What a sewer camera inspection shows you
The inspection runs a small waterproof camera through the pipe from a cleanout to the street connection. The picture goes to a monitor and is recorded, with a distance count so each defect has a position. What you get is evidence of the pipe condition, not an opinion from a cleaning visit.
Pipe material and size
Cast iron, clay, plastic or older fiber pipe each wear in a different way and have different repair options.
Roots and buildup
Root hair at joints, grease coats and scale are visible and measurable.
Cracks and breaks
Hairline cracks, missing pieces and open joints show as dark gaps or soil in the frame.
Sags and offsets
A belly appears as standing water, and an offset as a visible step between pipe ends.
How the inspection works
Find the access point
We use the main cleanout. If there is none, a toilet pull or roof vent can serve as an entry, though it takes longer.
Push the camera
A push camera on a flexible rod moves down the line. Smaller lines take a smaller head so the view stays clear.
Locate with a transmitter
The camera carries a sonde, a small transmitter in the head. A hand locator above ground picks up its signal and marks the pipe route and depth on the surface.
Review and report
We stop at each defect, note the distance and depth, and save the video. You get the recording and a written summary of what we saw.
Ready to see inside the pipe?
Tell us the address area, the age of the home and why you are looking. We will plan the visit around it.
Buying a home in Pennsauken, NJ: why to check the lateral first
The median year built in Pennsauken is around 1964, with the oldest housing in the south of the township. Homes of that era often have clay or cast iron laterals, and some may have older fiber pipe. A lateral can fail long before the house shows signs, and a replacement is one of the larger repairs a new owner can face.
Ask your agent to include a sewer camera inspection in the due diligence period. The recording gives you a basis for negotiating repairs, a credit, or walking away. The township handles plumbing permits, so check with the Construction Code Department at 2400 Merchantville Ave if a seller says work was done.
| Camera finding | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Clean pipe, good slope | No active problem | Keep records, inspect again later |
| Root hair at a joint | Early entry point | Cleaning and a plan to seal the joint |
| Scaled cast iron | Narrowed bore, aging wall | Cleaning with care, watch or line |
| Offset or crack | Active leak or catch point | Spot repair or lining |
| Belly or collapse | Pipe has failed | Dig and replace |
When to schedule an inspection
- After two or more backups or slow-drain episodes in a year.
- Before you buy or sell a home with an older sewer line.
- Before lining a pipe, since the liner needs an open, mapped route.
- Before a driveway, patio or large tree work over the lateral.
- When a damp spot or sinking area appears over the line route.
Public sewer or private lateral in Pennsauken, NJ
Sewage in Pennsauken is collected by the Pennsauken Sewerage Authority and treated by CCMUA. The camera tells us where the problem sits relative to the property line, and we point out where the public main begins. If the defect looks like it is in the main, ask the Authority before you pay for a repair.
Source type: Pennsauken Sewerage Authority and CCMUA public pages
What affects the price of a sewer inspection
An inspection is a short visit when access is good and a longer one when it is not.
Pricing starts with a phone conversation about the property and the reason for the inspection, and you get a clear price before work begins.
Open the cleanout
Clear the area around the cap and keep a few feet around it free for the cable reel.
Share the history
Tell us about prior backups, repairs and any earlier camera video.
Point out landmarks
Mention trees, a driveway or an addition over the line, so we can note them at the locate stage.
Planning a purchase or a lining job?
Schedule the inspection first and use the recording to compare repair options.
If the camera finds a defect, our sewer line repair page lays out spot repair, lining and replacement. If it only finds buildup, sewer line cleaning and hydro jetting can restore flow. We also serve Collingswood homes with the same inspections.
Standards and rules behind this advice
Camera inspections record the pipe condition so a repair choice rests on evidence. Lining work that follows an inspection is commonly specified to ASTM F1216, and plumbing work in New Jersey falls under the state Uniform Construction Code, which the Pennsauken Construction Code Department enforces locally.
Sewer inspection questions
Most are a short visit when the cleanout is accessible, though a long lateral or a blocked line takes more time. We tell you what to expect when we schedule it.
Yes. You receive the video and a written summary of the defects, with distance markers.
Yes. A sonde in the camera head transmits a signal that a hand locator picks up above ground, marking route and depth.
It is a good idea for a house of the 1960s era or older. The lateral is out of sight, and a failure is a costly surprise.
A backup is usually cleared first. The 24/7 line handles urgent calls, and the camera follows once flow is restored.
No. It shows what is wrong. Repairs follow separately, and you can compare options with the recording in hand.