Plumbing Camera Inspection Guide: What You Need to Know Before You Begin

If you're planning a plumbing camera inspection, you're already taking a smart step toward maintaining your property’s health. A plumbing camera, also known as a drain camera or sewer inspection camera, gives you a clear view inside your pipes—without digging. It’s an efficient way to detect clogs, corrosion, or potential pipe collapse before disaster strikes.

1. Why Do You Need a Drain Camera Inspection?

The sewer pipe is an important part of your home's plumbing system. It carries waste from sinks, tubs, and toilets to the main sewer pipe below the street. The camera will show if pipes are corroded. It can also show weak spots. A camera inspection can sometimes find pipes that are about to collapse. You can then decide if you should fix it now or wait.

A plumbing camera inspection allows you to spot common underground issues early, including:

• Corrosion and rust buildup

• Hairline cracks or full breaks

• Tree root intrusion

• Sagging or misaligned pipes

• Hidden blockages

Therefore, instead of reacting to a plumbing emergency, you can plan ahead and reduce long-term repair costs.

2. How long does a drain camera inspection take?

How long a sewer inspection takes depends on factors such as the sewer system, the size of the property, and the reason for the inspection. But in most cases, a sewer inspection will take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours from installation to snaking the camera through the pipe, depending on the size and complexity of the site.

3. Can a drain camera inspection find all plumbing problems?

The camera shows the inside of the pipe as it passes by. This reveals problems, including clogs, cracks, root intrusion, corrosion, or other issues that may block the sewer line. However, the fact is that pipe inspection cameras cannot identify every problem, so it is important to understand their features and limitations.

4. Will the inspection damage my property?

A sewer scope inspection is a way to check the sewer lines below a property without damaging them. These inspections show you exactly what is wrong with your home's drainage and sewer system.

5. Do new homes need plumbing inspections?

Sewer inspections are essential for any home. New homes may be connected to older sewer pipes. You need to pay extra attention to home inspections especially if you are buying a home. You get a baseline of your system's health and can budget for future repairs. If you find something that needs fixing, you can stop it from becoming a bigger problem