Initial Problem – Overflowing Toilet and Suspected Wipes

This next job definitely called for gloves—and gave me the perfect excuse to put my new Sanyipace sewer camera to real use.

As you can see, the toilet is backed up. The shower tray is also full of water. I’ve tried plunging it, but it just isn’t having it. And while I’ve been plunging, I noticed something—though I didn’t touch it—they look like wet wipes to me. Honestly, 99% of blockages are caused by wet wipes.

Outside, we’ve got a severe leak. Tracing the pipes from inside, it seems the bath waste connects here, likely combined with the shower waste, and then joins the toilet connection. This is a bungalow, so the stack terminates here—no upper floors involved.

There is a manhole cover nearby. I was hoping to open it, find the blockage, and clear it from there. Nope. It’s completely clean inside.

I’ve also checked the kitchen sink gully—that one runs clear. But I’m guessing the toilet line runs under the conservatory, which surprised me. I didn’t think that was allowed.

Anyway, this gives me the perfect opportunity to test out my new Sanyipace drain camera. I’ve only tested it at home so far, and I’ve been waiting for a real job to put it to work. So let’s get it set up and fly it up the drain to see what we’re dealing with.

First Use of the Sanyipace Sewer Camera

Setting it up is simple. I connected the camera head and powered the unit. That drain already reeks, by the way.

Within seconds, we already hit something—just 150mm in. No wonder the camera head got blocked up so quickly. That might have even cleared part of the blockage already. Still, I wanted to send the camera further to check for anything like roots or buildup—this is exactly what a sewer camera is for.

I attached the roller guide for 4-inch pipes. There’s a smaller one included too for 40mm waste pipes. Unfortunately, the larger roller wouldn’t fit into the old clay pipe. So I swapped to the smaller guide.

We were submerged a bit, but the image was usable. I kept sending the camera further and observed the buildup inside the soil pipe.

A Quick Walkthrough of the Sewer Camera

Interrupting briefly for a quick feature overview of the Sanyipace camera:

• It has rear wheels and a telescoping pull handle, so you can roll it like a trolley.

• The case is waterproof with a secure seal.

• Comes with a UK 3-pin plug and a USB keyboard (for labeling footage).

• Two roller guides are included—one for 4-inch drains, one for smaller pipes like 40mm.

• The camera head has adjustable LED brightness, a protective cap, and screw-on attachments.

• Footage is stored via a microSD card.

• Screen has playback, color/contrast controls, and snapshot/video options.

• You can pull the SD card to transfer files to a laptop.

• The reel has a locking strap to prevent it from unspooling unintentionally.

• 30 meters of cable on this model—more than enough for residential drains.

Minor downside: the large guide ring doesn't fit into older clay pipes. But other than that, this unit feels sturdy, simple to use, and perfect for drainage work.

Now—back to the job.

Clearing the Blockage and Final Check

At about 4.55 meters in, we hit what looked like the main blockage. I took a snapshot and could’ve recorded video too, which is great for client reports.

Using the sewer camera, I spotted a possible junction beneath the conservatory—completely hidden from view outside. That could be the problem area.

Eventually, we heard the blockage give way. I didn’t need to use rods—thankfully, as that would’ve meant disinfecting both rods and the camera.

We kept flushing to make sure the rest of the clog moved through. Toilet flushed fine. Bath and shower water drained perfectly.

And now for the worst part: cleaning the equipment. I wiped everything down, sprayed it, and coiled the cable back onto the reel. Super easy—just spin the reel and lock it with the clip. Removed the camera head, capped the connectors, and packed it all back into the case.

Final Thoughts

All in all, that was the Sanyipace drainage camera in action. It performed brilliantly and was incredibly easy to set up and operate—even under tough conditions.

So, if you're just getting into drainage work or simply need a reliable and budget-friendly sewer inspection camera, I strongly recommend giving this one a try. You’ll find the product link in the video description below.

With the blockage cleared and the system flowing perfectly, it's time to wrap things up—and send out the invoice.

Product link: https://bit.ly/4d9zy16

Our official website: https://sanyipace.com/

Check the video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ClJTOG7zDg