How the camera inspection works
A technician feeds a waterproof camera on a flexible rod into the line through a cleanout. The camera sends live video to a screen. A small transmitter in the head lets a locator find its position and depth at the surface.
The crew records the run, notes distances from the entry point and marks problem spots. You can ask to watch the screen and keep a copy of the footage.
What the camera can reveal
Most findings fall into the categories below, and each leads to a different repair.
| What the camera shows | What it means | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Roots entering at joints | Pipe has gaps and roots are feeding | Cut roots, repair joints |
| Cracks or breaks | Pipe has failed at that spot | Spot repair or lining |
| Offset or separated joint | Soil movement shifted the pipe | Excavate or reroute |
| Belly or low spot | Pipe sags and holds water and waste | Replace that section |
| Heavy scale or grease | Buildup is narrowing the pipe | Jetting or cleaning |
| Clean, smooth pipe | No defect found | Keep the video for reference |
Camera footage is the best evidence when you compare repair quotes.
Want to see what is inside the line? Ask about a camera visit.
Call (855) 575-2890What the camera cannot do
It cannot see through a line packed with waste, so a clean-out pass often comes first. It cannot always tell a tiny leak from condensation, and a pipe that leaks only under pressure may need a separate test. It also cannot measure ground conditions around the pipe.
We tell you where the video is incomplete and what additional test would settle it, so you are not asked to guess.
What happens on the day
- 01Locate the cleanout
The crew finds the cleanout or removes a toilet if there is none. Clear the area and tell them about past clogs.
- 02Clear the line if needed
A blocked pipe is cleaned enough for the camera to pass through and see the walls.
- 03Run and record the camera
The camera travels toward the main, and the locator marks defects on the ground.
- 04Review the findings
You see the footage, hear what each defect means and get options in plain terms.
When an inspection is worth booking
Book one before buying a home, especially an older house or one with mature trees. Book one after a second clog in the same line, when odors appear with no source, or when a drain backs up after a rain. It also makes sense before a major yard project that might damage the pipe.
A pre-purchase inspection can protect you from inheriting a failing line. Ask the seller for permission and give the plumber access to the cleanout.
Reading the results like a homeowner
The footage is easier to understand if you know three terms. A joint is where two pipes meet and is the most common failure point. A belly is a low spot that holds water. An offset is where one pipe has shifted from the next and leaves a lip that catches waste.
Ask for the distance of each defect from the cleanout. A defect near the house is usually cheaper to reach than one near the street or deep under a driveway. Ask which defects need action now and which can be watched. A good plumber will rank them for you in plain words.
Inspection compared with a cleaning visit
A cleaning clears the pipe, and an inspection shows why it clogged. If the line has been cleaned twice in a year, an inspection is usually the better next step, since the cleaning only repeats the symptom. The two can happen in one visit when the line is blocked.
A camera is not a substitute for a pressure or leak test when the question is a hidden leak. Tell the plumber what you are trying to learn, and they can bring the right tool. If you only want to know the pipe condition before a purchase, say so when you book.
Seller, buyer and landlord situations
Buyers can add a sewer inspection to their review period. Sellers can book one before listing to remove a source of surprise. Landlords can use the footage as a maintenance record.
Ask the crew to note any spot they were unsure about, so a later visit can check it again. Keep the footage with your closing papers or home file. It also makes a second opinion easy to get. It gives the next plumber a map of the line, and it shows how the pipe changed from one visit to the next.
Tavares local note: the city side and your side
The City of Tavares treats wastewater at its Woodlea Road water reclamation facility and monitors 70 lift stations. Ask the utility where its responsibility ends and yours begins, since a camera run can show how far your own line extends before it meets the main.
If you are buying near the lakes, a high water table can push groundwater into a cracked pipe. Ask the City of Tavares Building Division at 201 E. Main Street how permits apply if the camera finds a repair is needed.
Booking and what to do with the results
Our sewer inspection visit includes a recorded camera run and a plain explanation, and if the pipe needs work, sewer line repair options are laid out with the price explained before work starts.
The same process works for buyers and owners in Eustis and Umatilla, and we can work from your footage if another company already ran a camera.
Frequently asked questions
It shows the inside of the pipe: cracks, roots, offsets, sags, scale and blockages. The camera records distance, and the locator marks the spot above ground. Together these let a plumber plan a repair that matches the damage.
It is a good idea, especially for an older home, a home with large trees or one with a history of drain trouble. The cost of a camera visit is small next to a surprise slab or yard repair. Coordinate with your agent.
No. The camera head is smooth and flexible. If the line is badly blocked or collapsed, the crew stops rather than force it. They will explain what they saw.
A typical residential inspection is often under two hours, longer if the line needs clearing first. Long runs or several branches add time.
Yes, ask for a copy. It is useful for comparing repair options, for your records and for resale. Store it where you keep your home maintenance papers.
There is no set interval. Inspect before buying, after repeated clogs or backups and when you plan work near the line. A clean result gives you a baseline for later.
Know the condition of your sewer line before it fails.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.