Water supply is the first question we ask on a Steilacoom job. Lakewood Water District supplies Steilacoom from its deep wells, under agreement with the town. The water is groundwater and harder than Tacoma's river supply. At about 50 minutes from Port Orchard, over the Narrows Bridge, through University Place and down to the waterfront from Port Orchard, Steilacoom is a regular line on our schedule, not a special trip.
Why sewer camera inspection is a little different in Steilacoom
Old cast iron drains under Steilacoom homes build scale that hides defects from a cable but not from a camera. When a line has been cleared repeatedly, we scope it afterward to find the reason, which is usually either scale, a belly or a root entry.
What happens past the house is not the same across Steilacoom. Town sewer. The Town of Steilacoom collects wastewater and sends it to Pierce County's Chambers Creek Regional plant just up the bluff. Septic is not a factor here.
Local conditions that affect sewer camera inspection in Steilacoom
In Steilacoom specifically, one issue comes up more than most: Steep side sewers on the bluff with offsets, roots and no cleanouts
Heavy winter rain around Steilacoom saturates the clay and till under older sewer lines, and roots follow that moisture into any joint that leaks. A fall or winter scope, after the line has been cleared, shows exactly where the roots are entering.
Ask a Steilacoom homeowner what goes wrong with plumbing here and you will usually hear a version of this: Pinhole copper in the mid-century ramblers on the hill
Rental owners and out-of-area Steilacoom homeowners use a scope as a baseline. Knowing the pipe's condition now makes it easier to plan a repair on your schedule instead of a tenant's emergency.
Signs Steilacoom homeowners call us for sewer camera inspection
Worth a call
- A driveway, patio or addition was built over the sewer path
- You are buying a home built before the mid-1980s anywhere in Kitsap, Pierce or Mason County
- The main line has needed clearing more than once in a year
- Drains back up every fall when the rain starts
- A sewage smell lingers in the yard or crawlspace
How we handle sewer camera inspection in Steilacoom
Here is how it runs when we come to Steilacoom for sewer camera inspection: find the access, clear the line if needed, scope the full run, locate and mark, then review and summarize. Nothing is started until you have approved a flat price.
Read the full step-by-step for sewer camera inspection →
Steilacoom neighborhoods and areas we serve
Call from Hillside above the ferry landing, Pioneer Orchard and Union Avenue or anywhere else in Steilacoom, including the places near Chambers Bay and Fort Steilacoom site and Western State Hospital that other outfits treat as a long drive.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions from Steilacoom
How soon can you scope a sewer line in Steilacoom?
Usually within a day or two, and faster when a purchase deadline is involved. Tell Corinne the contingency date and we will work around it.
Do you need a cleanout to scope my Steilacoom house?
A cleanout makes it quicker, but we can scope from a roof vent or a pulled toilet if your home has none. We will also quote adding a cleanout so future work is easier.
Will I get a copy of the sewer scope video for my Steilacoom home?
Yes. The full recording and a plain summary are yours, whether you are negotiating a purchase or just keeping records.
Can you scope a septic line in Steilacoom?
We scope from the house to the tank inlet and from a pump chamber to the drainfield where one exists. The tank itself is a septic company's job, and we will tell you if that is what you need.
How much does a sewer scope cost?
It is a modest flat rate, quoted before we start. If the line has to be cleared first so the camera can see, that is a separate line item you approve up front. There is no charge to find out the line is fine.
Pierce County is a regular part of our week. We cross the Narrows for Steilacoom jobs often enough that the bridge toll is simply part of doing business, and it never shows up as a line on your invoice.