🚽 Top Signs You Need a Sewer Line Inspection in Cambridge
💩 When Plumbing Problems Go Deeper…
Not all plumbing issues are inside your home—some are hiding deep underground. Your main sewer line connects your home's plumbing to the municipal sewer system. If something goes wrong with it, you could be looking at serious problems like flooding, backups, or property damage.
This post covers the top signs your sewer line needs inspection, why Cambridge homes are especially vulnerable, and how Reliant Plumbing can help catch issues before they turn into costly emergencies.
⚠️ 7 Warning Signs You Might Need a Sewer Line Inspection
1. 🚿 Slow-Draining Fixtures Throughout the House
If your tub, sinks, and toilets are all draining slowly, it's likely more than a clog—it could be a blockage or damage in your main sewer line.
Cambridge Tip: Older homes in Galt and Preston are especially prone to this due to aging clay or cast iron sewer lines.
2. 🚽 Frequent Toilet Backups
If your toilet keeps clogging—even when you're not flushing anything unusual—it might be a sign that the sewer line isn't moving waste away properly.
3. 🦨 Foul Smells Around Drains or Basement
Sewer gas smells like rotten eggs. If you're catching a whiff of something foul near drains or in the basement, that could be sewer gas escaping through a crack or backup point.
4. 💧 Gurgling Sounds in Pipes
Strange bubbling or gurgling noises from toilets, sinks, or tubs when you're not using them? That could mean air is trapped due to a blockage downstream.
5. 🌳 Tree Roots in the Yard
Large, old trees near your home? Their roots seek moisture and often invade cracked sewer lines. Root intrusion is a major problem in mature areas like Hespeler and West Galt.
6. 💥 Wet Spots or Sinkholes in the Yard
Sewer leaks underground can cause soft, soggy ground—or even sinkholes. If you notice damp areas that don’t dry after rain, it could mean a hidden leak.
7. 🧱 Foundation Cracks or Mold in the Basement
When a sewer line leaks for a long time, water can seep into your foundation, causing cracks, mold, or mildew growth along basement walls.
🛠️ How We Inspect Sewer Lines
At Reliant Plumbing, we use advanced video inspection equipment to get a real-time look inside your sewer system without digging.
Our Process:
- Insert a high-definition sewer camera into the main line
- Navigate through bends and joints
- Identify any cracks, clogs, root intrusion, or corrosion
- Provide a full report with footage and repair options
🎥 This lets us pinpoint the problem without guessing or tearing up your yard unnecessarily.
🧑🔧 Common Sewer Line Issues in Cambridge Homes
🔹 Tree root infiltration
Especially in older, unlined pipes
🔹 Pipe corrosion or collapse
Clay, cast iron, and Orangeburg pipes are common in Galt homes and deteriorate over time
🔹 Ground shifting or frost heave
Extreme Cambridge winters can cause pipe misalignment
🔹 Grease or non-flushable wipes
A buildup of fat, oils, and wipes can create stubborn blockages
💸 How Much Does a Sewer Inspection Cost?
Sewer camera inspections are much cheaper than dealing with:
- Flood cleanup
- Full excavation
- Emergency pipe replacement
Most inspections cost a few hundred dollars and can save thousands in repairs.
👷 Real Cambridge Example
A customer in East Galt had a recurring toilet backup and slow shower drain. We performed a sewer camera inspection and discovered tree roots growing through an old clay pipe joint.
✅ We removed the roots, repaired the damaged section, and installed a cleanout for future maintenance. No more backups—and no need to dig up the entire yard.
📅 When to Book an Inspection
Call Reliant Plumbing if:
- You’re buying or selling a home
- You’ve had more than one drain issue in a month
- You notice odd smells, sounds, or soggy soil
- You haven’t had your sewer line inspected in 10+ years
We offer fast, affordable sewer inspections with honest, local advice.
✅ Final Thoughts
A failing sewer line can quietly cause thousands in damage. But with early detection from a licensed Cambridge plumber, you can catch and fix problems before they become disasters.
Whether you’re in Preston, Hespeler, Galt, or the rural edges of Waterloo Region, Reliant Plumbing is your trusted expert for sewer line inspections and repairs.
📍 Serving Cambridge • Galt • Hespeler • Preston • Kitchener • Waterloo
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519-778-3828
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www.reliantplumbing.ca