Not long ago any kind of sewer backup meant that you would most likely have to dig up and replace your entire sewer line. This was a messy and expensive way to deal with a whole range of possible problems, some of them which can actually be quite simple and cheap to deal with. However, new plumbing technologies have led to the widespread use of cameras for sewer inspections to diagnose the sewer problems, which has led to much more effective and inexpensive handling of sewer problems.

How Camera Inspections Work

Professional sewer repair companies use hi-tech cameras to inspect the entire length of your sewer system to diagnose existing and potential sewer problems. The camera itself is a small device at the end of a few inches of electronic cable. The cable is attached to a length of flexible wire that will bend around corners or obstructions, but retain enough tension that the plumber can push it down the pipe from the insertion point.

The cable connects to a monitor that offers a high definition real-time image of whatever the camera sees. The camera has a built-in light that illuminates the surrounding area for a few feet, so that the plumber can identify precisely what any obstruction or clogs are made from.

The plumber will run the camera down the entire length of the sewer line, if possible, to identify all possible problem areas, and then provide a full diagnosis of your existing and potential sewer line problems. He will then offer a set of possible solutions for addressing your sewer problems that will run from simply pushing through a clog to replacing your entire sewer line with a new pipe.

The Most Common Sewer Line Diagnoses

While there are many kinds of problems that may occur in your sewer line, most problems fall into a few major categories.

• Tree roots – The roots of trees around your property are drawn to the water inside your sewer pipe. They will grow around and inside a sewer pipe, which can cause substantial blockage and damage.
• Broken, cracked, collapsed or misaligned pipes – Pipe damage is most often the result of temperature change in the surrounding soil, especially freezing, and shifting soil, which occurs in soft and sandy soils.
• Blockage – While the most common cause for blockage is grease, there are numerous reasons why a sewer line can become blocked.
• Pipe deterioration or corrosion – Pipes made from older material that are not modern PVC piping are at risk of deterioration and corrosion. As the pipe loses its integrity, it can become blocked with broken pipe pieces and surrounding dirt. Eventually the pipe will collapse entirely, which will definitely result in major blockage of the sewer line.
• Bellied pipe – Occasionally a portion of the pipe will sink lower into the ground, which creates an area where sewage will pool instead of flowing out.
• Leaking joints – The seals between the joints of old pipes can break or loosen, which will allow water to seep out between the broken seals.