If your drains keep backing up and snaking only clears things for a week or two, a sewer camera inspection is usually the next step. A plumber feeds a waterproof camera on a flexible cable down through the line. So you can see exactly what’s blocking or damaging the pipe, instead of guessing from the symptoms above ground.
We run a camera on every drain-cleaning job we do here in Bergen County. As a result, a routine clog still gets checked for whatever bigger problem might be sitting underneath it, instead of just getting cleared and forgotten.
What a sewer camera inspection actually shows you
The camera feed shows the inside wall of the pipe in real time. That means a plumber can see grease and buildup narrowing the line, tree roots growing in through a cracked joint, or a section of pipe that has corroded, cracked, or sagged out of alignment. After that, it shows the pipe material and the general layout of the line, which matters if a repair ends up being necessary.
Because the camera travels the whole length of the line, it can catch a problem well before it causes a backup. So it’s useful information whether you’re dealing with a clog that keeps coming back, or you just want to know the condition of a line in an older home.
What causes the problems you see on camera
Tree roots are one of the most common culprits. Next, they work their way into a line through small cracks or loose joints, then spread until they catch everything flowing past. Grease and soap buildup narrows pipes over time, especially in kitchen lines. For example, older clay or cast iron pipe can corrode or shift as the ground around it settles, which creates low spots where waste collects instead of draining through.
When to call a plumber for a sewer camera inspection
If snaking clears a clog but it comes back within a few weeks, that’s usually a sign of something a camera needs to look at. So the same goes for slow drains in more than one part of the house, gurgling sounds from toilets or tubs, or a sewage smell that doesn’t go away. However, a camera inspection is also worth doing before buying an older home, so you know the condition of the line before you own it.
If you’re dealing with repeated clogs, or you just want a clear answer on the condition of your line, call us at (551) 257-6200. We offer 24/7 emergency service, every day of the year including holidays, if it’s an active backup.
What happens after the inspection
What the camera finds determines the next step. So a line with buildup but no structural damage can usually be cleared with hydro jetting, which we run on lines up to two inches as part of our drain cleaning service. In other words, cleaning handles the buildup, but it won’t fix a cracked or collapsed section.
If the camera shows that kind of structural damage, that’s a sewer line repair instead of a cleaning. The footage makes it easier to show exactly where the problem is and plan the work from there.
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