Sewer Camera Inspection
Watch live video from inside the sewer pipe when deciding on a fix, a listing or a purchase.
Drains and sewer
Emergency Sewer Line Repair in Tempe, AZ
Sewage in a tub, a gurgling toilet or a smell outside points to a sewer line problem. The repair depends on what a camera finds, and the pipe's condition decides how far the work extends. Sewage rising in a tub or floor drain calls for an immediate stop to water use and a call to the 24/7 line.
Stop using water, then say what is backing up and a contractor is assigned.
Warning signs of sewer damage
- Several drains back upToilets, tubs and floor drains rise at once.
- Gurgling and odorsAir pushed through a blocked or broken line.
- Wet or sunken yardSewage escaping into soil along the line.
Diagnosis comes first
A camera inspection shows what is wrong: a break, a sag, roots entering a joint or a collapsed section. Without that, a repair is a guess.
Ask for the footage and a location measurement. A good contractor can tell you how many feet of pipe are damaged and where.
Repair options
A spot repair replaces a short damaged section. A longer failure may call for lining or replacing the run. Lining coats the inside of the pipe and avoids a trench, but it suits only certain conditions.
If a long section is failing, the replacement page covers that route.
In Tempe
Tempe sewers and aging pipe
Many Tempe lines date from the decades when most homes were built, 1970 through 1999. Joints and materials from that era can shift or crack.
Roots chase moisture. Trees near older joints are a frequent source of repeat blockages.
Pricing
What affects sewer line repair cost
Cost follows depth, length and what sits above the pipe.
Pricing depends on access and pipe type. Ask for the repair choices in writing.
Who handles what
Ask the City of Tempe which part of the sewer line it maintains and which part is yours. The boundary affects who pays and who permits.
A repair on private property may need a permit and an inspection.
Signs to watch
Signs of a sewer backup or a damaged line
Sewer problems announce themselves in a few repeating ways.
What to do during a sewer backup
Quit using sinks, showers, toilets and the washer, because every gallon pushes waste toward the lowest drain. Keep children and pets clear and avoid touching the water.
What to tell the dispatcher
Say which drains are backing up, whether a cleanout is accessible and whether this has happened before. If you can find the cleanout, mention where it is.
Cleaning, camera, then repair
Crews normally open a blocked main with a cable or jetter first and then send a camera to learn the cause. If the pipe is cracked, bellied or packed with roots, clearing is only a stopgap until the pipe is repaired.
Ask for the footage and a measurement from the cleanout to each defect. That lets you compare repair quotes on equal terms.
Pipe repair, lining and trenchless work
A short break can be cut out and replaced. Longer problems may call for lining, which forms a new pipe inside the old one. Lining avoids a trench, but it needs a clear, round pipe.
Epoxy lining under a slab is a separate question. Not every line under a house can be lined, so a camera look is the first step.
Septic, lift pumps and other systems
This site covers city sewer lines. Septic systems and some pump systems are different jobs. Tell the dispatcher what you have, and ask whether a contractor handles it before you commit.
If the lateral is damaged
Sewer Line Replacement
Lay a new sewer lateral from the building out to the connection once patching would no longer hold.
Hydro Jetting
Blast the inside of a drain with pressurized water to strip off grease film, mineral crust and hair-fine roots.
Short answers
Sewer repair FAQ
Several slow drains, odors, gurgling or soggy ground above the line point to damage. A camera makes it certain.
No. Every flush adds to the backup. Hold off on sinks, showers and the washer.
Sometimes, with lining or other trenchless methods. The camera findings decide.
That depends on where the city's part of the sewer ends. Ask the City of Tempe to confirm the boundary before you pay for a repair.
Shut off every tap and appliance and skip flushing, since all of it feeds the backup. Keep people and pets away, then call. The contractor can clear the line first and hunt for the cause later.
The price reflects depth, length, method and whatever sits on top of the pipe. The dispatcher supplies a clear quote before work starts.
Same-day visits are available. Stop water use and phone right away.
Yes. The usual order is to clear the line, then run a camera to find the cause.
Septic service is not listed on this site. Ask the dispatcher whether a contractor covers it.
Sometimes, by lining or another trenchless method. The camera findings decide.
Sources
Figures and statements on this page that come from outside references are listed here.
Sewage coming back?
Stop using water and phone the dispatcher, who will line up a nearby contractor.