Sewer camera inspection and line locating

When a camera inspection makes sense

• Backups keep coming back after the line has been cleared
• Before buying a home, especially an older one, since standard home inspections usually do not look inside the sewer line
• Before a repair or replacement, to confirm what is wrong and choose the method
• After a repair, to verify the work and keep a record
• Sewer odor inside or outside without an obvious source
• Before remodeling or adding a bathroom that will tie into the existing line
• Before a septic-to-sewer connection, to check the house drain that will be reused

What the camera can show

• Root intrusion at joints and cracks
• Cracks, fractures, holes and broken sections
• Offset or separated joints
• Sags (bellies) where water stands in the line
• Corrosion and scale inside cast iron
• Deformed or flattened pipe
• Grease buildup and foreign objects
• Pipe material changes and previous repairs
• Where the line connects to the public system, when the camera can reach it

The camera records what is visible on the pipe surface. It cannot see the soil outside the pipe, and standing water in a sag can hide part of the pipe wall. We tell you when the footage is limited and why.

Sewer line locating

The camera head carries a small transmitter. Above ground, a receiver picks up its signal so we can mark the pipe route and the exact spot of a defect, with an approximate depth. This is how we turn "there is a break about 38 feet out" into a mark on your lawn.

Locating is useful on its own when you need to know where the line runs before installing a pool, fence, patio, irrigation or a tree. We can mark the route with paint or flags.

What happens during the inspection

1. Find access. Usually the outdoor cleanout. If there is none, a toilet can sometimes be pulled, or we discuss adding a cleanout.
2. Clear if needed. If the line is blocked, it has to be opened before the camera can travel.
3. Run the camera. We push it through the line, noting distances and recording video.
4. Locate. Mark the route and any defects on the surface.
5. Review with you. We show you the footage and explain what it means, including what is fine.
6. Written summary. Findings, locations and recommended next steps, with the video file.

Our article on what to expect during a sewer camera inspection covers preparation and how to read the footage.

Camera inspections for home buyers

A sewer line that needs replacement is an expensive surprise after closing. A recorded inspection during your inspection period gives you and your agent concrete information to work with. We report what we see without a sales agenda; if the line is in good condition, that is what the report says.

Sewer odor diagnosis

Sewer gas smells usually come from a dry trap in a rarely used drain, a failed wax ring under a toilet, a cracked vent or a break in the drain or sewer line. We start with the simple causes and use the camera when the source is in the piping. If the smell is near the street or a manhole, that may be a utility issue and we will tell you who to call.

Where we do this work

We work across Sarasota and nearby Sarasota County communities, including downtown and the in-city neighborhoods, North Sarasota and The Meadows, Siesta Key, Gulf Gate and South Gate Ridge, Palmer Ranch and Fruitville and the Sarasota County side of Lakewood Ranch. The service area page lists every ZIP code we cover. If you are near the edge of that area, ask; we will tell you plainly whether we can reach you.