If you're a homeowner in Los Angeles, getting a sewer scope inspection is an important part of maintaining your plumbing and sewer system. Keep reading to learn all about these inspections - what they check for, why they're necessary, when you need one, what to expect during the process, and more.
What is a Sewer Scope Inspection?
A sewer scope inspection, also sometimes called a sewer camera inspection, uses a specialized camera on a long, flexible cord to visually inspect the inside of your property's sewer and drain pipes. The camera is carefully fed through your pipes and drainage system, allowing a technician to get a close look at their condition on a video monitor.
These inspections help identify any issues or damage in your sewer and drain pipes, including:
Clogs: Buildups of debris, roots, grease, and other materials that obstruct pipe flow.
Cracks: Broken or damaged pipes letting groundwater, roots, and dirt infiltrate the system.
Disjoints: Pipes that have separated or moved out of alignment.
Corrosion: Deterioration and wearing away of pipe walls from age and exposure.
In addition to the pipe condition itself, sewer camera inspections also check for proper slope and flow within the drainage system.
Why Do You Need a Sewer Scope Inspection in Los Angeles?
There are a few key reasons why sewer scope inspection in Los Angeles are particularly important for Los Angeles homeowners:
Old Infrastructure
Many areas of LA still have old clay or concrete sewer pipes installed over 50 or more years ago. These aging pipes are vulnerable to cracks, breaks, roots, and other damage over time. Inspections help identify issues before they turn into major disasters like sewage backups or sinkholes.
Tree Root Intrusion
With lots of trees and vegetation around LA neighborhoods, root invasion into aging sewer lines is extremely common. Roots can cause serious pipe damage and blockages. A sewer camera can pinpoint problem areas for removal before backups or overflows occur.
Ground Shifting
As soils shift over time, subterranean pipes can settle, disjoint, or break. This happens frequently with the clay soils underlying much of the Los Angeles basin. The smallest misalignment or crack allows debris and roots to enter the line.
Mandatory for Major Work
If you're planning any major plumbing upgrades, remodeling projects, or property improvements in LA, a clean sewer scope is usually required by code and for permitting. Identifying issues ahead of time prevents headaches later.
When Do You Need a Sewer Scope Inspection?
In addition to mandatory inspections for renovations, there are a few situations that call for proactive sewer scoping in a Los Angeles home:
During a Home Purchase
Sewer scopes are commonly performed during the buying process before purchasing a home. They help buyers identify and address any hidden issues that could turn into major plumbing headaches and expenses later on.
Signs of Trouble
Noticing warning signs like gurgling drains, fused fixtures, sewage odors, or backed up sinks and toilets means something is likely wrong in your drainage system underneath. A camera inspection can get to the root of the problem area.
Routine Maintenance
Even without any obvious issues, it's smart to get your LA sewer pipes scoped about every 3 years as routine maintenance. This helps find and address small problems before they lead to catastrophic pipe failures under your home.
Replacing Old Pipes
If your LA house still has aging clay or concrete sewer pipes over 40-50 years old, its time to consider replacing them before they fail. A sewer scope provides the exact location and scope of replacement needed.
What to Expect During a Sewer Scope Inspection
Sewer scope inspections are usually simple, straight-forward processes:
Accessing the Pipes
First, the technician will locate the access points to your home’s sewer and drain system. This is typically via the cleanouts installed around the home, or by snaking a camera through your main sewer line from the street connection.
Feeding the Camera
Next, the flexible camera cable gets fed through your pipes so the technician can visualize the interior surfaces. The camera shows pipes, joints, connections etc and beams images back to the technician's monitor.
Documenting Damage
As the camera travels through the pipes, the technician carefully documents any damage, clogs, roots intrusions, cracks, or other issues observed. This creates a detailed record of all problem areas needing repairs.
Flushing for Clear Views
For the best view, drainage pipes may need flushing to remove any standing water or debris residue. Your pipes will be left clean as a whistle after the camera work is complete!
Reviewing the Footage
Once finished, the technician can review footage with you, pointing out any worrisome spots and advising next steps. A full report with images pinpoints all areas needing repairs.
From start to finish, the average sewer scope inspection takes 1-2 hours. Actual camera time running through your pipes is usually less than 30 minutes.
What Do Sewer Cameras Find in Los Angeles Homes?
In this sprawling city, sewer cameras often uncover pipe issues including:
Intruding Tree Roots
Trees like willows, ficus, palms, and cypress are especially aggressive root invaders into clay and concrete sewer pipes around Los Angeles. Their tiny roots penetrate the smallest cracks seeking moisture. Over time, they grow larger causing major clogs and pipe fractures. Regular sewer inspections find root clusters before this happens. Root issues are incredibly common, turning up in 1 out of 3 LA homes scoped.
Old Broken Pipes
With the region’s aging infrastructure, collapsed, misaligned and broken drain pipes are another very common discovery during sewer inspections. Camera footage reveals pipes that have cracked, settled, or separated at joints over the decades. Clay pipes installed before the 1970s are particularly vulnerable as they weaken with age.
Heavy Corrosion and Deterioration
The mineral content and alkalinity of Los Angeles soil can be very corrosive to buried metal pipes over time. Cast iron, galvanized steel, and copper pipes corrode into a weakened, flaky state if not replaced by more modern PVC piping. Camera inspections identify the worst sections needing replacement before leaks develop.
Standing Water & Pipe Sags
In areas with expansive clay soils, subsurface ground shifting is an ongoing battle. When pipes settle unevenly it causes sags, bellies and low spots that hold standing water. This allows sediment and debris to accumulate, causing major drainage bottlenecks. Cameras locate areas needing realignment.
Why Choose a Professional for Sewer Scoping?
While you can buy DIY sewer cameras online for under $100, hiring a professional plumber for the job is highly advised. Here’s why:
Better Equipment: Pro grade, commercial cameras provide superior lighting, video clarity and pipe coverage compared to hobbyist DIY models.
Experience: Reputable plumbers scope hundreds of properties analyzing footage daily. Their keen, trained eyes better spot subtle (but important) problems average homeowners might overlook.
Protected Pipes: Professionals are careful not to damage pipes while feeding delicate cameras through. Novices can scratch or break pipe interiors trying to maneuver unfamiliar scopes.
Safety: Plumbing pros take necessary confined space entry precautions like gas detection and ventilation when entering restricted areas like manholes and sewer mains. They also follow strict electrical safety standards.
Documentation: Companies provide detailed scope reports pinpointing all discovered pipe damage and advising next repair steps. DIY cameras lack essential measurement tools and location documentation.
While seemingly straightforward, sewer scopes take skill and practice to execute properly. Protect your pipes (and sanity!) by calling qualified drain camera inspection pros!
Ready to Scope Your Drains?
Hopefully this overview gives Los Angeles homeowners better insight on the importance of regular professional Sewer Scope Inspections to maintain aging drain systems. Catching small problems early saves huge headaches later!
For reliable sewer camera inspections across Greater Los Angeles, contact a qualified professional plumber today. And be sure to scope those pipes every few years as smart preventative maintenance. Keeping your underground drains clear and flowing smoothly for years to come starts with seeing inside them today!
