Sewer Camera Inspection Services in Georgia

A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera on a flexible push cable through a drain or sewer line and records what it sees along the way. Instead of guessing from symptoms, you get a picture of the inside of the pipe: what it is made of, where the joints are, what is wrong if anything, and how far from the access point each problem sits.

Situations where a camera answers the question

  • Clogs that keep coming back. A line that needs clearing every few months has a reason, often roots, a belly or a broken joint, and the camera finds it.
  • Before paying for a repair. Footage shows whether a line needs cleaning, a spot repair, lining or replacement, and lets you compare quotes against the same evidence.
  • After a backup or before a remodel. The camera shows what caused the backup, or whether the line can handle the extra flow from a new bathroom.
  • After cleaning. A second look confirms the pipe is clear and shows what the buildup was hiding.

How the inspection is done

The camera goes in through an access point. An outdoor cleanout is best; without one, a toilet can be pulled or a roof vent used. As the cable feeds in, a counter on the monitor tracks the distance, and the plumber watches the live picture, pausing at joints, transitions and anything unusual. Many camera heads carry a small transmitter, so a receiver above ground can find the head’s position and approximate depth, and the spot can be marked on the lawn or driveway. Running a little water during the inspection shows whether flow moves smoothly or pools.

What the footage can show

Roots appear as fine strands or thick masses at joints. Bellies show up as standing water that the camera dips into. Offset joints look like a lip or step in the pipe, and cracks and holes are often visible directly, sometimes with soil behind them. Grease, scale and debris coat the walls. The footage also shows the pipe material, such as cast iron, clay, PVC or Orangeburg, and where one material changes to another, which often marks an earlier repair.

What a camera cannot tell you

A camera sees the inside surface. It cannot measure how thick a cast iron wall is, test whether a joint leaks under pressure, or see through a line that is full of water or completely blocked; a heavy clog may have to be opened before the camera can go further. It also says nothing about the pressurized water supply: hidden supply leaks are a job for leak detection. Knowing these limits keeps the footage from being read as more than it is.

What you should receive afterward

A useful inspection ends with more than a verbal verdict. Ask for the video or still images, a written note of each finding with its distance from the access point, the pipe material and size, and, if the line was located, marks or a sketch showing its route and depth. If work is recommended, the estimate for it should refer to those findings, describe the method, and say whether cleaning by hydro jetting, a spot repair or full main sewer line repair was considered. The inspection itself does not usually involve a permit; the repair that follows might, and the local permit office can tell you.

Sewer camera inspection by city

Pick a city for its local overview of camera inspection.

Questions about sewer camera inspections

Does the line need to be cleaned before a camera inspection?

Not always, but it helps. A line that drains slowly can usually be inspected as it is, and the footage may show the cause of the slowdown. When the pipe is stopped up completely, or so thick with grease that the lens is smeared within a few feet, it is usually cleared first and then filmed. Some lines are filmed before and after cleaning to compare.

Can I keep a copy of the inspection video?

In most cases, yes; ask for it before the inspection starts so the run is recorded. With the video, or at least stills of each problem and how far along the line it sits, you can get a second opinion, share the results with a seller or contractor, and compare the same section of pipe later. Without it, you only have a verbal description to rely on when deciding on a repair.

Should I get a sewer inspection before buying an older home?

It is worth considering, especially when the yard has mature trees, the drains run slowly, or the seller has no record of sewer work. A general home inspection usually covers fixtures and visible piping, not the buried sewer line. Having the sewer filmed during the due-diligence window of the purchase can reveal roots, breaks or bellies while there is still time to negotiate or plan.

See inside the line

If a drain keeps causing trouble or you are about to buy a house, call (404) 409-4448 to set up an inspection, or book one through the request form.