Camera inspections are helpful, sure, but sometimes they're overkill if you're dealing with minor backups. Have you tried just snaking the drain first? Might save you some cash if it's just a stubborn clog rather than structural damage...
Snaking can do the trick sometimes, but I've seen plenty of cases where a homeowner thought it was minor, only to find tree roots creeping in. Had one client swear it was just hair and soap buildup—turned out their maple tree had other plans. Any big trees near your sewer line?
Had a similar scare last year—thought it was just buildup from the washing machine or something simple. Snaked it twice, seemed fine for a week, then bam... back to square one. Finally got a camera inspection done, and turns out the old oak in my backyard had roots halfway down the line. Ended up needing a hydro jetting and some pipe repairs. Might be worth checking out if you've got mature trees nearby.
"Finally got a camera inspection done, and turns out the old oak in my backyard had roots halfway down the line."
Had something similar happen a couple years back, but in my case, it wasn't trees at all. I was convinced it had to be roots too—big maple right near the driveway—but after getting the camera inspection, turned out it was actually a collapsed section of old clay pipe. The plumber said sometimes older pipes just give out over time, especially if they're clay or cast iron. Ended up replacing about 10 feet of pipe with PVC, and it's been smooth sailing since.
Not saying trees aren't a common culprit (they definitely can be), but before jumping straight to hydro jetting or root removal, might be worth double-checking the pipe condition itself. Older homes can have some hidden surprises lurking underground...
"Older homes can have some hidden surprises lurking underground..."
Yeah, totally agree with this. Had roots myself, but even after clearing them, the issue kept coming back. Turned out the pipe slope was off, causing standing water. Worth checking slope too before spending big bucks on repairs...
