Sewage coming up through a floor drain, a tub or the lowest toilet means the main line is not carrying water away. Clearing the clog gets things moving again, but it does not tell you why it happened. A camera inspection after the line is open does.
Signs the main line is the problem
- More than one fixture is slow or backing up at once
- Water rises in the tub or shower when a toilet is flushed
- Drains gurgle when the washing machine empties
- Sewage appears at the lowest drain in the house, often a basement floor drain
Causes the footage separates
A grease or wipes blockage looks very different on video from a root mass, a collapsed section or a belly holding water, and each points to a different next step. Wipes and grease often clear with cleaning and a change in habits. Roots come back unless the joint is sealed. A belly keeps collecting solids, so a line with one may need regular cleaning or a repair that corrects the grade. A collapse usually means excavation or trenchless replacement.
Backups during storms
If backups happen during heavy rain in Berkeley, CA, the cause may sit outside your line, such as a surcharged public main. In that case a backwater valve on your lateral may be part of the answer. The camera footage helps show whether your own pipe is contributing or whether the water is coming from the street side.
