Where the water comes from changes the diagnosis. Tacoma Water, part of Tacoma Public Utilities, serves the city from the Green River watershed with groundwater wells, including the South Tacoma wellfield, backing it up. Green River water is soft, which is why hard-water scale is a minor issue in Tacoma compared with the well country across the bridge. At about 35 to 40 minutes from Port Orchard across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, longer at the evening rush from Port Orchard, Tacoma is a regular line on our schedule, not a special trip.
Why sewer camera inspection is a little different in Tacoma
Relocating families buying in Tacoma often cannot attend their own inspection. We scope the line with the agent present, send the recording, and go through it with you over the phone so the decision is yours and informed.
Where the drains end up matters just as much. Essentially all of Tacoma is on city sewer run by Tacoma Environmental Services, with the Central and North End treatment plants. Some older neighborhoods have combined or very old side sewers in clay, concrete or cast iron. Septic is rare and limited to a few unincorporated pockets at the edges.
Local conditions that affect sewer camera inspection in Tacoma
Local conditions shape the work. In Tacoma: Galvanized supply lines reducing flow to a trickle on the second floor of North End houses
Septic is common around Tacoma, and the line from the house to the tank is a plumber's territory. We scope to the tank inlet and locate any settled or crushed section, which is often near the foundation or under a spot where vehicles have driven over the yard.
In Tacoma specifically, one issue comes up more than most: Basement floor drains and old ejector pits backing up during atmospheric rivers
Plenty of Tacoma properties have had a driveway, patio or addition built over the original sewer path. The camera's beacon lets us trace the line from the surface and find out whether that concrete is sitting on a crushed pipe.
Signs Tacoma homeowners call us for sewer camera inspection
Worth a call
- A sewage smell lingers in the yard or crawlspace
- One patch of lawn stays green and soft through the summer
- Another plumber recommended a sewer replacement without showing you footage
- You own a rental or a vacation home and want a baseline of its sewer condition
- A driveway, patio or addition was built over the sewer path
How we handle sewer camera inspection in Tacoma
Here is how it runs when we come to Tacoma 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 →
Tacoma neighborhoods and areas we serve
Call from South Tacoma, Old Town or anywhere else in Tacoma, including the places near Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Point Defiance Park that other outfits treat as a long drive.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions from Tacoma
Can you scope a septic line in Tacoma?
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.
What if the scope finds a problem with my Tacoma sewer line?
We mark the location and depth on the surface, explain the options, and give you a written estimate for any repair that is warranted. You decide; nobody pressures you on your own lawn.
Is a sewer scope worth it on a newer Tacoma home?
On a home built in the last couple of decades it is less urgent, but construction damage and poor bedding do happen. If drains have been slow or you want peace of mind before closing, it is still a small cost against a large repair.
How soon can you scope a sewer line in Tacoma?
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.
Can you scope a house I have not seen yet?
We do it often for relocating military families and out-of-state buyers. Your agent or the seller's agent lets us in, we scope the line, and we send you the footage with a phone walkthrough.
Pierce County is a regular part of our week. We cross the Narrows for Tacoma jobs often enough that the bridge toll is simply part of doing business, and it never shows up as a line on your invoice.