What a sewer camera inspection shows.
A small waterproof camera on a flexible rod goes in through a cleanout and runs toward the street. It records the pipe material, joints, cracks, roots, scale, low spots that hold water and any section that has shifted. A locator can mark the depth and position on the surface.
You get the footage and a plain language summary. No one has to guess whether the pipe is the problem, and you do not pay to dig up a yard that is fine. According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, you can look up a plumber's license online before you hire, and we suggest you do that for whoever you let dig into a sewer line afterward.
Good reasons to schedule an inspection.
Buying a house.
A seller's disclosure rarely covers what is under the lawn. A camera shows the lateral's condition before closing.
Repeat clogs.
If cables keep clearing the same drain, the camera shows why.
Before finishing a basement.
A hidden leak or broken pipe under a new floor is costly to reach later.
After a flood.
Saturated ground can shift or crack old pipe.
Slow drains throughout the house.
A belly or buildup in the main may be the cause.
Wet spots in the yard.
Surface water or lush grass along the pipe route can mean a leak.
How an inspection runs.
Access.
We open a cleanout, or pull a toilet or reach a vent if there is none.
Run the camera.
We push the camera through the pipe while recording and noting distance.
Locate.
If a defect appears, we mark its position and depth at the surface.
Review.
You see the footage, hear what we found and get options in plain terms.
What the camera can tell you.
| Finding. | What it means. | Typical next step. |
|---|---|---|
| Clean pipe, good slope. | No action needed. | Keep the footage for your records. |
| Roots at joints. | Roots can grow back. | Cleaning, then repair of the joint. |
| Scale or grease buildup. | Narrowed pipe. | Hydro jetting. |
| Belly holding water. | Slope has failed in that section. | Repair or replacement of the low section. |
| Crack or offset joint. | Soil and water can enter or sewage can leak out. | Sewer line repair or lining. |
Why the camera matters in an older city.
Garfield was built out long ago, and much of its housing stock predates modern pipe. A house on Midland Avenue or in Plauderville may have a clay or cast iron lateral from the street. Those pipes can be sound after eighty years or failing after thirty, depending on soil and use.
The only way to tell is to look. The cost of an inspection is small next to a surprise repair, and the footage becomes a record you can hand to a future buyer or an insurer.
What we will not do with the footage.
We do not use a camera to sell a repair you do not need. If the pipe is fine, we say so and you keep the recording. If it is not, you see exactly where and why, and you can take the footage to another contractor for a second price if you want.
What affects the price of an inspection.
An inspection is quoted before it starts. If it leads to repair, that is a separate price you approve first.
Where the inspection leads.
If the line is clear, you are done. If the camera finds a blockage, sewer line cleaning is next. If it finds damage, see sewer line repair. We also inspect lines in Lodi and Elmwood Park.
Questions homeowners ask us.
Most take under an hour once the line is accessible. Longer runs or a heavily blocked pipe take more time.
Yes. The footage is part of the visit, and you can share it with a buyer, an insurer or another contractor.
Yes. Schedule the camera during the inspection period so you have the results while you can still negotiate.
We can often reach the line through a toilet or roof vent. If neither works, we discuss installing a cleanout.
It shows cracks and joint damage inside the pipe. A locator marks where they sit. Leaks that are not visible from inside may need other methods.
No. It is a planned diagnostic. If sewage is backing up now, call the emergency line and we will clear the line first.
Written by the Garfield Express Plumbing team. Updated October 16, 2026.