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Sewer Line Leak Detection and Camera Inspection in Greenacres, FL
Your sewer line carries everything that goes down every drain in the house, out to the Palm Beach County system that serves Greenacres. When it cracks, separates, fills with roots or scales up inside, you get slow drains, gurgling, odors, backups, and sometimes water leaking into the ground or under your slab.
Star Florida Leak Detection sends a camera through the line so you can see the problem instead of guessing at it. We show you the footage, locate the problem spot from above, and give you repair options in writing, from a single spot repair to lining or replacement.
Tell us what you are seeing and we will quote the detection price on the phone, before anyone comes out.
- Licensed Florida plumbing contractor
- Local office in Greenacres
- Written, dated leak report
- Members of PHCC and the South East Apartment Association
What Your Sewer Line Is, and Who Owns It
Every drain in your home, from sinks and showers to toilets and the washing machine, feeds into a main building drain. That drain leaves the house as your sewer lateral and runs under the yard to connect with the public sewer.
In Greenacres, the public sewer system is run by Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department, not the city. The county’s policy is clear about the split: when there is a backup, the county investigates and clears its own line up to the point of service. If the county’s line is clear, work on your side of that point is your responsibility.
That makes a camera inspection doubly useful. It shows what is wrong, and it shows where. A problem at the connection or on the county side is a call to the county. A problem under your yard or your slab is a job for us.
Sewage coming up in a yard cleanout, in the street, or at multiple homes at once? Call Palm Beach County Water Utilities at 561-740-4600, option 1. It may be a county main problem.
Signs of a Sewer Line Problem
Slow drains throughout the house
One slow drain is usually a local clog. Several slow drains at once, especially on the lowest floor, point to the main line.
Gurgling toilets and drains
Air bubbling back through a toilet or tub when another fixture drains means the line is partly blocked or poorly vented.
Backups in the lowest fixture
Water coming up in a shower or tub when the washing machine drains or a toilet flushes is a classic main line sign.
Sewer odor inside or outside
A rotten egg smell near drains, in the yard or around the foundation can mean a cracked line or a dry trap.
Soggy or lush yard over the line
A leaking lateral fertilizes the grass above it. A green stripe or wet area along the sewer path is worth checking.
Clogs that keep coming back
If the main line gets snaked every few months, something is causing it: roots, a sag, scale or a broken section. A camera finds the reason.
Pests
Roaches and rodents can travel through broken sewer lines. A sudden problem near drains can be a clue.
Cracks or damp spots in the slab
A broken drain under the slab leaks every time water runs through it, which can wash out soil and damage flooring.
Sinkholes or depressions
Soil washing into a broken pipe can leave small sunken areas in the yard over the line.
Slow drains, gurgling or sewer odor? Tell us which fixtures and when.
Call (561) 783-8857What Damages Sewer Lines in Greenacres
Tree roots
Greenacres has been a Tree City USA every year since 1992, and mature trees are everywhere. Roots seek moisture and nutrients, and a sewer joint with even a hairline gap is an invitation. Once inside, roots grow into a mat that catches paper and grease, and they keep pushing the joint apart.
Aging cast iron
Many older South Florida homes still have original cast iron drains. Over decades, the inside roughens and scales, which catches waste, and the bottom of the pipe can thin and crack. Homes from the earlier end of the city’s 1970s build-out are the most likely to have it.
Grease and wipes
Cooking grease hardens inside the line. So-called flushable wipes do not break down like toilet paper. Together they create blockages that put pressure on weak joints.
Bellies and settling
Sandy soil settles over time. A section of pipe that sinks creates a low spot, or belly, where water and waste collect instead of flowing. Bellies clog repeatedly and stress the joints on either side.
Joint separation
Older joints and connections can pull apart as the ground moves. A separated joint leaks into the soil and lets roots and sand in.
Construction and digging
Fence posts, landscaping, driveway work and utility digging can crack a lateral. The damage may not show until months later.
How a Sewer Camera Inspection Works
Access the line
We enter through a cleanout, usually outside near the house or in the yard. If there is no accessible cleanout, we talk through the best access point with you.
Run the camera
A waterproof camera on a flexible cable travels through the pipe while we watch live on a monitor. You are welcome to watch with us.
Identify problems
Roots, cracks, offset or separated joints, scale, bellies, and changes in pipe material all show clearly on camera.
Locate from above
A transmitter in the camera head lets us find its exact position and depth from the surface, so we can mark where a problem is on your lawn or floor.
Check the connection
We look at where your line meets the county connection, which matters for who is responsible.
Report
You get stills and footage of the key findings, their locations, and repair options with prices in writing.
If the line is fully blocked, it may need to be cleared first so the camera can pass. Clearing a line without looking inside only treats the symptom. The camera tells you why it blocked.
What We Commonly Find, and What It Means
| Finding | What it means | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Root intrusion at joints | Roots are entering through gaps and will return after clearing | Clear, then repair or line the affected joints |
| Heavy scale in cast iron | The pipe interior is rough and narrowed | Descaling, then lining or replacement depending on condition |
| Crack or broken section | The line leaks into the soil with every use | Spot repair at the located spot, or lining |
| Belly (sag) | Water and waste sit in the low spot | Section replacement at the correct slope |
| Offset or separated joint | Leaks, catches debris, lets roots in | Spot repair or lining |
| Grease or wipes buildup | A blockage, not necessarily damage | Clearing, and changes to what goes down the drain |
Sewer Line Repair Options
Spot repair
When the damage is in one place and the rest of the line is sound, we dig or open the floor at the marked spot and replace the damaged section.
Pipe lining
A liner installed inside the existing pipe creates a new pipe within the old one, often with little or no digging. It works well in some lines and not in others, depending on condition, bellies and access.
Replacement
When the line has multiple failures, bellies or heavy deterioration, replacing it is usually the lasting answer.
Repairs to drain and sewer piping generally require a permit from the City of Greenacres Building Department. We handle the permit and inspection.
Sewer and Drain Leaks Under the Slab
In slab homes, the building drain runs under the concrete before it leaves the house. A crack there leaks into the soil every time water runs down the drain, which can wash out sand under the slab and cause settling, odors and damp flooring.
Because it is a drain, not a pressurized supply line, it will not move your water meter and will not show up on a supply pressure test. A camera inspection, sometimes combined with a drain test that plugs the line and watches whether the water level holds, is how it gets found. See drain line leak detection and slab leak detection.
Buying a Home in Greenacres? Camera the Sewer First
A standard home inspection usually does not include a sewer camera inspection. On an older Greenacres home, the sewer line is one of the most expensive systems to repair and one of the least visible.
While you are at it, ask about the pressurized side too. A slab leak check and a look at the water heater cover the other expensive systems a standard inspection can miss.
A camera inspection before closing tells you whether the line is cast iron or PVC, whether roots have moved in, and whether there are cracks or bellies. That is information you can use in negotiations, or peace of mind if the line is in good shape.
Landlords and property managers benefit the same way. As members of the South East Apartment Association, we inspect lines for rental owners who want to know what they have before tenants find out the hard way.
How to Protect Your Sewer Line
- Keep grease out of the drain. Let it cool, then throw it in the trash.
- Flush only toilet paper. Wipes, paper towels and hygiene products do not break down like toilet paper.
- Plant trees away from the line. If you know where your sewer runs, keep new trees and large shrubs clear of it.
- Know where your cleanout is. In a backup, access to the cleanout makes clearing faster and can relieve pressure outside the house.
- Do not ignore repeat clogs. A line that clogs more than once is telling you something. A camera inspection is cheaper than water damage.
- Keep traps full. In a guest bathroom or unused shower, run water occasionally so the trap does not dry out and let sewer gas in.
Costs, Insurance and Your Water Bill
Cost
We quote the camera inspection on the phone before we come out, and give you a written repair price after we see the line. Location, depth, access and repair method drive the repair cost.
Insurance
Coverage for sewer lines and sewer backups varies widely. Many policies exclude the line itself, and backup coverage is often a separate endorsement. Check your policy. General information, not insurance advice.
Your water bill
Sewer leaks do not usually raise your water use, because the water leaking has already passed through the meter. The county’s usage credit is based on high meter readings, so it usually does not apply.
What to Do Right Now During a Backup
Stop running water
Stop using sinks, showers, toilets, the dishwasher and the washing machine. Every gallon you use has to go somewhere, and in a backup it comes up the lowest drain.
Check whether it is just your home
If neighbors have the same problem, or sewage is coming up in the street, call Palm Beach County Water Utilities at 561-740-4600, option 1.
Keep people and pets away from sewage
Sewage carries bacteria. Avoid contact and keep children and pets out of the area.
Photograph the damage
Dated photos help with insurance and with any conversation about responsibility.
Call us
We clear the line if needed and camera it to find out why it backed up.
Snaking, Jetting and Descaling: What Is the Difference?
Snaking (cabling)
A rotating cable with a cutting head bores through a blockage to get water flowing again. It is fast and useful in an emergency, but it opens a path rather than cleaning the pipe wall, so roots and grease often return.
Hydro jetting
High pressure water scours grease, sludge and soft roots from the pipe walls. It cleans more thoroughly than snaking, but it is not right for every pipe. Fragile or badly cracked lines should be inspected first.
Descaling
In cast iron, special heads remove the scale that builds up on the inside of the pipe. Descaling often comes before lining, so the liner bonds to a clean surface.
Whatever method clears the line, a camera inspection afterward shows what caused the blockage and whether the pipe itself is damaged. Clearing without looking treats the symptom and leaves the cause in place.
Sewer Pipe Materials You May Have
Cast iron
Heavy, durable and quiet, but it corrodes from the inside over decades. Scale narrows the pipe, and the bottom can thin until it cracks. Common in older South Florida homes.
PVC
The standard for newer drains. It does not corrode, but glued joints can separate, and a section can sag if the ground under it settles. Roots can enter at joints and fittings.
ABS
A black plastic drain pipe found in some homes. It behaves much like PVC, with joints and settling as the main weak points.
Mixed systems
Many homes have more than one material after past repairs: cast iron under the slab, PVC outside, or PVC patches in a cast iron line. Transitions between materials are common trouble spots.
Sewer Odors: What They Can Mean
Sewer gas often smells like rotten eggs. Inside the home, the most common cause is simple: a dry trap in a guest bathroom, an unused shower or a floor drain. Every trap holds water that blocks sewer gas from coming back up. Run water in unused fixtures every few weeks to keep them full.
If traps are full and the smell persists, it can come from a failed wax ring under a toilet (see toilet and fixture leaks), a cracked drain or vent pipe inside a wall, or a broken sewer line under the slab or in the yard. Outside, a persistent sewer smell near the foundation or over the line points to a leak in the lateral.
A strong, persistent sewer smell is worth checking promptly. It means sewer gas is escaping somewhere it should not, and it often comes with moisture you cannot see.
What Your Sewer Inspection Report Includes
- Pipe material and condition along the length we inspected.
- Each problem we found, with a still image and its distance from the access point.
- Where each problem is, marked from above, with approximate depth.
- The connection area, so you know what may be the county’s responsibility and what is yours.
- Repair options, with our recommendation, the reason for it and a written price.
The report is written for homeowners, buyers, landlords, associations and insurers, so everyone works from the same facts.
Sewer Lines in Different Greenacres Homes
1970s and 1980s single-family homes
Original drains under the slab, often cast iron in the earlier homes, and laterals running under mature trees. Roots and scale are the findings we see most.
Condos, villas and townhouses
Shared building drains and laterals are often association responsibility. A backup in one unit can come from a shared line. Our camera footage shows where the problem is so the association can act.
Rentals
Tenants may not know what should not go down the drain. Repeat clogs at a rental deserve a camera inspection before they turn into a backup or a slab leak.
Helpful guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my main sewer line is clogged or damaged?
Several slow drains at once, gurgling toilets, water backing up into the lowest shower or tub when another fixture drains, and sewer odors all point to the main line rather than a single fixture.
Who is responsible for the sewer line in Greenacres?
Palm Beach County Water Utilities maintains its lines up to the point of service. If the county’s line is clear, work on your side of that point is your responsibility.
What does a sewer camera inspection show?
Pipe material, roots, cracks, offset or separated joints, scale, bellies and blockages, along with where each problem is located.
Do older Greenacres homes have cast iron sewer pipes?
Many older South Florida homes still have original cast iron drains, which scale and crack with age. A camera inspection tells you what your home has.
Can tree roots really break a sewer line?
Roots enter through small gaps at joints, grow into mats that catch waste, and keep pushing joints apart. Greenacres’ many mature trees make root intrusion common.
Can a sewer line be fixed without digging up my yard?
Sometimes. Lining can create a new pipe inside the old one with little or no digging, but it depends on the pipe’s condition, bellies and access. A camera inspection tells you whether it is an option.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer line repair?
Coverage varies. Many policies exclude the line itself, and sewer backup coverage is often a separate endorsement. Check your policy.
Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a home?
On an older home, yes. A standard home inspection usually does not include one, and the sewer line is one of the most expensive systems to repair.
Do I need a permit to repair a sewer line?
Repairs to drain and sewer piping generally require a permit from the City of Greenacres Building Department. We handle it.
What should I do first when the sewer backs up?
Stop running water, check whether neighbors are affected, keep people and pets away from sewage, photograph the damage and call us. If the problem is widespread, call the county at 561-740-4600, option 1.
Question not answered here? Call (561) 783-8857 and ask. Talking it through costs nothing.
Related Leak Services in Greenacres
See Inside Your Sewer Line
Stop paying to clear the same clog again. Call us, tell us what is happening, and we will quote the camera inspection before we come out.
Star Florida Leak Detection, 4021 S 57th Ave #105, Greenacres, FL 33463. Member of PHCC and the South East Apartment Association. Last updated September 2026.