Understanding Sewer Camera Inspections
When you have a plumbing problem, it can often feel like a mystery. Most of your pipes are hidden underground, inside walls, or beneath your foundation. We can see what’s causing a stubborn leak or a terrible sewer backup without tearing up your yard? The answer is a modern solution: the sewer camera inspection.
What Is a Sewer Camera Inspection?
A sewer camera inspection is a smart, high-tech way for plumbers to get a clear look inside your pipes.
Instead of guessing or digging to find a problem, we use a specialized tool. This tool is a long, flexible rod with a high-resolution video camera and a powerful light on the end.
Our technicians are trained to guide this camera through your sewer line—often starting from a cleanout port—and will watch a live, real-time video feed on a monitor above ground. The flexible rod is designed to navigate the twists and turns of your pipes, even around corners. The video lets our plumbing professional see the entire condition of the system. We can also save the video and capture images of the damage, which is helpful for planning repairs or sharing with an insurance company.
This technique is much more efficient and accurate than old methods because it takes all the guesswork out of finding the issue.
Why Do Pipes Need a Video Check-Up?
You don't always need a camera inspection, but it is the best solution for diagnosing complicated or hidden plumbing issues. Here are the most common times that you should schedule one:
- Buying a New Home: Before you make a massive investment, it's smart to inspect the sewer line. A camera can detect serious problems that the previous owners didn't know about or disclose, like cracks or roots, which could save you thousands of dollars later.
- Repeated Clogs and Backups: If you're constantly dealing with slow drains or sewer backups, the problem isn't a simple clog—it’s something serious deeper in the line. A camera finds the exact cause and location.
- Old Pipe Materials: Many older houses, especially those built before the 1970s, used cast iron piping. These pipes are known to rust, crack, and leak over time. A camera inspection is crucial for checking the condition of these aging systems.
- Determining the Right Repair: Sometimes, a pipe needs a full replacement. Other times, it only needs a simple repair. A camera inspection gives a clear answer so you don't spend money on a fix that won't last.
What Problems Does the Camera Find?
The camera inspection reveals all kinds of trouble brewing in your underground pipes. The issues can range from simple blockages to serious structural damage.
| Type of Problem | Description |
| Root Intrusion | Tree and shrub roots naturally seek water and can grow right into your sewer line through tiny cracks, causing massive blockages and breaking the pipe apart. |
| Debris Blockage | Heavy buildup of hair, cooking grease, oil, paper products (like wipes), and mud can form tough blockages that regular drain cleaning can't remove. |
| Cracked or Broken Pipes | Shifts in the ground, heavy traffic above the line, or old age can cause the pipe material to crack, separate, or collapse entirely. |
| Bellied Drain Line | A section of the pipe has sunken or sagged, creating a "belly" where water and waste sit instead of flowing to its destination, leading to backups. |
The Major Advantages of Using a Camera
Using video technology to look into your sewer line offers several significant benefits:
- Pinpoint Accuracy: The camera finds the exact location and cause of the problem. This saves you money because the plumber only repairs what's broken, minimizing labor and materials.
- No Unnecessary Digging: By knowing the precise spot of the damage, plumbers can avoid digging up your entire yard or tearing up your home's foundation just to find the issue.
- Insurance Proof: The video footage provides solid, undeniable evidence of the damage to present to an insurance company for a claim.
- Informed Decisions: Once you receive the inspection report, you have the full picture, allowing you to make a smart, informed decision about whether you need a minor repair or a complete replacement.
If major damage is found, the data from the camera inspection allows us at Virginia Best Plumbers to offer modern, less invasive repair methods, such as trenchless sewer repair, which can often fix the line without the need for traditional, destructive digging.