What is Video Sewer Inspection?

It’s bad enough to find out that you need to have sewer work done. It’s even worse when you don’t know what has gone wrong with your sewer lines or how to find the problem.

That’s where a sewer video inspection comes in. Here’s what you need to know to decide if a sewer pipe camera inspection is right for you. If it is, call us at Scott English Plumbing today and we’ll come take a look at your sewer soon!

What is Video Sewer Inspection and How Can it Help My Sewer?

When it comes to sewer, drains, and other hidden parts of your plumbing, it refers to using a video camera to diagnose the problem and determine the best way to fix it.

Without a camera sewer inspection, we might have to dig up your sewer line or take out pieces of your walls or flooring in order to find the problem and fix it. This can be an extensive and invasive process and it can make the project take longer. When we can use a camera to find the issue, the whole process is faster and we may not have to take your home or your yard apart to fix it. 

How Does a Video Sewer Inspection Work?

Different professional plumbers will have different ways of inspecting your sewer with a camera. At Scott English Plumbing, we will bring out a van equipped by CUES, who sets the standard for sewer video inspection equipment.

The cameras we use are remote-controlled and robotic, so they are fully versatile and able to see everything we need to see inside your sewer. We can insert them into almost any pipe, drain, or sewer entry point, no matter how big or small it is, and the camera can travel laterally up to 80 feet. 

The sewer pipe camera that we use offers a variety of options for focus, zoom, lighting, and other controls, so we can get a good look at whatever is going on in your pipes or your sewer. Before you know it, you’ll have answers to all of your burning sewer questions and you’ll know what we recommend when it comes to fixing your sewer.

Should I Choose a Video Camera Sewer Inspection?

We find that a video sewer inspection is the best option for most of the people we work with. Its benefits include:

• It is better for the environment. Digging can release toxins from the soil and it’s not good for any living things we have to unearth. 
• It’s fast. Digging or tearing out walls and floors takes time, but putting a camera in your pipes is easy. Get the solutions you need quickly with a video sewer inspection. 
• It’s affordable. Many sewer repairs can involve pinpoint digging or can be completed without any digging at all. Don’t pay for digging you don’t need and get a camera inspection instead.

If a video sewer inspection is the right choice for you, contact us at Scott English Plumbing to schedule a sewer camera inspection in Orange County today!

The Most Common Causes of Sewer Backups

No one likes it when their sewer backs up! After all, a sewer backup can cause major problems at home. At the very least, it disrupts your schedule and takes away from your peace of mind.

You can help avoid a sewer line backup if you know what causes these issues. This information can also help you understand what is going on if your main sewer line is already having a problem. 

Clogs

Your sewer line can get clogged just like your pipes can, though it usually requires more waste or debris to clog a sewer line than it does a pipe, simply because sewer lines usually have a larger diameter than your other pipes. 

You’ll know it’s a sewer backup when more than one drain is clogged in your house or when you have odd draining problems (like your bathtub fills with water every time your washer drains!).

Avoid these clogs by:

• Limiting what you put down the toilet.
• Using common sense when it comes to putting things down the garbage disposal.
• Not putting grease or oil down the drain. 
• Calling Scott English for profesional drain cleaning.

Broken or Collapsed Sewer Lines

If you have an older home with a clay or cast iron main sewer line, then your backup could be caused by a broken or collapsed sewer line. Age causes these materials to deteriorate and, eventually, they will break.

It is much less common to have a broken or collapsed line with the new plastic or PVC pipes. They do not deteriorate nearly as quickly and so homes that have them installed have fewer sewer problems overall. If you’re facing a broken or collapsed sewer line, call us ASAP for sewer repair!

Tree Roots

Tree roots can cause a couple of problems with your sewer line, both of which can end up with sewer backups in your home. Tree roots can grow into your sewer line, causing a major clog. They can also grow around the line and, eventually, crush a section of it.

The tree doesn’t have to be right over the line. In fact, it may not even be in your yard. Most trees have root systems just as extensive as their branch systems. Just because you don’t have a tree doesn’t eliminate this from the list of culprits for your sewer problem. If you do have roots in your sewer, we can remove them with expert sewer cleaning in Orange County.

If you’re experiencing a sewer line backup, call us at Scott English Plumbing ASAP. Don’t let these problems wait because they only get worse. Call for help with your sewer backup today!

Just How Durable is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

If you’re facing a sewer problem, you’ve probably heard or read about trenchless sewer repair. Many people spend a lot of time wondering which type of repair would be better for them or wondering how to make the most out of every dollar they spend on their sewer. 

There are many rumors and misconceptions out there about trenchless pipe repair. One we hear a lot is that trenchless sewer repairs don’t last. Here’s the truth you need to know before you make a final decision on the type of sewer repairs you want or need. 

The Trenchless Sewer Repair Process

First, it’s important to understand exactly what trenchless sewer repair is. These technologies allow us to fix your sewer without having to dig up your yard, or by only digging a few, small holes, instead of a trench along the entire length of your sewer line. 

We’ll work through the sewer access hatch in or near your home. Our technology allows us to visually inspect sewer pipes, clean sewer pipes, replace sections of pipe, and more, all without digging up your yard. 

Misconceptions About Trenchless Sewer Repair

One of the most common trenchless pipe repairs that we do is called pipe relining. We can place a liner over a small hole or crack in your pipe so that your sewer line stops leaking. 

Many people hear the word “liner” and they assume that these sewer repairs are flimsy and that they won’t last very long. They believe that anything flexible enough to fit inside a pipe and then get applied with glue can’t be very strong. 

The Truth You Need to Know

While it might be hard to believe, these pipe liners can last up to 50 years! This can be much longer than the life of many types of sewer lines. Since the liners aren’t made of metal, they won’t rust or corrode. Most people find that they have many other sewer issues before their liner gives them trouble!

Contact us at Scott English Plumbing today if you would like to know more about trenchless sewer repair in Orange County or if you think it might be the right solution for you.