Most homes in Bahama are not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems; City of Durham sewer reaches only properties that have been annexed. A camera inspection in Bahama films the drain pipe leaving your house and shows whether a backup comes from that pipe or from somewhere past it. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Bahama.
What happens after you call
The number on this page puts you in touch with an independent local plumber who covers northern Durham County. Tell them up front whether the house drains to a tank or to City sewer, which fixtures are slow, and whether the line has been cleared before. On the visit, the plumber feeds a camera on a pushrod through a cleanout, toilet opening or vent and watches the pipe on a monitor. The display shows how far the camera has traveled, and a locator above ground picks up the camera head so the plumber can mark trouble spots in the yard.
What affects the price
- How the camera gets in, since older farmhouses may not have a cleanout
- Whether standing water has to be cleared first
- Distance from the house to the tank or to the street connection
- Locating the route and saving a copy of the video
Sewer, or not, in Bahama
Bahama is an unincorporated crossroads village in northern Durham County, near Lake Michie, that grew up around farming and the railroad. Its 19th- and early 20th-century farmhouses and stores along Bahama Road anchor the Bahama Village Historic District. Because the community is outside the City of Durham, water and sewer service require annexation and a Utility Extension Agreement. Owners with failing wells or onsite systems are among those who petition for it.
For a home on an onsite system, the camera covers the building drain to the tank: it can show roots, a crack, a settled section or a clog. It does not evaluate the tank or drain field, which are permitted and inspected by Durham County Environmental Health (919-560-7800). For a home that has been annexed and tied into City sewer, the camera follows the private lateral toward the public main. Either way, the video tells you which part of the system is at fault before money goes into a fix.
Quick checklist before the visit
- Stop using water if drains are backing up
- Find the tank lid or cleanout if you know where it is
- Write down the date the tank was last pumped
- Keep pets and children away from any spilled water
- Plumbing permits for Bahama come from Durham City-County Building & Safety, which covers private water and sewer service work
Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Bahama
How can I tell whether my home drains to public sewer or an onsite system?
My house is not on municipal sewer. What can a camera actually check?
Does a sewer repair found on camera need a permit?
Should I ask for a copy of the camera footage?
More plumbing services in Bahama
Sewer Camera Inspection nearby
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