Homeowners call us when a sewer line turns moody. Toilets burp, showers drain in slow motion, or the yard develops a suspiciously lush strip of grass right over the lateral. I have pulled roots thicker than my wrist from a four-inch clay line, and I have seen perfectly good PVC lines sabotaged by a single sag in the soil. Guesswork wastes time and money. A professional sewer camera inspection, done right and explained plainly, replaces hunches with evidence you can see frame by frame.
JB Rooter and Plumbing Inc has built a reputation as a local plumbing authority service because we put diagnostic work first. Our licensed residential plumbing contractors don’t start estimating big repairs until we have a clear, recorded look at the inside of your pipes. That discipline is why we can stand behind our recommendations, keep costs predictable, and earn referrals from folks who had been told they needed a trench when all they needed was a saw-tooth root cutter and a smart maintenance plan.
What a sewer camera can reveal that a snake cannot
A mechanical snake can clear a clog. It cannot tell you why that clog formed or whether it will be back next month. When we feed a high-resolution camera through your cleanout, we read the pipe’s history in small details. Is there loose scale flaking off a cast iron wall, or a long oval that says the pipe ovalized under load? Are the bell joints offset a quarter inch, just enough to catch paper, or is there a full separation with soil intrusion? On a good screen you can see the difference between grease frosting and biofilm, or between a hairline fracture and a spiderweb crack that needs structural attention.
A typical residential line run in our area is 60 to 120 feet from the building cleanout to the city tap. We record the entire run so you can replay the footage later, pause at the suspect joint, and measure distances. That recording is a permanent reference for your property file, insurance claims, or future buyers. Our insured plumbing repair authority status means we document everything, label footage clearly, and store it securely for access if you need it later.
The process, from first knock to final note
On camera day, we start outside if at all possible. Exterior cleanouts are easier on the home and safer for our gear. If the line is flooded, we may need to relieve the blockage first with augers or a hydro-jet. Once we have flow, we send the camera downstream, tracking depth with a locator wand on the surface. The locator maps where the pipe runs under sod, sidewalk, or slab, and it gives us exact depth data so we can price any repair with real numbers, not square guesses.
We narrate while we record. You will hear us call out materials, measurements, and defects: four-inch clay tile, 37 feet, minor root intrusion at joint, grade looks shallow from 52 to 60, then a small belly. If we see a problem that demands immediate attention, like a collapsed section or an active leak into the soil, we stop to mark the spot with flags or paint. The goal is to leave you with a clear picture of your options, from jetting and maintenance to spot repairs or trenchless rehabilitation.
Occasionally a line is so packed with roots or debris that the camera cannot advance. We do not guess past an obstruction. We use the footage we have, show you the impassable section, and plan the right combination of cutting, jetting, and a second pass. I have seen one stubborn obstruction turn out to be a toddler’s rubber dinosaur lodged right behind a turned fitting. Without camera footage, that would have looked like a broken pipe on paper.
Knowing when to choose cleaning, repair, or replacement
A trusted drain cleaning company should not jump straight to replacement. Most homeowners can get years out of an older system with the right cleaning schedule. That said, we use the camera to make tough calls with you. Minor root tufts? We cut them and propose yearly maintenance, maybe twice yearly if the yard has thirsty trees. Grease barnacles? We jet with hot water and eco surfactant, then talk about kitchen habits and an optional enzymatic regimen. Shallow bellies? We explain how standing water contributes to buildup and odor, and whether the belly is short enough to manage or long enough to justify correction.
Cracked, channelized cast iron under a slab is a different story. Old cast iron can keep working for decades, but when the bottom of the pipe has worn thin and started to form a groove, every flush erodes it. Camera inspection shows that channel clearly, and you can often hear water escape through holes into the surrounding soil. That is where reliable plumbing replacement services, often trenchless, earn their keep.
Trenchless options that protect your yard and slab
Not every sewer job needs a trench, and most homeowners are grateful to avoid one. Our expert trenchless pipe repair solutions range from sectional point repairs to full-length cured-in-place lining. The camera dictates what’s possible. If you have a well-aligned pipe with isolated defects, a sectional liner can bridge a crack without disturbing the landscape. If the whole run is rough but intact, a continuous liner adds a new structural wall inside the old one.
We also use pipe bursting when the host pipe is too far gone to line. A conical head splits the old pipe and pulls in a new HDPE line in the same path. The locator data and camera footage tell us where to stage pits and how to avoid utilities. You will hear honest talk about the trade-offs: lining preserves diameter but needs a good host pipe, bursting replaces the pipe entirely but requires access pits and careful planning around connections.
How camera work pairs with other services
A sewer line rarely fails in isolation. We often catch adjacent problems during an inspection and save homeowners repeat visits. The same crew that performs a professional sewer camera inspection may be the experienced leak detection specialists who find a slab leak feeding the soil and washing fines away from your sewer bed. We carry acoustic gear and thermal imagers for that reason. If drain odors are creeping into a bathroom, our professional bathroom remodeling plumber can evaluate trap seals, vent routing, and fixture set heights during the same appointment.
When we inspect lines on older properties, the findings often guide bigger projects. A kitchen redo? We verify that the branch lines can support a new island sink and that venting meets code. Certified water heater installation on the horizon? We check the drain and pan routing, and if your home qualifies for a condensate drain tie-in, we confirm the route is clear and trapped properly. These little touches are how a plumbing company with proven results earns its reputation: small problems are handled before they become costly.
What the footage means in plain English
Customers tell me the most valuable part of the visit is the post-inspection huddle. We sit down with the video on a tablet and scrub through. You will see smooth inner walls when the line is healthy. You will see ridging or scaling when it is not. Offset joints look like little shelves. Roots appear as delicate hairs at first, then as dense ropes when an infiltration has gone long. Grease looks like candle wax. Sand looks like coffee grounds stirred into the flow.
If we find a belly, the camera will dip into water and the picture will blur. We measure the length of that water segment to understand severity. A 2 to 3 foot belly is annoying but manageable with maintenance. A 12 foot belly in low slope clay is a clog magnet. Sometimes we discover a misrouted tie-in where a yard drain feeds your sanitary line. That is a recipe for grit and leaves inside your sewer, and it costs more in cleaning over time than rerouting costs once.
Costs, warranties, and realistic expectations
Transparent pricing matters. For a straightforward residential run with accessible cleanouts and no urgent clearing needed, we price camera inspections in a narrow range so there are no surprises. If the line is blocked solid, we explain the additional clearing step and provide a firm number before we proceed. We include digital copies of the video and a written summary with distances and recommendations. If our team performs a repair based on that inspection, we credit part of the inspection cost toward the work.
Warranties are clear and matched to the service. A cleaning warranty covers reoccurrence within a set time when the cause is within our control. Trenchless lining carries a longer structural warranty because the product is designed to last decades when installed in a suitable host. We do not overpromise. If your line passes under a mature willow, we will talk honestly about root pressure and how yearly camera checkups can protect your investment. The goal is durability and predictability, not false confidence.
When a camera saves the day
A few months ago, a customer called after three backups in six weeks. Another shop recommended full replacement of 80 feet of cast iron under the slab. We cleared the line, ran a camera, and found a single offset clay joint six feet shy of the city tap. The offset caught paper and built a dam. We marked it, checked upstream carefully, and found the cast under the slab was rough but serviceable. The solution was a small municipal-side excavation and a short length of new PVC with proper bedding. The home avoided a major slab demo and saved tens of thousands. That is the kind of result that turns a stressful plumbing problem into a manageable repair.
In another case, a realtor hired us before closing on a 1950s ranch. The camera showed minor root fibers throughout a 90 foot clay run, plus one shallow belly near a tree. The buyer leveraged the footage to negotiate a cleaning and a two-year maintenance commitment from the seller instead of demanding a full replacement. Everybody won because the footage removed the guesswork.
The right tools and the right hands
Cameras vary as much as vehicles. We use self-leveling heads so the horizon stays steady, and we pair them with transmitters that give accurate depth readings through soil and pavement. A clear image matters, but interpretation matters more. Our skilled pipe fitting experts sit with apprentices to review footage and talk through what they are seeing. That mentorship keeps our field judgment consistent across the team.
Field conditions change the plan. On a heavy clay day after rain, locating signals lose range. Under rebar-laced slabs, the locator needs patience. We slow down, take multiple readings, and verify with small pilot holes if needed. That measured pace separates an emergency faucet repair specialist mindset from a diagnostic mindset. Both are essential, but camera day belongs to slow, careful work.
What homeowners can do before we arrive
Small preparations make the visit smoother and the footage clearer.
- If possible, avoid heavy water use for a couple hours before the appointment so the line is not surging. We can still inspect with flow, but a steady, low flow gives better images. Locate known cleanouts and clear a path. Interior cleanouts are often behind laundry or in a closet, exterior ones near a foundation or landscaping.
Beyond that, trust the process. We bring protective mats for floors, boot covers, and containment for any mess from clearing. If we need to access the roof vent, we use fall protection and keep debris contained.
Where inspections fit within a whole-home plumbing plan
A sewer camera inspection does not live in a vacuum. It ties into a rhythm of care that keeps your home’s plumbing predictable. For homes with trees near the lateral, an annual inspection and cleaning schedule makes sense. For homes with PVC or ABS installed in the last 20 to 30 years, a camera every three to five years is often enough, unless symptoms suggest otherwise. If you are planning a remodel, we fold camera work into the planning so you do not pour a new slab or set a new tile shower over a compromised waste line.
We also think upstream. Trusted water line repair goes hand in hand with sewer reliability. So does affordable garbage disposal repair that protects your drain from foreign objects and avoids overloading the line with fibrous waste. When a homeowner asks whether that new chef-style kitchen needs a bigger drain, we answer with camera footage and code tables, not a guess. Our insured plumbing repair authority status means your project has accountability from the first call to the final walkthrough.
Signs you should not ignore
Sewer lines whisper before they scream. A faint gurgle in a lower-level toilet after an upstairs shower. Fruit flies that hover near a floor drain. A patch of lawn that stays damp when everything else is bone dry. These are early warnings. When you call us early, we often solve the problem with a simple cleaning and a targeted fix instead of a major intervention.
There are also moments to stop using fixtures and call immediately: multiple drains backing up at once, sewage emerging from a tub or floor drain, or a strong sewage odor indoors. Those signals point to a main line obstruction or venting problem. We prioritize those calls, bring jetter and camera together, and restore service safely before delving into longer-term solutions.
Coordination with cities, HOAs, and neighbors
Lateral lines and taps sit in a gray zone between private and municipal responsibility. We help navigate that. Our local crews know which cities require permits for spot repairs in the right of way and which want to see inspection footage before authorizing work. If your property is part of a shared line with a neighbor, we map both sides carefully and document where obligations begin and end. Clear communication now prevents hard feelings later.
For HOAs, we package inspection results in a format boards can digest quickly: key photos with timestamps, a short narrative, and practical options at different price points. Board meetings run long enough. We keep plumbing concise and actionable.
Common myths we hear, and what the camera shows instead
Myth one: flushing “septic-safe” wipes is harmless. The camera tells a different story. Wipes snag on the tiniest edge and braid into a rope that collects paper and grease. Myth two: if the line drains Check out this site today, it must be fine. A line with a long belly or scaling can drain while growing a problem silently. Myth three: chemical drain openers fix recurring clogs. They can soften grease near the trap but do nothing to structural issues, and they can corrode older metals. The camera cuts through the folklore and gives you facts.
Safety and sanitation on the job
Working in sanitary systems demands care. Our crews use PPE, disinfect gear between jobs, and capture wash water from jetting when the city requires it. If we open a yard or a slab, we fence off the area and backfill with compacted material to prevent future settling. When working inside, we ventilate, protect finish surfaces, and sanitize contact areas before we leave. A clean job is part of a professional job.
When replacement really is the best option
Some lines are beyond rescue. A clay Get more information lateral with crushed bells every few feet or a cast iron run under slab that has lost structural wall thickness along most of its length will not reward piecemeal fixes. In those cases, we lay out full replacement plans with realistic timelines, costs, and restoration steps. For many homeowners, trenchless methods limit disruption. For others, especially where depth is shallow or utilities crowd the corridor, open trench with careful restoration is the smarter long-term move. We explain both paths, show you footage that supports the recommendation, and invite questions until you feel confident.
Integration with other upgrades
If you are preparing for certified water heater installation, a camera inspection can confirm the drain path for the temperature and pressure relief line and check floor drains that may receive condensate from a high-efficiency unit. If your project involves a new bathroom group, our professional bathroom remodeling plumber ensures vent connections are adequate and that the main line slope can handle the additional fixture units. And if the camera suggests a minor correction, we make it while walls are open and access is easy.
Why homeowners come back to us
Trust is a simple thing built on many small moments. When a homeowner sees their pipe on screen and watches us measure, narrate, and mark with care, they understand that we are not selling mystery. They call again when a faucet drips because they know an emergency faucet repair specialist will show up prepared. They refer us for trusted water line repair because they saw us fix the neighbor’s line neatly with a small pit instead of a trench across the lawn. They ask for our skilled pipe fitting experts when it is time to move a laundry stack, and for reliable plumbing replacement services when the old branch lines have reached the end of their service life.
Camera work sets that tone. It is precise, visual, and honest. It also demands judgment. Not every anomaly needs action today. Not every clean-looking line is problem free. We carry that nuance into every service we offer, from affordable garbage disposal repair to expert trenchless pipe repair.
Final thoughts from the field
I have crawled through basements where pipes tell a century of story. I have stood in yards with flags marking a perfect arc around a maple and explained how roots follow moisture, not malice. The best days in this trade are when we help a homeowner see beneath the surface and make a choice that fits their budget, their timeline, and their home.
If your drains are slow, if you are planning a remodel, or if you simply want to know what lies under your lawn, schedule a professional sewer camera inspection with JB Rooter and Plumbing Inc. We bring licensed residential plumbing contractor expertise, the patience to diagnose with care, and the practical mindset to recommend only what you need. Clear footage, clear options, and work that holds up over time, that is what local plumbing authority services should look like.