A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera through your main sewer line so a plumber can see roots, cracks, sags, grease and blockages instead of guessing. You need one when several drains back up or gurgle, clogs keep coming back, or you smell sewage indoors or see soggy spots in the yard.
What is your sewer line, and who is responsible for it?
Your main sewer line carries every drain in the house out to the city sewer or septic system. The part on your property is usually the homeowner's responsibility; confirm the boundary with your city or utility.
Inside the house, branch drains from sinks, tubs and toilets join a main building drain. Outside, that drain becomes the sewer lateral that runs under the yard to the public sewer main. A cleanout, usually a capped pipe near the house or in the yard, gives plumbers a way into the line.
Where your responsibility ends and the city's begins varies by city and utility, so check with yours if a problem may be near the street.
What does a sewer camera inspection show?
The camera shows the inside of the pipe on a screen as it travels: roots, cracks, separated joints, low spots that hold water, grease buildup, collapsed sections and the pipe material.
A plumber feeds a flexible cable with a waterproof camera through a cleanout or other access point. As it moves down the line, the video shows exactly what is causing a slowdown and roughly how far from the access point it is. Many camera systems include a locating transmitter that lets the plumber mark the spot and depth from above ground.
That matters because the right fix depends on what the camera finds. A grease clog, a root mass and a collapsed pipe can cause the same backup but need very different repairs.
When should you get a sewer camera inspection?
Get one when the problem looks bigger than one drain, when clogs keep returning after cleaning, or when you are buying an older home and want to know what is underground.
- Several drains are slow or back up at the same time.
- Water comes up in a tub or floor drain when you flush a toilet or run the washer.
- Gurgling from drains or toilets.
- Sewage smell inside or near the cleanout.
- Soggy, sunken or unusually green patches over the sewer line.
- A main line clog that comes back within months of being cleared.
- After drain cleaning or hydro jetting, to confirm the line is clear and check its condition.
What sewer problems are common in Central Arkansas?
Tree roots, shifting clay soils, aging pipe materials and grease are the usual suspects. Each leaves a recognizable pattern on camera.
- Root intrusion: roots find small gaps at pipe joints and grow into the line, catching paper and waste.
- Shifting soils: clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which can crack pipes or pull joints apart.
- Bellies: a section of pipe that has settled and sags, holding water and debris.
- Older pipe materials: older homes may have clay or cast iron lines that crack or corrode with age.
- Grease and wipes: grease hardens on pipe walls, and so-called flushable wipes do not break down like toilet paper.
What happens after the inspection?
The video points to the fix: cleaning for blockages, a section repair for a localized break, or a sewer line replacement when the pipe is failing along its length.
Blockages from grease or roots are usually cleared with drain cleaning or hydro jetting, depending on what the camera shows. A single cracked or separated section can often be repaired by excavating just that spot. When the line has multiple failures, a full sewer line replacement, with excavation when necessary, may be the more lasting answer.
How does CASC handle sewer line problems?
CASC offers sewer camera inspections, drain cleaning, hydro jetting and sewer line repair and replacement, with excavation when necessary. We show you what the camera finds before recommending a fix.
A visit starts with a $99 service call on weekdays or $149 on weekends and holidays. Estimates for sewer replacements are free, and we pull required permits. If the problem may involve an insurance claim, we provide photos, written findings and documentation, though we never promise what a policy will cover.
Frequently asked questions
Does a camera inspection fix the clog?
No. The camera shows what is causing the problem. Clearing it takes drain cleaning, hydro jetting or a repair, depending on what the video shows.
Why do my drains gurgle when the washer drains?
Gurgling often means water is struggling to get past a partial blockage in the main line, or that venting is restricted. If several fixtures gurgle or back up, a main line problem is likely and a camera inspection can confirm it.
Do I need a camera inspection before buying an older home?
It is a smart step. A standard home inspection usually does not look inside the sewer line, and older lines can hide roots, cracks or sags that are costly to fix later.
Does CASC dig up the yard to fix a sewer line?
When a repair or replacement requires it, yes. CASC repairs and replaces sewer lines with excavation when necessary, and the camera helps target the dig to the problem area.
Terms on this page
Related guides
- Drain snaking vs hydro-jetting Drain snaking uses a spinning cable to punch through a clog and get water moving again. Hydro-jetting uses high-pressure water to scrub grease, sludge and buildup off the inside of the pipe. Snaking handles most simple clogs. Jetting fits repeat clogs, heavy grease and main lines, as long as the pipe is in good enough shape.
- Permits for water heaters, gas lines and sewer lines Replacing a water heater, running or changing a gas line, and repairing or replacing a sewer line commonly need a plumbing or fuel gas permit and an inspection in Central Arkansas cities. A licensed plumber usually pulls the permit. Requirements vary by city, so confirm with your local building department before work starts.
- What to expect from a CASC repair visit To book a repair, send the contact form with your preferred day and time or call 501-307-1310. We confirm the actual appointment with you. Repair visits start with a service call: $99 on weekdays and $149 on weekends and holidays. We're open Monday-Sunday, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM, with same-day service when availability allows.
- Slab-foundation homes: spotting and fixing slab leaks A slab leak is a leak in a water line under or inside a home's concrete foundation. Warning signs include warm spots on the floor, a rising water bill, running-water sounds with every tap off and damp flooring. CASC uses leak detection to pinpoint the leak, then explains repair options before any concrete is opened.
Drains backing up or clogs that keep coming back?
Call 501-307-1310 or send a request. Same-day service when availability allows.
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