Good digs start with good information
Drain excavation, opening the ground or a slab to reach and replace a broken drain pipe, is only as accurate as the diagnosis behind it. The more we know before arriving, the sooner the problem can be confirmed and the smaller the eventual opening tends to be.
What to tell us on the first call
- Which fixtures are slow, gurgling or backing up, and whether it is one room or the whole house
- When it started and whether it comes and goes with heavy use or rain
- Any wet spots, sinking ground or odors outside, and where they are
- Whether the house sits on a slab, over a crawlspace or above a basement
- Previous drain cleanings, camera reports or repairs, and roughly when
- What covers the suspected area: lawn, driveway, patio or finished floor
- Gate codes, pets and the easiest way onto the property
Photos of wet patches or a short video of a gurgling toilet can say more than a long description.
What the first visit looks at
We start by finding a way into the drain, usually a cleanout or a removed toilet, and run a camera through the suspect line. A small sonde behind the lens sends out a signal, so the defect can be marked on the surface along with its approximate depth. If there are signs of a hidden leak, the water meter gets a look too: a meter that keeps moving with every fixture off, after an ice maker, softener or irrigation timer is ruled out, can indicate unintended use or a leak on the pressurized supply side, which needs leak detection rather than an assumption that the buried drain has failed. We also walk the yard along the drain path to see where a trench could go and what stands in the way.
From diagnosis to a scheduled dig
Once the cause is clear, an Ellenwood drain job usually moves through these steps:
- Review the footage together and agree on what failed and where.
- Settle the repair approach and get a written scope and estimate.
- Have public utilities marked through Georgia 811 and point out private lines.
- Dig, repair, test and check the joints, then backfill and restore.
If the camera shows the problem is in the line running to the public sewer rather than the house drain, the plan switches to sewer excavation.
Before the first visit: Ellenwood questions
Do you need to come inside?
Usually, at least briefly. The camera often goes in through a toilet or an indoor cleanout, and indoor symptoms help narrow down which line is failing. If an outdoor cleanout gives a clear path into the right drain, much of the inspection can happen outside, but someone should be home to run water when asked.
What should I avoid before the visit?
Skip chemical drain openers; they rarely fix a broken pipe and make the line unpleasant to work in. Do not dig to look for the pipe yourself, since utility lines may run nearby. Use the affected fixtures as little as possible, and take photos of any wet or sinking spots.
Start with a conversation
If you suspect a broken drain at your Ellenwood home, phone (404) 409-4448 and tell us what you have noticed; the first visit gets planned from there.