What a Sewer Camera Inspection Involves
We feed a flexible rod with a waterproof camera into the line through a cleanout or other access point. The camera records as it moves, and a locator lets us mark the position of anything we find above ground.
The inspection is not a repair. It is a diagnosis that tells you the pipe material, its condition and any defects, so any follow-up work is based on evidence. You can also keep the footage for your records.
What the Footage Can Show
A camera reveals problems that no one can judge from the surface. These are the most common findings in older lines.
Roots
Fine roots at a joint look like white threads. Dense mats can fill the pipe and cause repeat blockages.
Cracks and breaks
Longitudinal or circular cracks, missing pieces and holes show where the pipe wall has failed.
Offset or separated joints
Pipe sections that no longer line up leave a lip that catches waste.
Sags or bellies
Standing water in a low spot means the pipe has settled and will keep collecting debris.
Scale and buildup
Rough mineral or grease coating narrows the pipe, which is common in older cast iron.
Pipe material changes
A switch from cast iron to clay or plastic tells us when sections were repaired or replaced.
When a Sewer Inspection Makes Sense
You do not need a backup to justify a camera check. These situations are good reasons to look.
- Repeated clogs in the main line or floor drain.
- Sewer odor in the basement or yard.
- A slow main line in a house with original cast iron or clay pipe.
- Lawn that is wet or sunken along the sewer path.
- Buying a house and wanting to know the condition of the sewer.
- Before landscaping or building near the sewer path.
If a camera finds a problem, repair options start at our sewer line repair page.
How We Run an Inspection
Find access
We locate the cleanout or another entry point and clear the first stretch if needed.
Record the run
The camera travels toward the street while we watch the screen and mark any defects.
Explain and advise
We review the footage with you, say what is urgent and what can wait, and describe repair options.
Why a Camera Check Fits Hawthorne Houses
Hawthorne's housing is older than much of North Jersey. Census estimates put the median home at 1953, about 45 percent of units were built before 1950 and about a third in 1939 or earlier. Lines from that era are often cast iron or clay, and neither comes with a record of its condition. A camera is the only way to see it.
Hawthorne sewage is treated by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. If an inspection leads to a new connection or major change, a Borough Sewer Connection Permit comes through Public Works, so ask early.
Using an Inspection When Buying a House
A general home inspection rarely covers the buried sewer. A camera check adds the missing piece before you commit.
What the camera tells a buyer
- Pipe material and general condition.
- Roots, cracks, offsets or sags.
- Whether the line needs cleaning now.
- Where repairs may be needed later.
How to use the footage
- Share it with your agent and attorney.
- Ask the seller to address urgent defects.
- Plan repairs into your budget.
- Keep it as a baseline for future service.
What Each Result Usually Means
This table helps you read the findings. We will explain how they apply to your particular line.
| Finding | Urgency | Typical next step | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean pipe, good slope. | Low | No action, keep the footage. | Baseline for future comparison. |
| Light roots or scale. | Medium | Clean the line, recheck later. | Prevents repeat clogs. |
| Heavy roots | Medium to high. | Cut and clean, consider repair at the joint. | Roots return unless the entry is sealed. |
| Cracked or offset pipe. | High | Repair or line the section. | Leaks and blockages will worsen. |
| Collapsed section | Urgent | Excavate and replace. | The line cannot carry flow. |
For cleaning after an inspection, see hydro jetting.
What a Sewer Inspection Costs
We give you a clear price before work starts. Inspection is a diagnostic service, and repairs are priced separately after you see the footage.
Inspection findings can help support an insurance claim, but coverage decisions belong to your insurer.
Inspections Across the Area
We dispatch from Hawthorne and also serve Ridgewood, where older homes often have the same sewer concerns. Call the 24/7 line if the camera finds something that cannot wait.
Common Questions
It shows pipe material, cracks, roots, offsets, sags and buildup, all recorded as the camera moves along the line. We also mark locations above ground so repairs can be planned.
A general home inspection usually does not cover the buried sewer. A camera check lets you see the pipe before closing and discuss defects with the seller.
Often yes. We can sometimes enter through a toilet, a vent or another opening. We may suggest installing a cleanout so future service is easier.
Only if buildup blocks the camera. A clear line gives better footage, but we do not clean unless it is needed to see the pipe.
Yes. We review the video with you at the visit and can provide a copy for your records or for a buyer, agent or insurer.
Our line is open 24/7 for emergencies. Routine inspections are scheduled, and same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows.
Local figures on this page come from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates and the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. Check current numbers with those sources before you rely on one.