This homeowner had standing water in the sewer system and wanted to know why. There were no ground-level cleanouts to use, so I ran the sewer camera down through a rooftop vent stack and followed the line out.
What the camera found
- Typical debris and several drain connections along the way.
- Around 78 feet in, the pipe became almost completely submerged.
- From 78 to 106 feet, the pipe stayed underwater.
- The water itself was fairly clean, and there was no visible break in the pipe.
What is a pipe belly?
Sewer pipes are laid on a slight slope so gravity carries everything away. A belly is a section that has sagged and lost its slope. Water and waste collect in the low spot instead of flowing through. Over time, that leads to buildup, slow drains and backups.
What causes standing water in a sewer line
- A belly where the pipe has settled
- A blockage farther down the line
- A full or backed-up septic tank
- A failing sewage ejector pump
On this home, I recommended having the septic tank pumped and serviced and the laundry line checked. Standing water this long is a red flag even without a visible break.
Why the camera matters
You can’t tell a belly from a blockage by how a sink drains. A sewer camera inspection shows where the water sits, how long the low section is and whether the pipe is damaged, so the plumber knows what they’re fixing before they start digging.
Watch the full scan
See the camera footage in the video above, or watch it on YouTube. Book a sewer scan online or call 623-399-0079.
Property Inspections Plus is a Gilbert, AZ home inspection company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our service areas.
