What Is a Sewer Pipe Inspection (And Why Do You Need Them)?

Your sewer line is a mystery. Deep under the earth is a pipe that runs waste from your home or business to the public sewer system. Unless you have x-ray vision, you won’t be able to see any problems that develop in that pipe until it’s too late. Blocked sewer lines can cause waste to flow back up and into the building. Broken and leaking pipes can lead to sinkholes!

Do you want a disgusting, stinking, and unhealthy situation on your hands? Absolutely not!

What should you do? Get a sewer pipe inspection!

What is a Sewer Pipe Inspection?

When you need to find the precise location of a problem in your sewer line, a sewer pipe inspection is your best solution. Digging around to search for the clogged or broken pipe section will waste both time and money. And we aren’t talking about a little money. A simple sewer pipe inspection can save you thousands of dollars!

Instead of tearing up your entire front yard, hire a certified inspector who uses a special waterproof camera called a sewer scope to snake through the waste line. This professional-grade equipment has a light to illuminate the pipe properly so that the camera can see clearly. It offers the inspector both video footage and a measurement of how far down the pipe the camera is located.

Prevention is Key

Buildings that were constructed over 20 years ago should definitely receive a sewer line inspection. Especially if you are interested in buying the property or have already purchased it, you will want to check for issues before they cause serious damage. Divinity Inspection Service can perform a sewer scope inspection along with our home inspection for an additional cost.

Types of Sewer Pipes and Their Problems

Sewer pipes come in all shapes and sizes.

• They make the newer sewer lines from mostly PVC (plastic) which do not corrode. However, they can still suffer from multiple situations that can put your home or business at risk. It’s always best to check on them every few years.
• Cast iron sewer pipes have an average life expectancy of between 30 and 50 years. Even though they last long they are prone to corrosion, and there is a possibility that something will go wrong. Having a sewer line inspection every one to two years will ease your worries and pinpoint trouble before it can wreak havoc on your property. 
• Vitrified clay pipes (VCP), otherwise known as “clay tile pipe”, are a ceramic line made from clay and shale. They are a high-quality product that is completely resistant to rust and decomposition that metals face, but they can crack. Your greatest risk with VCP sewage piping is tree roots. They can puncture or push the clay pipes out of alignment. If you have trees located around the sewage line, it’s necessary to have a sewage pipe inspection once in a while to check for disruptions in the waste flow.

Common Issues for Sewer Pipes

Now that we covered what type of pipes there are, let’s focus on the most common issues.

Offsetting

When sewer pipes are newly installed, they line up perfectly in a straight line. There are no gaps or separation between pipe sections and the flow of waste runs through smoothly. But over time the joints can wear down. 

Vibrations from vehicles, construction projects, and ground impact from falling tree limbs can abruptly offset the alignment. When the pipes shift or disconnect, the line is no longer straight. Just like a large crack in a road, the gap isn’t just unsightly, it spells big trouble. The sewage can leak out, roots can crawl in, and sewage gets stuck.

Vibrations from vehicles, construction projects, and ground impact from falling tree limbs can abruptly offset the alignment. When those pipes shift or disconnect, the line is no longer straight. Just like a large crack in a road, the gap isn’t just unsightly, it spells big trouble. The sewage can leak out, roots can crawl in, and sewage gets stuck.

A Belly

Your private sewer line should be straight and tip slightly down to allow gravity to pull waste away from your property and into the public sewage line. Just like the foundation of a home can sink and cause complications, when your sewer line sinks, it can create a curve that levels out at the bottom. 

Instead of sewage flowing down steadily, it flows down the curve and stops or slows down considerably before it can reach the main line. It settles in your sewer line instead of leaving. Whenever anything sits for too long, it gunks up and becomes immovable. 

Clogs

No matter how perfect your pipes might be, a clog can still happen. Luckily, this is one of the easiest situations to handle. As long as the pipes themselves are in perfect condition, a licensed plumber can safely remove a clog.

When people assume that a sewage line problem is “just a clog” there can be horrible consequences. If the clog has resulted from broken pipes, routing the pipe blindly won’t solve the actual issue. As the damage progressively gets worse, so does your repair cost.

Sewer Pipe Inspection in Tampa Bay, Florida

When you need a sewer pipe inspection performed in your residential or commercial property in Tampa Bay, Florida, contact the professional inspectors at Divinity Inspection Services and schedule a visit. Our team experts are trained to notice every minute detail. We will quickly and accurately identify all sewer line trouble and report it to you.