Camera Footage Review Worksheet for Sewer Inspections

How to use this worksheet

Camera footage moves quickly, and it is easy to nod along without remembering what you saw. Ask the plumber to pause at each finding and give you the distance on the cable counter. Write it down in the table below, along with what they think it is and what they would do about it.

Afterward, this sheet and the video file together let you check that the estimate matches what was found, and they make a second opinion much easier to get.

Inspection basics

Detail	Your notes
Date of inspection
Entry point (which cleanout or opening)
Did the camera reach the public main? If not, where did it stop?
Total distance traveled
Will I receive the video file? (yes / no)

Findings along the line

One row for each change in material or each defect.
Distance	Pipe material	What it is	Depth if located	Severity (minor / moderate / serious)	Recommended action

Common findings to listen for

Roots: Growth entering at joints or cracks
Offset: Pipe sections that no longer line up
Belly: Standing water where the pipe has sagged
Crack: Split in the pipe wall, hairline to open
Scale: Rough corrosion inside cast iron
Transition: Change from one pipe material to another

Before the plumber leaves

Every finding on the screen has a distance written next to it.
Key spots have been located and marked above ground.
You know which findings are causing the current problem and which are minor.
You know how the video will be sent to you.
You have asked which repair methods are possible for this line.

Questions to finish the worksheet

If you could fix only one thing, which finding would it be and why?
Does any section rule out lining or pipe bursting?
How much of the line looks sound?
Would you re-scope after the repair?

Common questions

What if the plumber will not give me the video?

Ask before the inspection starts. If the recording is not provided, the worksheet becomes your only record, and you may want a second inspection before a large repair.

Do I need to understand all the terms?

No. Write down what the plumber calls each finding and its distance. You can look up terms later or ask a second contractor.

Can I use this for a home purchase scope?

Yes. It works the same way and gives you notes to share with your agent.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.