Sewer Line Camera Inspection & Video Diagnostics
A sewer camera inspection pushes a waterproof camera on a flexible rod through the sewer lateral from the home to the street, recording the pipe's condition in real time. A 512Hz sonde transmitter in the camera head lets the operator locate any defect from above ground and mark its exact depth and position.
5 Urgent Warning Signs
- ⚠️ Recurring backups or slow drains that return after every cleaning
- ⚠️ Sewage smell in the yard, especially along the path from house to street
- ⚠️ Unusually lush, green, or wet patches of grass over the sewer line
- ⚠️ Sinkholes or depressions forming in the yard above the line
- ⚠️ Buying or selling a pre-1970s home whose sewer line has never been inspected
4-Step Technical Protocol
Step 1: System isolation
confirm the line is accessible (cleanout) and clear enough for the camera; jet first if roots or sludge block the view.
Step 2: Camera survey
run the camera the full lateral, recording joints, roots, cracks, offsets, bellies, and collapses with distance markers.
Step 3: Sonde locating
trace the 512Hz signal from above ground to mark each defect's surface position and depth.
Step 4: Flow verification
deliver the video report with a repair recommendation (clean, line, burst, or excavate) matched to the defect found, not a generic fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a camera, or can you just snake it?
Snaking restores flow but cannot show why it blocked. If the same line blocks repeatedly, or the home is pre-1970s with clay or Orangeburg pipe, a camera shows whether it is roots, a belly, an offset joint, or a collapse — and each has a different fix.
What does the sonde locator do?
The camera head transmits a 512Hz radio signal. A receiver above ground follows it, so the operator can mark exactly where a defect is and how deep it sits — which is what makes a targeted repair possible instead of digging up the whole yard.
How long does an inspection take?
A typical residential lateral survey is a short visit — access, run the camera, mark defects, and hand over the video. The time grows only if the line first needs jetting to clear the view.
🛠️ Standard Trade Equipment
Self-leveling color sewer cameras with 512Hz sonde transmitters, above-ground sonde receivers/locators, hydro-jetters for pre-inspection cleaning, video reporting software.
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