sewer line issues can cause problems outside the home before they appear inside. Keep an eye out for soggy soil, low-lying areas, a strong sewage odor, or patches of grass that are greener than the rest above the sewer line path in your yard. Underground, a leaking sewage line will damage the grass and soil as water flows in an unintended direction. A damaged pipe can also wash out the soil beneath the ground and leave soft, sunken areas in the yard. Sewer video inspections can help locate the damaged section of the line and provide more information about repair options.

Resource: nachi.org

7. The Home Is Older or Surrounded by Large Trees

Older homes in Colorado Springs may have aging sewer pipes that have deteriorated due to the materials used and years of environmental exposure. Trees can also damage your sewer line as their root systems grow in search of moisture. Small gaps and cracks in the pipes provide easy access for tree roots, and once inside, they can grow into larger obstructions over time. A camera inspection can be an important first step for older homes, or large-tree properties where the previous owners never provided detailed sewer maintenance records. It’s also helpful before a big yard project or when plumbing problems keep popping up without warning.

What Can a Sewer Camera Inspection Find?

A professional sewer camera inspection can help pinpoint some of the more common sewer line issues, such as:

• Tree root intrusion
• Grease buildup
• Paper or foreign object blockages
• Cracked sewer pipe
• Separated pipe joints
• Collapsed bellied pipe or low spots
• Old pipe material

A sewer camera inspection will not fix the issue by itself. The information the inspection provides you will help determine the proper course of action.

Schedule a Sewer Camera Inspection in Colorado Springs

Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair can help with sewer line inspection, repair, replacement, cleaning, and related excavation in Colorado Springs and surrounding communities. Are your drains flowing sluggishly, with sewage odors and recurring backups? Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair can help give you a clear and accurate answer.

Final Thoughts

Slow drains, sewer odors, recurring clogs, or backups should not be left to guesswork. A sewer camera inspection can help identify the problem inside your line and give you a clearer path forward before the damage becomes more serious. Request an estimate from Spotted Dog Excavating Sewer and Water Repair and get clear answers about what is happening inside your sewer line.