If you've been having problems with your toilet clogging and slow drains, there might be a problem with your sewer line. Since the drain is buried under the ground, you and the plumber have no idea what's going on inside of it to cause the problem. Instead of digging up the entire pipe and tearing up your yard just to inspect the sewer line, your plumber can do a video inspection instead. Here's how a sewer line inspection is done.

A Lighted Camera Is Sent Down The Line

A sewer camera is on the end of a long cable. The cable winds around a reel, and a monitor is attached to the reel so the plumber can watch the video as the camera moves through the drain. A commercial sewer camera has a long cable that's able to reach all the way to the end of your sewer line unless you have an exceptionally large yard. The camera lights up the inside of the pipe as it moves along and gives the plumber an excellent view of the condition of the pipe.

The Video Can Show A Number Of Problems

Sewer lines can clog repeatedly when roots invade the drain. You might use a drain auger to clear the clog, but the roots grow back and you have to unclog the drain again. A sewer line inspection easily shows roots growing in the line and how many roots are present. Clogs can also be caused by a collapsed sewer line.

The line might collapse due to damage from tree roots or because the pipe settled. Settling can cause a joint to come apart or sink in one area and make a low spot that collects water and debris that eventually causes the pipe to collapse. All of these problems can be seen in the video sent back by the camera.

A Sewer Camera Also Marks The Clog's Location

The big benefit of having a sewer line inspection done is that the reason for the clog and the clog's location are identified. This prevents the need to dig up the pipe unnecessarily. This is important if the plumber plans on making trenchless repairs where the pipe can be lined so it doesn't need to be dug up at all. Without a camera, the pipe would have to be excavated.

When the camera marks the spot by sending a location signal, the plumber knows exactly where to dig to patch the pipe, and they can also tell if lining the pipe is suitable so the pipe doesn't have to be dug up. For more information, contact a company like Mesquite Plumbing Inc.