How sewer camera inspections work

Inspection basics

Access

Cleanout or removed toilet

Records

Video and distance

Locating

Depth and position marked

Typical length

House to city connection

The equipment

A sealed lens on the end of a stiff, bendable push cable travels through the drain from a cleanout. A counter shows distance. A transmitter in the head lets the plumber locate the camera from above with a receiver.

• Footage is recorded for you to keep.

What you see

Clean pipe looks smooth. Roots look like hair or ropes at joints. Cracks appear as dark lines. Offsets show as a step at a joint. A belly holds standing water.

• Material is usually obvious: clay, cast iron or plastic.

When to book

Repeated backups, buying an older home, planning a basement renovation, or before installing a backwater valve.

• Ask for the footage and distances.

Common findings explained

Roots: fine or thick roots entering at joints. Offsets: one pipe section shifted relative to the next. Bellies: sagging sections holding water. Cracks and breaks: visible fractures or missing pieces. Scale: rough build-up on cast iron walls.

• Each finding has a different fix, from cleaning to section replacement.

Preparing for an inspection

Know where your cleanout is, or be ready for the plumber to access through a toilet.

• Clear the area around the cleanout.
• If possible, avoid heavy water use during the inspection.

What it costs to skip

Without a camera, decisions about repair are guesses.

• Digging in the wrong spot or replacing a sound pipe wastes money.
• An inspection first makes every later decision better informed.