Sewer Camera Inspection

Why every repair starts here

Sewer laterals fail in a handful of predictable ways, and each calls for a different fix. Clay fails at the joints. Cast iron under slabs channels along the bottom. Lines under trees fill with roots. Lines in shifting soil belly or offset. A camera is the only way to tell which you have, how far down the line it is, and whether the pipe still holds its shape. Without it, any quote is a guess dressed up as a number.

What an inspection involves

A self-leveling camera head on a push rod is fed in from a cleanout, a roof vent or a pulled toilet. The technician records the run, notes the distance at every defect, and uses a locator above ground to mark where each problem sits and how deep. A typical residential lateral takes under an hour. If the line is full of roots or grease the camera cannot see the wall, so it is cleaned first with a hydro jetter and filmed after.

What you should walk away with

A copy of the video, a written list of defects with footage marks, the pipe material and diameter, depths at each problem, and a plain statement of whether the line still has slope and shape. If you are offered a verbal summary and a price, ask for the recording.

Reading the results

Cracks, roots and small offsets on a line holding grade point to lining. One crushed spot points to a point repair. A collapsed run or a belly points to bursting or replacement. The inspection does not just find the problem; it narrows the fix to one or two options and rules out the rest.

When to get one with nothing wrong

Before buying an older home, before a remodel that adds bathrooms, before pouring hardscape over the lateral's path, and after any backup that a plumber cleared with a cable but did not explain.