Why You Need a CCTV Sewer Inspection

What is a CCTV sewer camera inspection?

If you notice signs of clogs, blockage, foul odors, or anything else that indicates something is wrong with your sewer lines, you will need a CCTV sewer camera inspection. CCTV stands for Closed Circuit Television. This is a camera that is fed inside of your pipelines, sewer lines, and drains. It allows the plumbers to find the issues without having to dig, remove flooring, or tear down walls to access pipes.

This is a cost-effective solution to pinpoint the source of the problem and lead plumbers to take the correct course of correction. It’s simple, affordable, and highly recommended for houses that seem like the plumbing may be older or failing. Even when purchasing a new house, some insurance companies recommend a CCTV sewer camera inspection to ensure the house is up to code.

What can a CCTV sewer inspection find?

While the camera is fed through, a monitor displays a live feed, giving an accurate understanding of what it see and all the problems visible. The camera can find obstructions such as;

Invasive tree roots. Plant and tree roots search through the dirt for water and nutrients. If they came across a pipe, nothing will stop them from penetrating the clay, plastic, or cast iron pipe. They tend to break into the smallest openings, joints, or existing cracks.

Collapsed areas

Build up from various substances, such as:
- Grease, oil, and fats. Never dump these down your pipes. They will solidify and build-up, sticking to your pipes causing clogs.
- “Flushable” wipes. (These wipes are not actually able to properly drain. They are “flushable” in only the sense that the toilet can flush them. Getting it through the drain is a whole other problem.)
- Other accidentally flushed objects

Cracks or breaks. Cast iron corrodes over time and cracks, causing sections of the pipe to collapse. If a vehicle were to drive over an area of the pipe, the added pressure could cause it to break as well.

Note: Don’t treat your toilet like a trash can and flush just anything. Make sure only human waste and toilet paper goes down into your pipes.

How does a CCTV sewer camera inspection work?

The CCTV sewer inspection camera designed for inspection of residential pipes 2 to 6 inches in diameter, are hand-operated and fed manually. The camera is attached to the end of a reel that is pushed and pulled by hand.

Equipped with a light, it can travel up to 175 feet down a sewer line from an access point.

The access point can be a cleanout, removing and using a toilet drain, or another drain. The camera records and stores everything for later analysis.

The benefits of a CCTV sewer camera inspection

CCTV sewer camera inspections have several advantages and benefits to homeowners. They are affordable, environmentally-friendly (there is no digging involved), and they identify problems quickly. The CCTV sewer camera inspection will isolate the problem and give the appropriate response to correct it. A CCTV sewer camera inspection is always done before and after we repair or replace sewer pipes.

They are also great for preventative maintenance and can help locate at-risk sections of pipe before they break or leak. We give you a full report of what the camera saw and can even provide a USB file on request.

What comes after a CCTV sewer camera inspection?

After the inspection is completed, and the problems are located, what needs to be done next?

If the pipe just needs to be cleaned, that can be a simple process using hydro-jetting. If the pipe needs more than a simple cleaning, we offer trenchless and traditional sewer repair and replacement.

Hydro-jetting – Hydro-jetting uses highly-pressurized water to clean out sewer pipes. It’s non-invasive, requires no digging, uses no chemicals, and restores your pipes original diameter. Sometimes plungers and snakes don’t work, so hydro-jetting is like a super deep clean. It’s not something you can grab off the shelf, so calling a licensed plumber like New Flow Plumbing will get you the service. The condition of the pipe determines the amount of pressure and which nozzles are used during hydro jetting.

Traditional sewer repair – A method that involves minimal digging, it can replace a damaged pipe in just a few hours. It avoids digging trenches, knocking down walls, or tearing up floors. It’s cost-effective, minimally-invasive, and environmentally-friendly. There are two types of trenchless repair; pipe bursting and pipe lining. Trenchless sewer repair can last up to 100 years after installation, giving you your money’s worth.

Traditional sewer repair – Sometimes a pipe is so badly damaged, that trenchless repair is not usable. If a pipe is back-pitched (meaning the installing of the pipe was not angled incorrectly), or collapsed, we can’t use the trenchless route. This method does involve digging trenches, but trenchless sewer repair is a common correction.

Read also – What is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

Whatever the problem, a CCTV sewer camera inspection can find it and lead New Flow Plumbing to right plan of action for you. Because the camera provides visual evidence, New Flow Plumbing can accurately determine whether the issue requires a simple fix like hydro-jetting, or a major intervention like trenchless pipe repair. This precision saves you time and money by eliminating guesswork. Call us today to schedule a free estimate and your own inspection! View local plumbing business information here.

Arman Grigoryan

Founder & President of New Flow Plumbing

Arman Grigoryan is the founder and president of New Flow Plumbing, proudly serving Los Angeles, Sacramento, and surrounding areas. With extensive experience in plumbing diagnostics, he leads a skilled team specializing in advanced sewer and drain camera inspections to quickly identify problems and deliver lasting solutions. Arman is dedicated to using the latest technology to provide reliable service, honest answers, and dependable results for every customer.