How an inspection usually goes
Access the line
The plumber opens a cleanout, or pulls a toilet if there is no usable cleanout, and checks whether the line is flowing.
Clear if needed
If water is standing, the line may need clearing first so the camera can see the pipe walls.
Push the camera
A camera head on a flexible push rod travels toward the main, recording video with a running distance counter.
Locate defects
A transmitter in the camera head lets a locator above ground mark where a defect sits and roughly how deep.
Review together
The plumber walks you through the recording and explains each finding and its distance from the cleanout.
What you may see on the footage
- Root intrusion
- Hair-like or matted roots entering at a joint or crack.
- Offset joint
- Two pipe sections that no longer line up, creating a ledge that catches debris.
- Belly or sag
- A low section where water stands instead of flowing; the camera often goes underwater.
- Crack or fracture
- A visible line or break in the pipe wall, from hairline to open.
- Scale or tuberculation
- Rough, rusty buildup inside cast iron that narrows the pipe.
- Collapse
- A section that has lost its shape, often with soil visible inside.
Reading distance on the screen
Most inspection screens show a footage counter that starts at zero at the access point. When the plumber says there is an offset at 34 feet, that means 34 feet of push rod from the cleanout, not 34 feet from the house wall. Combined with the locator, that distance tells you whether a defect sits under lawn, a walkway or the driveway.
Ask for the recording in a format you can keep. Footage is useful for a second opinion, for comparing proposals from different contractors, for insurance questions and, later, for anyone buying the home.
What a good inspection gives you
- Recording
- Full video from the access point to the main, with distance shown
- Pipe material
- Identified on camera, including any changes along the run
- Defect list
- Each problem with its distance and approximate depth
- Recommendation
- A suggested repair method, explained against the footage
Questions to ask during the review
- Can you pause on each defect and tell me the distance and depth?
- Did the camera reach the main, and if not, why did it stop?
- Which findings need attention now, and which can be watched?
- What would you recommend if this were your house, and why?
Common questions
Does a camera inspection require digging?
No. The camera goes in through a cleanout or a fixture opening. Digging only happens later if a repair needs it.
Why did the camera stop before the street?
A collapse, a severe offset, heavy roots or standing water can block the camera. That stopping point is itself useful information.
Can the camera see the city main?
Some cameras can look a short way into the main at the connection, but the city's main is the city's responsibility. Check with the City of Whittier about issues past your connection.
General information for Whittier, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.