A sewer inspection sends a waterproof camera through your main drain line so you can see cracks, roots, sags and blockages on screen, instead of guessing from symptoms. In Reynoldsburg, OH it is most often booked before a home purchase, after repeat clogs, or before lining a pipe.
If sewage is already coming up through a drain, call our 24/7 emergency dispatch. Otherwise a camera visit is a planned job, and we book it when it suits you.
Slow drains, sewer smell and odd gurgles, and what they point to
Gurgling after a flush, a slow floor drain, a damp yard patch, and a smell that comes and goes all share a few causes: a partial blockage, a crack that lets soil in, or a section of pipe that has settled and holds water. You cannot tell which from the symptoms alone.
The technical name for the fix to that guessing is a sewer camera inspection, sometimes called a video scope. It turns a vague symptom into a defect with a location, and that makes any later repair smaller and cheaper to plan.
What the camera can show you
These are the findings we see most often on a recorded pass.
Root intrusion
Fine roots threading into a joint, or a thick mat blocking half the pipe.
Cracks and fractures
Longitudinal or circular splits where soil and water can enter.
Bellies and sags
Low sections that hold standing water and collect solids.
Offset joints
Pipe ends that no longer line up, catching paper and debris.
Scale and grease
Buildup that narrows the bore and explains slow flow.
Collapsed sections
Pipe that has crushed or caved, often visible as a hard stop.
What happens during a camera visit
Most inspections take well under a couple of hours, depending on access and line condition.
Find access
We use the cleanout, or pull a toilet if none is available, to feed the camera into the line.
Clear heavy debris
If the pipe is blocked, a light cleaning opens a path. The camera cannot see through sludge.
Record the run
The camera travels toward the street while a locator tracks its depth and position above ground.
Mark and measure
We note distances to each defect, and mark spots on the ground if you want repairs planned.
Review together
You watch footage, ask questions and get an honest read on which findings matter now and which can wait.
Buying or troubleshooting?
Tell us the situation and we will plan the camera pass to answer your actual question.
When a camera inspection earns its keep
Not every home needs one. These are the situations where it clearly does.
| Situation | What we look for | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Buying an older home | Cracks, roots, offsets, bellies | You learn about the pipe before closing |
| Repeat clogs after cleaning | Cause of buildup or damage | Stops repeat service calls |
| Before pipe lining | Pipe shape and connections | Confirms lining will work |
| Sewer smell outdoors | Cracks letting gas escape | Targets the repair spot |
| After a big tree is removed | Root damage left behind | Shows if roots cracked the line |
Inspections for Reynoldsburg home sales and older lines
Since Reynoldsburg is a Columbus sewer contract community, part of what runs under a street may be public and part private. Find out from the city where your private line ends, because footage of the public main is a different conversation than footage of your lateral.
If you are buying, ask the seller for cleanout access before the inspection and put the footage in your records. If a defect shows up, you can use it in negotiation and plan the fix with our sewer line repair service. We make no claims about local ordinance, and any rule on required inspections should be confirmed with your city.
A camera pass versus cleaning and hoping
Two ways to deal with a line that keeps misbehaving.
Clean it again
- Clears the current blockage quickly
- Gives no view of pipe damage
- May repeat the same visit weeks later
- Leaves you unsure what is wrong
Camera first
- Shows the actual cause of the clog
- Records defects with distances
- Lets you choose repair or maintenance
- Makes later jetting safer for the pipe
Before the camera arrives
A few minutes of preparation makes the visit smoother.
- Locate your cleanout cap, often outside near the foundation
- Clear stored items from the basement around the access point
- Note which drains have been slow and for how long
- Share any earlier cleaning or repair records you have
- Ask the seller for access if you are the buyer
What affects the price of a camera inspection
The price comes before the work.
Access to the line
An exposed cleanout is quick, while a toilet pull takes longer.Length of the run
A long run from a far corner of the house to the street takes more time.Cleaning needed first
Heavy buildup has to be cleared so the camera can see.Report or footage copy
Providing recorded video you can keep may add to the visit.Insurance rarely pays for an inspection by itself. If a sudden failure caused damage, your insurer may ask for footage, so check your policy and keep the video.
Want your real number? Call (614) 656-1470.
Questions about sewer inspection
Many take an hour or two, depending on access, line length and how much cleaning is needed first. If the camera hits a blockage or a collapsed section, we stop and explain what that means before choosing the next step.
Yes. The camera head carries a locator, so we can trace the pipe above ground and measure depth. That helps plan a dig, and utilities still need to be notified before anyone digs, through OHIO811.
It means the pipe was in that shape on that day along the stretch we could reach. We note any areas the camera could not pass and tell you what that leaves unknown.
Our camera covers your private line up to the connection point. For the public main, ask the city or the utility. If footage shows a defect past the property line, we can share it with them.
No. Cleaning removes a blockage. An inspection looks at the pipe. We often do both in one visit when the line needs opening first.
Yes, though we usually open the line first, since the camera cannot see through standing sewage. If it is an active backup, call for 24/7 dispatch and we will do the camera work after it drains.
Also serving nearby towns
Dispatch for this service runs from Reynoldsburg to the towns below.