Camera Inspections
Drain and sewer problems often develop inside pipes that cannot be inspected from the surface. A recurring clog, sewage odor, slow drain, or unexplained backup may indicate grease buildup, tree-root intrusion, corrosion, damaged joints, or a partially collapsed sewer line. Without seeing the interior of the pipe, it can be difficult to determine whether the system only needs cleaning or requires a more permanent repair.
RDZ Plumbing and Drains provides professional plumbing and sewer camera inspections for homes, commercial properties, restaurants, rental buildings, and multi-unit facilities throughout San Diego.
A specialized waterproof camera is guided through an accessible drain or sewer line, allowing our plumbers to examine the pipe interior in real time. The inspection helps identify the location and nature of the problem so the next service can be based on visible pipe conditions rather than guesswork.
Whether you are dealing with repeated blockages, planning trenchless sewer repair, evaluating an older plumbing system, or confirming the condition of a recently cleaned line, a camera inspection can provide valuable information before work begins.
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What Is a Plumbing Camera Inspection?
A plumbing camera inspection uses a small waterproof camera attached to a flexible cable. The camera is inserted through a sewer cleanout, drain opening, or another suitable access point and moved through the pipe.
As the camera travels through the line, it sends a live image to a monitor. This allows the plumber to observe the pipe material, internal condition, joints, bends, buildup, and visible damage.
Camera inspections are most commonly used for drain and sewer systems. They are not designed to inspect pressurized water-supply lines because those pipes are generally too small and operate differently from drainage plumbing.
A camera may be used to inspect:
- Main sewer laterals
- Kitchen and commercial drain lines
- Shared building drains
- Underground sewer pipes
- Cast-iron plumbing
- Clay sewer lines
- PVC and ABS drainage systems
- Pipes beneath slabs or concrete
- Lines serving multi-unit properties
The ability to inspect a pipe depends on its diameter, access, blockage level, and physical condition.
When Is a Camera Inspection Recommended?
A camera inspection is especially helpful when the same plumbing problem continues returning after ordinary drain cleaning.
A cable machine may open a blockage and restore flow, but it does not always reveal why the obstruction developed. If the pipe is cracked, heavily corroded, invaded by roots, or holding wastewater because of poor slope, the blockage may return even after the immediate obstruction has been removed.
Inspection may be recommended when several drains back up together, toilets gurgle when another fixture is used, sewage odors appear inside the property, or wastewater returns through showers and floor drains.
It may also be useful before hydrojet cleaning, sewer pipe lining, trenchless sewer repair, or replacement of an underground sewer line. These services require an accurate understanding of the pipe’s condition, route, and damaged sections.
Property owners may also request a camera inspection after repeated repairs, during a renovation, or when evaluating an older sewer system.