In Pikeville, where about two-thirds of homes were built before 1980, a sewer camera inspection is the most direct way to see whether an older drain line is clogged, root-bound or cracked. A plumber films the line to the town sewer and shows you where each problem sits. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Pikeville.
How does Pikeville's sewer work?
The Town of Pikeville runs its own wastewater system. Instead of discharging to a stream, the town treats wastewater at its secondary treatment plant and retention lagoons, then spray-irrigates the effluent onto fields. That's the town's side. The building sewer from your house to the town's line is the homeowner's, and it's the part a plumber's camera inspects. Homes in the rural 27863 area outside town may be served differently, and some may not be on municipal sewer.
Is my Pikeville sewer line old enough to cause trouble?
Very possibly. Pikeville is a small farm town just north of Goldsboro, and its median home dates to 1974. About 66% of homes were built before 1980, and 27% in the 1970s alone. Building sewers from that era are often clay tile or cast iron. Clay joints are where roots get in, and cast iron corrodes and narrows over time. A camera shows whether your line is still sound or whether it's time to plan a repair, and it often shows the pipe material too.
The warning signs are familiar: several fixtures draining slowly at once, a toilet that bubbles when the tub empties, wastewater rising in the lowest shower, or a sewage smell in the yard. In a line this old, a clog that keeps coming back after it's been cleared is often the first real clue that roots or a crack are involved. Tell the plumber if you've had the line snaked before and how long ago, since that history helps them read what the camera shows.
What happens during the inspection?
First the plumber needs a way in, ideally an outdoor cleanout, though a toilet flange or roof vent works when there isn't one. A line full of water gets opened before filming. The camera, mounted on a stiff push cable, then sends live video to a screen along with how many feet it has traveled. The plumber notes roots, cracks, offset joints, sags and buildup, and a locator can mark the problem from above. What it costs depends on access, any clearing needed, the length of the line, and whether you want the footage saved.
Permit note
Pikeville issues its own building permits through Town Hall rather than Wayne County. The Town of Pikeville Building Permits and Inspections office can be reached at 919-242-5126.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Pikeville
What does an older sewer pipe look like on camera?
How can I tell whether my house is connected to public sewer?
Who handles the permit if the camera finds damage that needs fixing?
Why does my main line keep clogging after it's been cleared?
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