How to use it
Ask the plumber to pause at each finding and tell you the footage number on the screen. Write it down along with what you are looking at. If they mark the location on the ground with a locator, note the landmark too, such as three steps from the driveway edge.
Fill in a separate sheet for the before and after passes. Comparing them shows what jetting removed and what it revealed underneath.
Worksheet
| Footage mark | Pipe material | What you see | Severity (1-3) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What you might see on screen
- Root intrusion
- Hair-like or matted roots entering at a joint or crack.
- Offset
- The next section of pipe sits higher, lower or to one side, leaving a lip.
- Separated joint
- A visible gap between two pipe sections, sometimes with soil showing.
- Crack
- A line along or around the pipe; may be hairline or open.
- Belly
- Water pooling for a stretch because the pipe has sagged.
- Scale or tuberculation
- Rough, lumpy buildup, common in older cast iron.
- Transition
- A change in pipe material, often where a past repair was made.
Severity guide for your notes
- 1, watch
- Minor buildup or small roots at a sound joint
- 2, plan
- Repeated roots, open cracks, moderate offsets or scale
- 3, act
- Holes, collapse, major separation or a deep belly
Ask before the plumber leaves
- Did the camera reach the connection to the public sewer?
- Which finding worries you most, and why?
- Which findings can be managed with cleaning, and which need repair?
- Can you send me the video and still images?
Common questions
What if the plumber will not pause the camera?
Ask them to. If they will not, ask for the full recording so you can review it later.
Is the severity scale official?
No. It is a simple way to organize your own notes. The plumber's assessment and the footage are what matter.
Why note pipe material?
Material affects how the line can be cleaned and which repairs are possible.
General information for Buena Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.