Last reviewed and updated: 2026-09-24
A video pipe inspection feeds a camera on a flexible rod through a drain or sewer line and records what it finds: cracks, joint offsets, root intrusion, bellies where the pipe has sagged, scale build-up and collapses. A transmitter in the camera head also lets the operator mark the exact position and depth from the surface, so any excavation is targeted rather than exploratory.
A camera is the right tool for unpressurized lines, which is why it leads on sewer and drain leaks where acoustic listening has nothing to hear. Repeated backups after cleaning point at a structural fault, not a blockage.
What the camera identifies
| Defect | What it looks like | Typical remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Root intrusion | Root mass entering at a joint, trapping solids | Cut and line, or replace the section |
| Joint offset | One pipe section stepped out of line with the next | Line or replace |
| Belly | Standing water in a sagging section | Excavate and re-grade: lining will not fix a belly |
| Crack or fracture | Visible break in the pipe wall | Line or spot repair |
| Scale and build-up | Narrowed bore, especially in old cast iron | Jetting, then re-inspect |
| Collapse | Pipe deformed or fallen in | Replacement: often by pipe bursting |
| Foreign object | Debris, wipes, or a lost item causing repeated blockages | Retrieval or jetting |
When it is the right tool
- Repeated backups in the same line after cleaning, cleaning treats the symptom, the camera finds the cause.
- Sewer smell with no visible source.
- Before buying a property, particularly an older Marietta home with mature trees over the lateral.
- Before paying for a trenchless repair, to confirm the line is a candidate for lining rather than replacement.
- After a repair, to verify the work.
- To locate the line and its depth before any excavation.
Ask for the footage. A recording, with the located positions marked, is documentation you own. It supports a quote, an insurance claim, a Cobb County leak credit application and a property negotiation, and it lets a second opinion review the same evidence.
What a camera cannot do
It shows the inside of the pipe, not the outside. A hairline crack leaking into the soil can be hard to see from within, and a defect hidden behind standing water in a belly may not be visible at all. It also cannot inspect pressurized supply lines. Where a camera is inconclusive, smoke testing and hydrostatic testing take over.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sewer camera inspection?
A camera on a flexible rod is fed through the drain or sewer line, recording its condition from the inside: cracks, joint offsets, root intrusion, bellies, scale and collapses. A transmitter in the camera head lets the operator mark the exact position and depth from the surface.
When should I get a camera inspection?
After repeated backups in the same line, when there is a sewer smell with no visible source, before buying an older property with mature trees over the lateral, before committing to a trenchless repair, and after a repair to verify the work.
What is a belly in a sewer line?
A section that has sagged, so water stands in it instead of draining away. It traps solids and causes recurring blockages. Lining will not fix a belly: the grade has to be corrected, which means excavating that section.
Should I get the video footage?
Yes, always ask for it. A recording with located positions marked is evidence you own. It supports quotes, insurance claims, a Cobb County leak credit application and property negotiations, and it lets someone else review the same footage for a second opinion.
Can a camera inspect my water supply pipes?
No. Camera inspection is for drain and sewer lines. Pressurized supply lines are diagnosed with pressure testing, acoustic detection, thermal imaging and tracer gas.