Drainage & Sewer FAQs

If your sewer backs up, chances are that you are responsible for seeing that it is resolved. Depending on the area you live in, your upstream neighbors may be liable to assist you with remedying the situation as well. After all, it’s likely partly their fault the backup occurred and they’ll certainly be affected by it as well.

Depending on where the problem originated, resolving it may wind up being the city’s responsibility, but you’ll probably need a professional to come out and tell you if this is the case.

The best way to avoid repeated sewer or drainage backup problems is to have regular maintenance performed on your sewer and drain lines by a professional plumber. It’s natural that tree roots will grow into your drain lines and that residue will accumulate over time. There is no easy fix to this except to have your system inspected and flushed annually.

There are certainly some chemical products out there that claim to be able to stop roots from blocking your drains or to remove buildup, but these are no replacement for a proper, professional cleaning. Also, the methods professional plumbers use are much more environmentally friendly than the commercially available chemical products.

You will also benefit from regular professional maintenance visits because they will allow experts to thoroughly inspect your drainage system for cracks or leaks. While these may not have surfaced as problems yet, they can certainly cause you plenty of trouble in the long run. When technicians carry out annual inspections, they can easily address these types of issues before they become a bigger problem.

Video inspection gives technicians a clear picture of what your drainage system looks like, what potential problems exist and where they need to focus their cleaning, maintenance or repair efforts. Video inspection allows them to remove clogs much more efficiently because they can determine exactly where it is and what it’s made of. Rather than flushing the entire system blindly, expert plumbers can address the problem and remove it quickly without causing you any more inconvenience than is absolutely necessary.

Video inspections can also help to detect minor cracks or damage in your sewer and drainage lines before they actually become big problems. By utilizing this technology, these types of problems are isolated and repaired before you’re even aware that they exist.

Not necessarily. With the video inspection technology, locations of the problems can be pinpointed and necessary repairs can be made with only a minimum of disruption to your yard or the surrounding areas. Trenchless repair systems allow techs do this because they simply dig two small holes to access the pipe rather than unearthing the entire line. However, in extreme circumstances, technicians may still have to make use of a trench to completely repair your system.