Why is a Commercial Sewer Line Inspection Important?
Commercial sewer line inspection is just something most business owners don’t spend a lot of time thinking about. Out of sight means out of mind, so most people just go about their lives, giving it zero consideration. That is until a problem crops up.
Sewer problems come in several forms, with the worst of them having sewage above ground in plain sight. But not all sewer problems are that drastic. Most manifest themselves as a lingering problem such as occasional backups or perhaps an awful smell along with slow drainage issues.
Older cities around the country like Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania also tend to have older sewer systems, and in this city, a Pittsburgh commercial sewer line inspection is a great way to identify problems before they manifest themselves above ground.
So for those who are asking themselves, why is a commercial sewer line inspection necessary? It’s to identify and prevent the above-listed common problems, it turns out though, that there are even more reasons.
One of those further reasons for business owners asking why is a commercial sewer line inspection important, might come as a bit of a surprise. That’s because one reason is to get to know your sewer line if you haven’t already become acquainted with it.
The sewer line is a crucial component of a home or commercial building, so an owner who ignores their sewer line does so at their own risk. This is because, for example, knowing how deep underground a sewer line is, is crucial for estimating the cost of future repairs or replacement.
Then if you need yet one more answer to the question, why is a commercial sewer line inspection important? It reflects on the value of a building that you may be considering buying or selling.
If the previous reasons for a commercial sewer line inspection have you convinced, then perhaps the next question you may be asking yourself is how often should you have your commercial sewer line checked? It’s a reasonable question because far too many home and business owners feel that one time might be enough.
Then when the question of how often should you have your commercial sewer line checked is put to them, they find their solution by calling up a plumbing company that does commercial sewer line inspections, and that’s it.
If no problems are found or if there are any, they’re repaired, and then the sewer line once again gets shoved to the back of their mind. In the real world, though, once is not enough because it’s imperative that problems with sewer lines be detected early before they become big problems.
Fiber optics technology, along with developments in smaller, less costly remote cameras, have both worked to drive down the cost of commercial sewer line inspections in Pittsburgh as well as other cities across the US. So they’re faster and cheaper to have done than in the past.
So if you’ve been wondering how often should you have your commercial sewer line checked and have never had one done, then perhaps the answer is, as soon as possible.
For all with some more than others, a problem-free sewer line in a commercial building is crucial for smooth running business operations, so with today’s lower cost, it just doesn’t make sense to take the gamble of avoiding having one done.
It’s also worth knowing that clogs in sewer lines often happen gradually. Something gets caught up that shouldn’t have been sent down the line. Perhaps it’s a tampon, or dental floss, or even something like a plastic sandwich bag where it then works to gather up or snag other debris, gradually build up in size until it forms a clog in the line.
The next sensible question often asked by business owners is just what does a commercial sewer line inspection include? The answer here is that it includes more than simply sending a tiny camera down the line connected to a cable to have an end-to-end look at the pipe.
A commercial sewer line inspection covers the entire system, including all drains and toilets, all the way through to the end of the line, where it connects up to a municipal utility service line.
The inspector, among other things, will check for sewer pipe sags caused by ground settling where sewage can settle in and rust through the bottom of a cast-iron pipe or harden up to form clogs. All drain lines are required by municipal code to have a certain amount of slope when they are installed.
Pittsburgh Commercial Sewer Line Inspection
So then, just what are the differences between a residential versus a commercial sewer line? The answer to that is there are few, with the most obvious one being that a commercial sewer line can be substantially larger in diameter than a residential sewer line.
This brings us to another note-worthy difference, in that because these lines are larger, repair work can be more costly. Also, because they’re larger building codes in commercial buildings may allow the commercial sewer line to be installed outside of a wall.
This versus residential building code stipulates that, with a few exceptions, all sewer lines have to be installed inside of walls. Perhaps you can recall being in a commercial building, perhaps a warehouse, where systems like ductwork and pipes were visible outside walls.
Cost is yet another consideration when it comes to maintaining residential and commercial sewer lines. So it’s only natural to wonder how much does a commercial sewer line inspection typically cost in Pittsburgh?
The answer here is that it’s a whole lot less than paying for the results of neglect. If no problems are found, then the cost of a sewer line inspection in Pittsburgh can be as low as a few hundred dollars.
What’s important to keep in mind here, though, is that obstructions that block remote viewing with a camera must be removed for a complete inspection, and that can work to drive up costs. Tree roots growing through cracks in old segmented ceramic lines are a common source of these types of blockages.
Then the final question once you’ve decided to have a sewer line inspection in Pittsburgh is what should you look for in hiring a sewer line inspection service in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania?
If you’ve made it to the bottom of this article, then you now know that the most important thing to look for after you have verified the credentials and reputation is that they have the latest equipment.
Not just the equipment to send a remote viewing camera down the length of your sewer line, but a Pittsburgh plumber should also come equipped to remove obstructions that are found in the way of completing a typical sewer line inspection in Pittsburgh.