Sewer Line Inspection in McKinney, TX — See Inside Your Pipes Before Problems Surface

Standard home inspections check the roof, foundation, HVAC, and electrical systems. The inspector runs water and flushes toilets. Everything drains fine. You sign the papers and move in. Three months later, sewage floods your bathroom floor. The sewer line that passed the basic test had cracks the whole time.

Home inspectors do not camera sewer lines. Their scope ends at visible plumbing inside the house. The underground pipe connecting your home to the city sewer sits outside their checklist. That pipe could have root invasion, joint separations, or partial collapse. You inherit whatever hides beneath the soil.

Ordering a sewer inspection before closing changes your position entirely. When the camera finds problems, you negotiate. Sellers credit repair costs or fix the damage before transfer. Major issues give you grounds to walk away before signing. The inspection fee protects you from repairs that dwarf the purchase price.

Stonebridge Ranch and older McKinney subdivisions have sewer lines approaching 25 to 30 years old. Pipes that age develop cracks and root intrusion even when drains seem to work fine. Tree-lined streets look beautiful but send roots searching for moisture underground. What appears charming above ground may be strangling your future sewer line below.

Some homeowners wait for complete failure before calling a plumber. Sewage backs into the house. Toilets overflow onto bathroom floors. Emergency repairs cost triple what planned service would have. Recognizing early warning signs saves you from that scenario.

1. Multiple drains slow down together. One sluggish sink means a localized clog. But when your shower, kitchen sink, and washing machine all drain poorly at the same time, the bottleneck sits deeper. Your main sewer line has a blockage or damage affecting the whole system.

2. Gurgling sounds from toilets when other fixtures run. Start your dishwasher and listen. If your toilet bubbles or gurgles in response, air is trapped in your sewer line. A partial blockage forces gases backward through the path of least resistance.

3. Sewage odors inside or outside your home. Healthy sewer lines contain gases completely. When you smell rotten eggs near drains or in your yard, those gases are escaping through cracks or separated joints somewhere in the pipe.

4. Wet patches in your yard that never dry. That soggy spot near your sewer line path isn't a mystery spring. Leaking sewage saturates the soil above broken pipes. The grass might look greener there too.

5. Sinkholes or dips forming along your sewer route. Escaping water erodes soil and creates underground voids. The ground above eventually sinks. Small dips become larger depressions over time.

North Texas clay soil shifts dramatically with moisture changes. Drought shrinks the ground. Heavy rain expands it. That movement stresses underground pipes throughout McKinney and creates the cracks that cause these warning signs.

Nobody schedules a heart checkup after the heart attack. The same logic applies to your sewer line. Waiting for failure means dealing with sewage in your home, emergency excavation costs, and days without working plumbing. Routine inspection prevents that nightmare.

Small cracks in sewer pipes do not stay small. Water escapes through tiny fractures and softens surrounding soil. The ground shifts. Pressure on the pipe increases. That hairline crack becomes a gap. The gap becomes a break. What started as a minor issue requiring spot repair turns into full pipe replacement.

Roots follow the same pattern. A single tendril finds a joint and squeezes through. Moisture and nutrients inside the pipe feed rapid growth. Within two or three years, that tendril becomes a dense root ball blocking half your sewer line. Early detection means cutting roots before they take over.

Scheduling inspection every three to five years keeps you ahead of trouble. Our camera documents your pipe condition so you can track changes over time. You make repair decisions at your pace rather than in crisis mode.

Eldorado Parkway corridor homes built in the 1990s are reaching the age when original pipes develop issues. Cast iron corrodes. Early PVC joints loosen. Preventive inspection identifies weak spots before North Texas freeze-thaw cycles turn minor damage into major breaks.

The camera exits your sewer line. The footage is saved. Now what? Our technician walks you through every finding while the images are fresh on screen. You leave with a written report documenting everything we discovered and clear guidance on your options.

Each issue appears in the report with a timestamp and distance measurement. Root intrusion at 47 feet. Crack at 23 feet. Grease buildup from 15 to 31 feet. These markers tell repair crews exactly where to focus without exploratory digging. Precision saves you money.

Not every finding requires immediate action. We rate severity so you can prioritize wisely:

• Minor issues — Small deposits or surface buildup that warrant monitoring. Schedule another inspection in a year or two to track progression.

• Moderate concerns — Root intrusion, grease accumulation, or minor cracks that benefit from hydro jetting or targeted spot repair before they worsen.

• Severe damage — Collapsed sections, major breaks, or extensive root invasion requiring pipe lining or excavation replacement.

The footage belongs to you. Share it with other contractors for repair quotes. Show it to real estate agents during negotiations. Submit it to insurance adjusters if filing a claim. Your documentation supports every conversation.

Historic downtown McKinney properties often contain clay or Orangeburg pipes from original construction. These materials rarely survive repair attempts and typically need full replacement. Newer Craig Ranch homes usually show minor buildup that cleaning solves. Your report reflects your specific situation, not generic assumptions.

Your homeowners policy protects against fire, theft, wind damage, and liability claims. But dig into the fine print regarding sewer lines and you find gaps that surprise most homeowners. Understanding your coverage before problems arise prevents unpleasant discoveries during emergencies.

Standard policies exclude wear and tear. Pipes deteriorate over decades. Roots grow slowly through joints. Grease accumulates one meal at a time. Insurance companies classify this gradual decline as maintenance, not sudden damage. Your claim gets denied because the problem developed over years rather than minutes.

Some scenarios qualify for partial coverage. A tree falls during a storm and crushes your sewer line. A vehicle drives across your yard and cracks the pipe. These sudden, accidental events may trigger policy protection. But the deductible applies, limits cap your payout, and adjusters scrutinize every detail.

Service line coverage exists as an add-on rider through most insurers. This separate policy specifically covers underground utility lines including sewer pipes. McKinney homeowners can typically add this protection for modest annual premiums. Ask your insurance agent about options before you need them.

Camera inspection documentation supports claims when covered damage does occur. Footage showing sudden breaks versus gradual deterioration helps adjusters process legitimate claims faster. Your inspection report provides evidence that generic descriptions cannot match.

Know your policy limits today. Waiting until sewage floods your bathroom to read the fine print leaves you scrambling at the worst possible moment.

A sewer line inspection in McKinney includes a complete video survey of your underground pipes from house to street connection.

• Camera insertion through cleanout — A waterproof lens enters your sewer system at the access point near your foundation or yard

• Full-length pipe recording — Video captures every foot of your sewer line on screen as the camera travels through

• Problem identification — Our technician marks cracks, root intrusion, bellies, and blockages with distance measurements

• Pipe material assessment — The camera reveals whether you have PVC, cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg hiding underground

• Written report with recommendations — You receive documented findings and repair options based on severity

McKinney plumbers provide footage you can keep and share with contractors, real estate agents, or insurance adjusters.

Video camera inspection reveals cracks, roots, blockages, and pipe condition without digging up your yard. You see exactly what hides inside your sewer line and make decisions based on facts rather than guesswork. We pioneered this technology in Texas back in 1988 and have read more footage than any plumber in the region.

Every inspection includes a complete report with footage you can keep. Share the video with contractors for repair quotes. Present it to real estate agents during negotiations. Submit it to insurance adjusters when filing claims. Your documentation supports every conversation about your plumbing.

Buying a home? Selling one? Dealing with warning signs? Protecting your investment with preventive care? Sewer line inspection answers questions before small problems become expensive emergencies.

We serve Stonebridge Ranch, Craig Ranch, Eldorado Parkway corridor, historic downtown McKinney, and all surrounding neighborhoods.

Business Address: 7300 State Highway 121, Suite 399, McKinney, TX 75070

Call (469) 398-3229 for sewer line inspection in McKinney. 80 years of plumbing expertise since 1945. Same-day appointments available.