Sewer Lateral Inspection: What You Need to Know About Your Underground Pipes

If you own a home or commercial property in Delaware County, Pennsylvania—whether in Havertown, Upper Darby, Media, or any of the surrounding communities—understanding your sewer lateral is crucial to avoiding costly repairs and environmental hazards. A sewer lateral inspection is one of the smartest investments you can make to protect your property. Our team at Advanced Drains & Underground Solutions has helped thousands of property owners across the region identify problems before they become emergencies. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what a sewer lateral inspection is, why it matters, and how our trenchless technology can save you time and money.

What Is a Sewer Lateral and Why Does It Need Inspection?

Your sewer lateral is the underground pipe that connects your property’s indoor plumbing to the municipal sewer system or septic tank. While most homeowners never think about it, this critical pipe can develop problems that lead to backups, foundation damage, and health hazards.

Common issues that develop over time include:

• Tree root intrusion—roots seek moisture and can crack or clog pipes
• Pipe deterioration—older clay, cast iron, or concrete pipes break down naturally
• Misaligned or collapsed sections—ground settling shifts pipes out of position
• Grease and debris buildup—kitchen waste accumulates and hardens
• Bellied sections—low spots where water and solids collect

Without a sewer lateral inspection, you won’t know these problems exist until sewage backs up into your basement, your yard becomes soggy, or you notice foul odors. By then, emergency repairs become expensive.

Why You Should Schedule a Sewer Lateral Inspection in Delaware County

Homeowners and property managers in Drexel Hill, Lansdowne, Ridley Park, Chester, Swarthmore, Wallingford, and other Delaware County communities face particular challenges. Our region’s age of infrastructure means many sewer laterals date back decades. Combined with our clay-heavy soil and mature trees common to suburban properties, conditions are ripe for root intrusion and pipe failure.

A professional sewer lateral inspection reveals the true condition of your pipe before problems escalate. Our team uses advanced video inspection technology to see exactly what’s happening inside your lateral without digging up your yard or driveway.

When to Get an Inspection

We recommend scheduling a sewer lateral inspection if you:

• Experience slow drains or recurring backups
• Notice sewage smells near your foundation or yard
• See lush, unusually green patches of grass (a sign of seepage)
• Have a home built before 1980 with the original pipes
• Are buying or selling property and want to verify condition
• Have large trees near your property line
• Notice water pooling in your basement or crawl space

How Our Sewer Lateral Inspection Process Works

Our team arrives with industry-leading video inspection equipment. Here’s what happens:

Step 1: Access and Preparation

We locate your cleanout—the access point to your sewer lateral. If you don’t have one, we can install one. No digging required; we access your system from ground level.

Step 2: Video Inspection

We feed a flexible, waterproof camera down your lateral. Real-time video displays on our technician’s monitor, showing the pipe’s interior condition from your cleanout all the way to the municipal connection (or septic tank). The camera includes distance markers so we know exactly where problems occur.

Step 3: Documentation and Analysis

We record the entire inspection and provide you with a detailed report. Photos and video clips identify any defects—cracks, roots, offsets, bellies, or blockages—with precise locations. You’ll understand exactly what you’re dealing with.

Step 4: Recommendations

Based on findings, we explain your options. Minor issues might only need cleaning. Significant damage may require repair using our trenchless sewer repair methods, which fix pipes without excavation.

The Problems We Uncover During Inspections

In our years serving Havertown, Upper Darby, Media, and surrounding areas, our sewer lateral inspection work has revealed patterns of damage:

Root Intrusion

Tree roots are the number-one cause of lateral failure in our region. Roots enter through small cracks or joints and grow inside the pipe, creating blockages and causing eventual collapse. Once roots are inside, simple cleaning isn’t permanent—they return. This is where our trenchless pipe bursting technology shines, replacing damaged pipe without removing trees.

Pipe Deterioration

Older clay and cast iron pipes simply wear out. Clay pipes, common in homes built before 1970, are particularly vulnerable. Concrete pipes develop cracks as they age. We identify these conditions early so you can plan repairs before emergency backups occur.

Offset Joints

Ground movement shifts pipe sections, creating misaligned joints. Sewage and roots exploit these gaps. Video inspection shows exactly where these offsets exist.

Solutions: From Inspection to Repair

Once we’ve completed your sewer lateral inspection, you have choices:

Hydro Jetting

For debris and grease buildup, high-pressure water jetting clears obstructions without chemicals or digging. This is often sufficient for homes in Swarthmore, Wallingford, and other communities where blockages are recent.

Trenchless Pipe Repair

Our cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining technology repairs cracks, small leaks, and minor root damage by installing a new pipe inside the old one. No excavation means your landscaping and driveway remain intact.

Trenchless Pipe Replacement

For severely damaged laterals, we use pipe bursting to break the old pipe while simultaneously pulling in new PVC pipe. This method works in Chester, Ridley Park, Lansdowne, and everywhere else in Delaware County—even under established trees and hardscaping.

Why Trenchless Technology Is the Smart Choice

Traditional excavation can cost $15,000–$30,000+ and requires tearing up your yard. Our trenchless methods cost significantly less and preserve your property. More importantly, they’re faster. Many jobs complete in a single day, getting your system back to normal immediately.

For property owners in Drexel Hill, Media, and throughout our service area, trenchless repair means:

• No large excavation trenches destroying your landscape
• No tree removal or root system damage
• Minimal disruption to daily life
• Lower overall costs
• Durable new piping that lasts 50+ years
• Environmentally responsible—less soil disturbance

Why Choose Advanced Drains & Underground Solutions for Your Sewer Lateral Inspection

We’ve earned trust across Delaware County because we combine expertise, technology, and honesty. When you call our team, you’re not getting a sales pitch—you’re getting a thorough assessment and realistic recommendations. If your sewer lateral needs cleaning instead of repair, we’ll tell you that. If it needs replacement, we’ll explain why and what the benefits are.

We’re licensed, insured, and our technicians are trained in the latest trenchless methodologies. We serve Havertown, Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Media, Swarthmore, Lansdowne, Wallingford, Ridley Park, Chester, and all surrounding Delaware County communities.

The Peace of Mind That Comes with Inspection

A sewer lateral inspection costs a fraction of emergency repairs. More importantly, it gives you control. You’ll know your system’s condition and can plan repairs before disaster strikes. You’ll avoid the stress of sewage backing up into your home, the expense of emergency crews, and the potential damage to your foundation and health.

Whether you’re a homeowner protecting your investment, a property manager responsible for multiple buildings, or a prospective buyer evaluating a purchase, a sewer lateral inspection is essential due diligence.

Schedule Your Sewer Lateral Inspection Today

Don’t wait for problems to develop. Our team is ready to inspect your lateral and give you honest answers about what we find. The sooner you know your system’s condition, the sooner you can plan cost-effective solutions using our proven trenchless technology.

Call Advanced Drains & Underground Solutions today at 855-DONT-DIG (855-366-8344) to schedule your sewer lateral inspection, or visit us online at advanceddrainsandundergroundsolutions.com. We serve all of Delaware County, PA, including Havertown, Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Media, Swarthmore, Lansdowne, Wallingford, Ridley Park, Chester, and surrounding areas. Let our expertise protect your property.