Buying a home is usually about budgets, inspections, and condition checks you can see. But some of the most expensive plumbing problems—especially those underground—aren’t visible during a standard walkthrough. That’s where a sewer camera inspection comes in.

A sewer camera inspection uses a small, remotely operated camera to examine the interior of your home’s drainage lines, typically from cleanout access points. For buyers, it offers a “behind-the-walls” view of the sewer system that can materially change risk, negotiation terms, and long-term maintenance planning.

What a sewer camera inspection can uncover

Many sewer issues start subtly and worsen over time. A camera inspection can help identify the underlying cause before it leads to backups, flooding, or emergency repairs. Depending on the property and scope, inspectors may evaluate the full accessible run of the ... Read more »

Chicago’s spring thaw is arriving the way it often does after a long winter: with melting snow, shifting groundwater, and a surge of water trying to move through drainage systems that may be partly constrained by cold-weather conditions.

For residents, the seasonal transition can mean clogged inlets, slower runoff, and in some cases standing water near curb lines, alleys, and basements—especially where sidewalks slope toward properties or where older infrastructure is already strained during heavy rain.

Why thaw can trigger drain backups

When temperatures rise after sustained freezing, snowmelt and surface water increase quickly. At the same time, parts of a property’s drainage pathway—such as downspouts, sump pump discharge routes, yard drains, and nearby curb inlets—may have accumulated debris during winter storms or become less effective after repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Storm drains and sanitary sewers are often discussed as if they serve the same purpose, but they are designed for fundamentally different types of water. The distinction affects everything from everyday street flooding to how communities protect rivers, lakes, and bays from pollution.

In most municipalities, the stormwater system is built to capture rainfall and snowmelt and route it—directly or with limited treatment—to nearby waterways. The sanitary sewer system, by contrast, is designed to collect wastewater from homes and businesses and deliver it to treatment facilities where it is treated before discharge.

What storm drains are for

Storm drains typically move “cleaner” water in the sense that it originates from precipitation rather than human waste. When rain falls, storm drains help prevent standing water by channeling runoff through catch basins, pipes, culverts, and sometimes de ... Read more »

Outdoor kitchens are built for summer: open flames, frequent cooking, and fast cleanup. But many of the problems homeowners blame on “old pipes” actually start with how BBQ grease is disposed of after each cookout.

Grease doesn’t just disappear. When it’s poured down drains, it cools, sticks to pipe walls, and gradually narrows passages—especially in lines that see fewer uses or longer shutdown periods.

Pouring hot grease directly into sinks or drains

One of the quickest ways to create future clogs is to send grease down a sink while it’s still hot. Even if it seems to flow at first, it can solidify deeper in the plumbing system, forming a slick buildup that traps food particles and other debris.

Better approach: Let grease cool, then collect it in a container. Dispose of it through appropriate local programs or waste services.

... Read more »

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