Hear from Our Customers
Your drains are backing up again. You’ve tried everything, but the problem keeps coming back. Here’s what you really need to know: most recurring drain issues aren’t actually drain issues at all.
They’re sewer line problems hiding underground where you can’t see them. Tree roots growing through old pipes. Cracks letting sewage leak into your yard. Sometimes even completely collapsed sections that no amount of drain cleaner will fix.
A sewer camera inspection shows you exactly what’s happening inside your pipes. No more guessing. No more throwing money at temporary fixes. Just clear, high-definition video of your sewer line so you can make the right decision the first time.
We’ve been serving Sacramento area homeowners for over 24 years. We understand the unique challenges that come with New Era Park’s historic properties – many built before 1939 with aging sewer systems that need specialized attention.
Your neighborhood’s beautiful Craftsman and Victorian homes weren’t built with today’s plumbing standards. Clay pipes, cast iron systems, and decades of tree root growth create problems that require experience to diagnose properly.
We’ve seen it all in these older Sacramento neighborhoods. That’s why we invested in professional-grade camera equipment that can navigate the twists, turns, and unique layouts of historic sewer systems. When other plumbers are still guessing, we’re showing you exactly what needs attention.
We start by locating the best access point to your sewer line – usually through a cleanout or by temporarily removing a toilet. Don’t worry, we put everything back exactly as we found it.
Next, we feed a waterproof, high-definition camera attached to a flexible cable into your sewer line. The camera has its own lighting system and travels through your pipes, transmitting live video to our monitor. You can watch along as we inspect every section.
As we move through your system, we’re looking for blockages, cracks, root intrusion, pipe misalignment, and any other issues. The camera shows us exactly where problems are located and how serious they are. We document everything and provide you with a detailed report of our findings, including video footage for your records.
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Your sewer camera inspection covers the entire accessible length of your main sewer line, from your home’s foundation to the street connection. We inspect pipes ranging from 2 to 6 inches in diameter, which covers most residential systems.
In New Era Park, we pay special attention to common issues we see in homes of this era. Clay tile pipes that have shifted over time. Cast iron systems showing signs of corrosion. Root intrusion from the mature trees that make this neighborhood so beautiful but can wreak havoc on underground pipes.
We also check for more modern problems like improper repairs from previous work, grease buildup, and foreign objects that shouldn’t be in your system. Every inspection includes a written report detailing what we found, where we found it, and our recommendations for addressing any issues. You’ll also receive a copy of the video footage so you can see exactly what we’re talking about.
Most sewer camera inspections in the Sacramento area cost between $200 and $500, depending on the length and complexity of your sewer system. At Murray Plumbing, we provide upfront pricing before we start any work – no surprises or hidden fees.
The exact cost depends on factors like how we access your sewer line and how far the camera needs to travel. Homes in New Era Park typically have sewer runs of 50 to 100 feet from the house to the street connection. If we can access your system through an existing cleanout, the inspection is typically less expensive than if we need to remove a toilet for access.
Remember, this small investment can save you thousands of dollars by identifying problems before they become major emergencies. A $300 inspection that finds a developing issue is much better than a $10,000 surprise when your sewer line completely fails.
In New Era Park’s historic homes, we commonly find issues related to the age and materials of the original plumbing systems. Clay tile pipes, which were standard in homes built before the 1950s, often develop cracks or become misaligned over time. These cracks allow tree roots to penetrate the system, creating blockages and further damage.
Cast iron sewer lines, common in homes from the early to mid-1900s, are prone to corrosion and can develop holes or collapse entirely. We also frequently find problems with pipe connections where different materials were joined during renovations or repairs over the decades.
Tree root intrusion is particularly common in your neighborhood due to the mature oak and pine trees. Roots naturally seek out water sources and can completely fill a sewer line if left unchecked. The camera inspection shows us exactly where roots have entered and how extensive the problem is, so we can recommend the most effective treatment.
Most sewer camera inspections take between 1 to 2 hours from start to finish. This includes setting up our equipment, running the camera through your entire sewer system, documenting any issues we find, and providing you with a detailed explanation of the results.
The timeline can vary depending on what we discover. If your pipes are clear and in good condition, we can move through the system quickly. If we find blockages, damage, or complex issues that require closer examination, it may take a bit longer to thoroughly document everything.
We never rush through an inspection. Our goal is to give you a complete picture of your sewer system’s condition, so you have all the information you need to make informed decisions about any necessary repairs or maintenance.
Sewer camera inspections are completely non-invasive and won’t damage your pipes or property. The cameras we use are specifically designed for sewer systems – they’re waterproof, flexible, and sized appropriately for residential pipes.
The camera travels through your existing sewer line using the same path that waste water normally follows. There’s no digging, no breaking through walls, and no damage to your landscaping or hardscaping. If we need to access your system by removing a toilet, we carefully reinstall it with a new wax ring to ensure a proper seal.
This is one of the biggest advantages of camera inspection technology. In the past, diagnosing sewer problems often required excavation or other invasive methods. Now we can see exactly what’s happening inside your pipes without disturbing anything above ground.
You should consider a sewer camera inspection if you’re experiencing recurring drain problems, slow drainage throughout your home, or sewage odors that won’t go away. These are often signs of sewer line issues that won’t be resolved with simple drain cleaning.
For New Era Park homeowners, we also recommend inspections as part of routine maintenance, especially if your home is over 20 years old or if you have mature trees on your property. Many of the neighborhood’s historic homes have never had their original sewer systems inspected with modern camera technology.
If you’re planning major renovations, buying or selling your home, or if you’ve had repeated plumbing problems, an inspection can provide valuable information about the condition of your sewer system. It’s much better to identify potential issues before they become emergencies that require immediate, expensive repairs.
If we find issues during your inspection, we’ll explain exactly what we discovered and provide you with a range of options for addressing the problems. Not every sewer line issue requires expensive excavation – many problems can be resolved with trenchless repair methods that are less disruptive and more cost-effective.
For example, if we find root intrusion, we might recommend hydro-jetting to clear the roots followed by root treatment to prevent regrowth. If there are cracks or holes in your pipes, we may suggest pipe lining or other trenchless repair options that can fix the problem without digging up your yard.
We always provide you with a detailed written report of our findings along with video footage so you can see the problems for yourself. This documentation is valuable whether you choose to have us handle the repairs or if you want to get additional opinions. Our goal is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for your situation and budget.
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