Key Finding

After performing and analyzing over 1,000 sewer camera inspections across Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Rochester Hills, and greater Macomb County, Bison Plumbing's licensed technicians found that 68% of homes built before 1980 had at least one significant pipe defect — most of them unknown to the homeowner. Root intrusion was the most common finding (present in 41% of inspections), followed by grease and debris accumulation (34%), and partial pipe collapse or pipe belly (18%). The data also revealed that Macomb County homes are experiencing sewer failures on average 12–18 years earlier than the pipe manufacturer's expected lifespan — primarily due to Michigan's freeze-thaw soil cycles and the region's aging cast iron infrastructure. Our full breakdown is below.

📊 About This Data

This analysis is drawn from Bison Plumbing's internal inspection records compiled between 1998 and 2025, covering over 1,000 residential sewer camera inspections performed across Macomb County, MI. All data is aggregated and anonymized. Inspections were performed using CCTV push-rod cameras on residential main sewer lines ranging from 3-inch to 6-inch diameter. Findings were categorized by defect type, pipe material, and city. This is Bison Plumbing's first-party operational data — it does not exist in any public database or industry report.