Sewer Test in San Antonio

Are you in the market for a new home and need a sewer test performed?

Sewer Test

We at Alamo Plumbing Solutions understand that buying and selling homes can be a daunting task, especially if it is your first time. While most people often have a long list of expectations for their new homes, some forget that checking the integrity of a house’s plumbing is a very important part of inspecting a house.

That’s why we recommend that you should always insist on a sewer test for the house you’re looking to buy!

How Do I Get a Water Leak Detection Test?

Based in San Antonio, Alamo Plumbing Solutions is the best option for you whether you are an individual or a real estate agency that needs constant sewer tests for multiple properties.

When you call us, you get exactly what you need. Here is a breakdown of our sewer test service:

Sewer Testing with Leak Detection

Generally, there are two main methods of water leak detection: camera inspection and pressure tests.

    1. Video Camera Inspection

This method of sewer inspection relies on a flexible camera module that is put inside your plumbing lines. The camera then transmits live video of your sewer.

A video camera inspection is effective when used to find major problems with your plumbing such as blockages, big leaks, dents, root intrusion, and so on.

A typical inspection may cost anywhere between $100 and $500 but this largely depends on the scope of the project (complexity of the plumbing, number of technicians needed, time, etc.)

Although video camera inspection is good for detecting big leaks and blockages, it cannot be used in cases where the leaks that need to be found are either small or very many.

In such cases, a better method of leak detection is used: hydrostatic testing.

    1. Hydrostatic Testing and Pressure Testing

 
Hydrostatic Testing

Hydrostatic testing is a pressure test that is used during water leak detection. It is also known as static testing and it involves sealing off parts of a sewer system and pumping them full of water at a specific pressure for a certain amount of time.

During a hydrostatic test, the part of the sewer that is sealed off is checked for leaks. In most cases, technicians add dyes to the water they use in a hydrostatic test to make it easier to spot leaks.

At the end of a hydrostatic test, the water is drained, and depending on the results, the pipe can either be repaired or replaced.

 
Pressure Testing

Pressure testing is similar to hydrostatic testing when it comes to how both of them are conducted. However, the main aim of a pressure test isn’t to find leaks.

The main aim of a pressure test is to check the strength of your plumbing. Just like a hydrostatic test, a section of your plumbing is sealed off and pumped full of water at a specific pressure for a certain period of time.

There are 2 main types of pressure tests:

    1. The water jacket method- When using this method, a section of plumbing is lowered into a sealed chamber (the jacket) that is also filled with water. The section being tested is then pressurized, which causes it to expand and force water out of the jacket. The displaced water is measured. The section being tested is then depressurized which causes the measured displaced water to flow back into the jacket. Sometimes, the section being tested does not shrink back to its original size and instead remains bigger. This is known as a permanent expansion. Generally, the bigger the permanent expansion, the more likely that you will need to replace that pipe.

    2. The direct expansion method- When using this method, the section being tested is filled with water at a certain pressure. The pressure is then released and the technicians measure how much water is expelled. Just as with the water jacket method, the higher the percentage of permanent expansion, the more likely it is that you will have to replace your pipe.

 

Benefits of Leak Detection

    1. Good water pressure- Water leak detection ensures you find and fix every single leak in your plumbing so that you can have the proper water pressure in your home.

    2. Lower water bills- You will no longer waste a lot of water through leaks.

    3. Cheaper in the long run- Leak detection can catch problems with your plumbing while they are still simple and easy to fix. Ignoring plumbing leaks may cause you to incur more expenses down the road such as having to replace large sections of your plumbing.

    4. Ensure safety- Leak detection and pressure testing ensure that your plumbing is structurally sound and can handle surges in pressure. This ensures that you will have no pressure-related incidences when it comes to your plumbing.

Call Us Now to Avoid More Damage!

Depending on where a leak is found, there may be a lot of repairs that need to be done. Here are some extensive repairs that can be caused by a main sewer line leak.

House Foundation Repair

A leaking sewer line can cause problems with your house’s foundation. If you notice signs such as cracked or bulging floors, misaligned doors and windows, and wall rotation may indicate that you may need house foundation repair.

Minor cracks can cost as little as $500 while major repairs can cost anywhere between $4,000 and $10,000.

Sewer Line Leak Repair

A damaged sewer line can cause a lot of problems depending on the plumbing structure of your house. Fixing a damaged sewer line may involve digging up your yard and pavement, getting permits from the relevant authorities if your sewer line goes under a road and so on.

You can expect to pay between $90 to $240 per foot for this option.

On the bright side, there are new and better methods of repairing sewer lines that have extensive damage. The trenchless in-liner sewer repair method is one such method and it works by creating a new sewer line inside your damaged one by using a tube that is inserted, inflated and stuck to the inner lining of your sewer line.

This usually costs between $6,000 to $12,000.

Can A Sewer Test Be Covered by Insurance?

Insurance only covers your property against specific events that you insured your property against. When it comes to gradual wear and tear such as rusting or aging pipes, your insurance policy does not cover them.

In most cases, your insurance policy will come into play only when the damage to your plumbing is accidental. 

We Are All You Need!

We offer a wide variety of plumbing services that include service plumbing, slab leak repair, sewer odor detection, unclogging drains and much more.

Many customers trust our state of the art plumbing technology and expertise. Become part of our family and contact us today to get a free estimate on your plumbing needs!

Working with Alamo Plumbing Solutions

Additional Plumbing Services

Commercial & Residential 

Alamo Plumbing Solutions plumbers are licensed & highly experienced in commercial and residential plumbing

Camera Inspection

State of the art camera inspections services available. We’ll get right to where the issue is by using a camera to pinpoint the location. 

Drain Clog & Detection

We provide camera inspection, leak detection, drain inspection, and sewer drain and clog repair in San Antonio.

Leak Detection

Hydrostatic testing & pressure testing are used in the process for detecting leaks within your plumbing infrastructure. 

Alamo Plumbing Solutions Logo

126 El Mio St
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 607-LEAK 

Master Plumber
License: M# 39431

Alamo Plumbing Solutions

Alamo Plumbing Solutions proudly offers professional sewer repair, drain clog and plumbing repair service.

We provide residential & commercial plumbing services across San Antonio and surrounding areas.