Drain Camera Inspections

To get to the cause, you first have to realize and detect the problem. There are several signs that might indicate you have a clog, or that one may be developing:

1. When water or sewage backs up into a toilet, sink, or bathtub (anywhere inside or outside, especially in low spots, such as 1st floor toilets and showers).

2. When the drain makes a gurgling noise as other plumbing functions take place. Under normal circumstances, when the water flows unimpeded through the pipe, it shouldn’t make a lot of noise other than maybe a smooth flowing sound. However, when there’s a clog in the sewer or water pipe, water hits it and releases oxygen, causing bubbles that make noise and even release smelly gases.

3. When the shower, tub or sink drains slowly — for example, if your feet are submerged during the shower.

4. When there’s poor pressure in parts or all of the system, which could be noticeable in the sink or shower and probably produce a weak toilet flush.

5. If the utilities that use water react to each other, such as the toilet making noise when the washer stops or starts.

6. When there’s a foul odor present, it sometimes means there’s a wad of goop or something accumulating within the drain. As you can imagine, whatever is causing the blockage probably doesn’t have a pleasant smell.

7. When water backs up in drains as other utilities are used.

8. When you run water in the sink closest to the toilet for a few minutes and it produces bubbles in the toilet, this can indicate that the problem is in the sewer main and not the toilet itself.

9. If the system becomes overwhelmed easily — for example, when only one utility at a time can drain well.

10. When water gathers around the floor drain in a basement, or there’s saturated soil or pooling water in the yard.