When was the last time you thought about a Mississauga sewer line inspection? If you're like most Mississauga homeowners, probably not that recently—if at all! After all, your plate is full enough as it is—balancing family life, work and finding time for yourself.
Yet, your sewer line (also called your main drain line) is one of the most important facets of your plumbing system. It's the pipe where all the other drains in your home connect to, and in turn, it connects to the public Mississauga sewer system. When there is a problem with your main drain, it impacts every other drain in your house. That’s why reliable Mississauga sewer line inspections are so important.
It can be tricky to know if there is a problem with your sewer line, as most of the pipe is hidden underground. That is where Mississauga sewer line inspection service comes in. There are certain warning signs and scenarios where it's worthwhile to have your system looked at by the professionals—such as the team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga. This inspection will help you catch problems before they escalate—saving you stress, time and money.
What is a Sewer Line Inspection?
At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga, we use the most advanced technology to look for issues with your main line. By completing a sewer camera inspection, we're able to find even the smallest cracks and signs of corrosion that could lead to serious problems—like flooding or Mississauga sewer system backups—in the future.
Mississauga sewer camera inspection service involves mounting a small waterproof video camera to the end of a flexible cable. One of our highly trained plumbing professionals will insert this video camera snake into the sewage system and push it through the sewer pipe while conducting a visual inspection. What's amazing about this technology, aside from being completely non-invasive, is that these cameras can be used in:
Underground pipes
Pipes encased in concrete
Pipes located behind walls
Pipes and drains beneath your home's foundation
Top Reasons to Get Mississauga Sewer Line Inspection Service
Hiring a Mississauga sewer line inspection service isn't typically a part of most routine plumbing maintenance, but there are certain occasions when you might suspect a problem with the drain, or would rather be safe than sorry. Ultimately, if you think you may need to hire Mississauga sewer repair services, you should have an underground line inspection completed first. Consider the following factors and act accordingly:
Age of Your Home
Firstly, if your home is more than 20 years old, especially if it was built before the 1950s, you should definitely consider an inspection. This is for a few reasons:
Cesspools: Depending on the age of your home, there is a chance it might not be connected to the city sewage line. Why? Because prior to the 1950s, houses were connected to cesspools. Even if your plumbing has since been rerouted to the city line, you should still have your sewers inspected to understand their construction.
Older Mississauga Sewer Line Clogs: There is a higher chance of a clog forming in older homes, simply because the drain lines are made from clay tile, have seen more use, and are unlikely to have been cleaned regularly.
Tree Roots: It's very common for tree roots to make their way through tiny cracks in a clay tile drain line and cause big problems. While this can happen regardless of your Mississauga home's age, it's more likely to occur in older homes.
Orangeburg Pipes: Many Mississauga homes built in the 1940s and 1950s have sewer lines constructed out of tar paper—otherwise known as Orangeburg pipes. Naturally, these pipes are not built to last and will disintegrate and collapse over time. Most Orangeburg pipes only last around 20-40 years. Not sure if you have Orangeburg pipes? Mississauga sewer line inspection service will help you find out.
First-Time Home Buyer
If you're a first-time home buyer, and you've chosen to move into a new build, you likely don't have to worry about sewer pipe inspections. However, if you plan to move into an older home, it's advised you complete an inspection before taking possession. Sewer replacements can be quite a financial investment, and likely not something you want to deal with after moving in. Even if you've found your dream home, it's best to be aware that you may need a pipe repair or replacement service down the line.
Gas or Foul Odours
Aside from your home's age, there are many other warning signs that you have a problem with the main drain. One key telltale sign is the smell of gas or human waste. If you smell gas, you should open all the windows in your home and call an emergency plumbing inspection service right away, as this could indicate a leaking gas line or that your main line is not ventilating properly. Should you smell waste, it's likely sewage has started to back-up into the other drains in your home because of a clogged main drain.
Slow Drains
While one slow draining sink might just be an issue with the sink itself, such as grease or food particles clogging the pipe, multiple slow-moving drains often indicates that there is a clog somewhere deep in your plumbing system—usually the main line. Since it impacts all the other drains in your home, water and possibly waste will back up in your plumbing, inhibiting your sinks, showers, and tubs from emptying properly. Don’t hesitate to get an inspection for slow drains.
Marshy or Green Patches in Yard
Plants love fertilizer—and sewage is no exception. If you have a septic system and spot vibrant green patches of grass or smelly marshy areas in your lawn, it's likely your sewage line has broken and waste is spilling into the yard. This is very serious and needs to be addressed with an inspection from an expert plumbing team—like the pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga—immediately.
Multiple Clogged Drains
Sewer back-ups also cause multiple clogged drains. If none of your sinks are emptying, for instance, that's a clear sign of sewer issues that need further inspection. Unfortunately, a quick plunge or drain snake won't cut it in this situation. You'll need a deep plumbing inspection to check where the problem is.
Gurgling Noises
Many Mississauga homeowners mistakenly believe gurgling to be a natural part of how their plumbing system works. But this is not the case. In fact, gurgling (especially in the toilet) is a sign of a clogged sewer.
If all your toilets gurgle, as well as your faucets and pipes in the wall, then there is a good chance your main drain line is blocked. Gurgling happens because air is getting trapped in the system. In an effort to escape, the air pushes out against flowing water. This causes gurgling and bubbling. If you hear any kind of toilet noise, think about getting a professional Mississauga sewer inspection from your trusted, local plumber.
Benefits of Mississauga Sewer Line Inspection Service:
Aside from catching problems before they escalate or ascertaining where a pesky clog is, there are numerous benefits to completing a Mississauga sewer line inspection.
Mississauga Sewer Inspection Service Can Identify:
Tree Root Intrusion: Tree roots have a way of getting into the smallest cracks. Over time, the roots will form a block that prevents the system from working properly.
Broken Tiles: Drain tile helps prevent water from leaking into your yard and basement. When broken, there's nothing to stop water damage from occurring.
Offset Joints: This is where the joints no longer connect properly, so sections of the sewer are out of alignment. This can cause seepage and leaks.
Cracks: Aging pipe materials are prone to cracking, which may cause issues with leaks or even flooding.
Buildups of Sludge or Grease: One of the most common issues for Mississauga homeowners, sludge and grease can accumulate in your sewage over time. However, it's best to never put grease, oil, butter, or margarine down your sinks.
Faulty Mortar Connections: Brick sewers are often connected with mortar. More common in older homes, the mortar may begin to degrade over time. This causes leaks and seepage.
Inline Traps: Intended to catch gas and liquid and prevent it from flowing back into the system. Problems with the traps could cause sewage and gas to flow back into your home.
Negative Grade Sloping: Unlike positive grade sloping, which directs water away from your home, negative grade sloping directs it towards your home's foundation. This could cause structural damage.
Sagging: Overtime, sagging pipes might break—causing leaks or even serious flooding.
What Causes Mississauga Sewer Line Backups?
Is a backup forcing you to get Mississauga sewer inspection service? Did your inspection already reveal hidden blockages? Usually, a clog of some kind is responsible for drain line backups in Mississauga. However, let’s get more specific and better clarify the related factors and causes.
Solid Objects in the Drain Line: Flushing items that aren't meant to go down the toilet, such as wipes, diapers, and feminine hygiene products, will accumulate in your sewer.
Pouring Grease Down the Drain: Grease and oil will eventually solidify in your pipes and cause massive blocks. It's just not worth it to ever put vegetable or animal fats down the sink.
Disrespected Garburators: Garbage disposals are not actually made to flush any old food scrap down your plumbing. In fact, items like rice, pasta, fibrous foods, and coffee grinds can all cause clogs.
Tree Roots: We've touched on tree roots previously, but it's worth a final note that they are a very common cause of sewer problems.
Broken or Collapsed Pipes: There are a range of issues that can cause damage to your main line—from old pipes to too much debris going down the drain. In particular, Orangeburg, cement and clay piping can break down and cause a slew of problems.
How to Prevent Problems with the Main Line?
The best way to prevent issues with your main drain is by getting timely Mississauga sewer line inspections when you think there is a concern, and annual Mississauga drain cleaning service appointments to prevent any issues from happening in the first place.
At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga, we use highly advanced technology to give plumbing systems—including Mississauga sewer lines—a deep clean. Our HydroScrub® Jetting service uses a highly pressurized jet of water to blast away even the most stubborn grime. We pair this technology with an enzymatic cleaning agent to further breakdown sludge and grease buildup—without causing any damage to your pipes (unlike harsh chemical cleaners).
Mississauga Sewer Repair
Our team of expert Mississauga plumbers doesn’t just deal with inspections. They are also trained to repair pipes in a number of different ways, depending on the type and severity of damage. Usually, one of these trenchless pipe repairs will do the trick:
Pipe Lining: If the damage to your pipes isn't too bad, this method can be used to fix the problem. Essentially, this involves fitting a pipe with a new pipe, or lining. It's useful to restore the pipe from corroding, leaking, and cracking.
Pipe Bursting: This involves replacing the physical pipe in the ground. It is fitted with fins and a special head that breaks the original pipe as it moves through the line.
Choose Trusted Mississauga Sewer Line Inspection Service!
Are you ready for sewer line inspection service from the pros at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Mississauga? If so, we'll send over a skilled technician to take care of the inspection right away. You can have peace of mind knowing you’re getting an inspection from one of the best. We've helped thousands of homeowners in and near Mississauga with their plumbing inspection needs, including in Erindale, Hurontario and Malton.
To get in touch with our professional inspection experts, we invite you to give our friendly office staff a call at 905-817-0210 .