Roots
Thin hair roots at the joints, or a full mat that fills the pipe. We note where they enter and how much of the pipe they block.
D-02CAMERA INSPECTION
Sewer camera inspection: see what's in the line before anyone digs
A sewer line is buried 4 to 8 feet down here, sometimes more. You can't see it, and most people pay for repairs they never saw a reason for. We run a color camera from your house toward the street or the septic tank, record it, and walk you through the footage.
When a camera inspection makes sense
- You're buying a house built before about 1980. Clay tile and Orangeburg are common in that era. A camera is a small cost next to a surprise replacement.
- Your main line backed up. Clearing it fixes today. The camera tells you if it'll happen again.
- Clogs keep coming back. Two or three main line clogs in a year almost always have a physical cause.
- Someone quoted you a big repair. Ask to see the footage. If they don't have any, we'll get some.
- You have big trees near the line. Maples near the front of the house are the usual suspect.
- Before a renovation. Finishing a basement or adding a bathroom on old pipe is a gamble.
What we look for
Cracks and broken sections
Clay tile cracks with age and frost movement. We show you whether it's a hairline crack or missing pieces.
Offset joints
Where one section has shifted up or down against the next, leaving a lip that catches waste. Common after years of New Hampshire freeze and thaw.
Bellies
A low spot where the pipe has settled and water sits. On camera, the lens goes under water. Small ones can be lived with. Long ones usually need a dig.
Orangeburg deformation
Orangeburg pipe, made of tar-saturated wood fiber, goes oval and blisters as it ages. Once it starts, it doesn't stop.
Grease and scale
Heavy buildup that narrows the pipe. Often a good candidate for jetting.
Transitions and past repairs
Where clay meets PVC or cast iron meets clay, and what the last plumber did. Bad couplings are a common weak spot.
What you get
- The recorded video, sent by link the same day
- A short written summary: pipe material, length, depth at key points, and what we found with distances from the cleanout
- Paint or flag marks on the ground over problem spots, with depth noted, if you want them
- Your options, each with a flat-rate price in writing, if anything needs fixing
We're happy to send footage to your home inspector, realtor, landlord or a second plumber. It's your video.
How it works
- Access. We use a cleanout if you have one. If not, we pull a toilet and reset it with a new wax ring.
- Clear if needed. If the line is blocked, we clear a path first so the camera can travel.
- Push and record. The camera head goes down the line on a push cable. You can watch the monitor with us the whole time.
- Locate. A transmitter in the camera head lets our locator find it from the yard. We mark position and depth.
- Review. We sit down with you, play the important parts, and explain what we'd do and what we wouldn't.
Buying a home in southern New Hampshire?
Standard home inspections usually don't include the sewer line. We schedule pre-purchase camera inspections around your inspection window and can usually send footage to your agent within the day. We describe what we see. We won't pad the report to help either side of the sale.
Camera inspection questions
Q01How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?
It's a flat-rate price, and we tell you what it is when you call, before we schedule. If the line is blocked and needs clearing first, that's a separate price you approve in advance. You'll never get a surprise charge for reviewing the footage or for marking problem spots in the yard.
Q02Can you tell me exactly where to dig?
Yes, within a small margin. The camera head carries a transmitter, and our locator picks it up from the surface. We mark the spot with paint or flags and note the depth. That way a dig, if you need one, is a small hole in the right place, not a long trench.
Q03Do I need to be home for the inspection?
For a house you own, we'd like you there for the review at the end, about 15 minutes. For pre-purchase inspections or rentals, we can work with the agent, owner or tenant for access, and we'll send the video and written summary by link the same day.
Q04Will you try to sell me a repair I don't need?
No. If the line looks fine, we'll tell you it looks fine. If something is minor, we'll tell you to keep an eye on it. When we do recommend work, you'll have the footage to show anyone else for a second opinion, and we encourage it.