Sewer Camera Inspection in Lodi, NJ.

A sewer camera inspection puts a waterproof camera on a flexible cable and runs it through the line from a clean-out toward the street. The footage shows the pipe's material, its joints, its slope and anything blocking it. It turns a guess about a drain problem into something you can see, and it is the best way to avoid paying for a repair you do not need.

Lodi Pro Plumbing performs sewer inspections in Lodi, NJ for homeowners with recurring backups, for buyers who want to know what they are getting and for owners who have been quoted a dig and want a second look. If the line is already backing up, the repair page covers the emergency version.

When an inspection is worth doing

These situations call for a camera:

• A drain has backed up more than once in a year, even after cleaning.
• You are buying a house and the seller cannot say much about the sewer line.
• A contractor quoted a full replacement and you want proof it is needed.
• You see a patch of soggy or unusually green ground over the line.
• You plan to jet the line and want to confirm the pipe is sound first.
• Flooding has hit the neighborhood and you want to check for damage afterward.

For a home purchase, the inspection happens during the due diligence window. Ask your agent or attorney how to schedule it before the contingency period ends.

What the camera looks for

The plumber watches the monitor and notes each finding with its distance from the clean-out:

• Cracks and fractures that let in roots or soil.
• Offset joints where two pipe sections no longer line up.
• Roots entering through joints or cracks.
• Sags or bellies that hold water and catch waste.
• Scale and grease coating the pipe wall.
• Collapsed sections that narrow or block the pipe.
• Pipe material changes such as cast iron to clay or plastic.

Each finding gets a location, a photo and a plain-language note. Many lines show minor wear and need nothing but maintenance. The report says so honestly.

How the inspection works

1. The plumber finds the clean-out, or pulls a toilet if there is none.
2. A short cable clears the first few feet so the lens stays clear.
3. The camera is fed down the line while a locator tracks its depth and position above ground.
4. The footage records to a drive, and you can view it live on the monitor.
5. The plumber explains the findings and marks problem spots on the ground if needed.
6. If repair is needed, you get a price for each option, with no pressure to book it.

The recording is yours to keep. It is useful for insurance claims, for a seller negotiation or for a second opinion from another contractor.

Inspecting a line after a flood

Lodi's low areas sit along the Saddle River and take water in major storms. The March 2024 overflow that covered Main and Sydney streets and the flooding that followed Hurricane Ida in 2021 are reminders that buried pipe can be stressed by saturated ground. A camera inspection after a flood shows whether joints shifted or silt settled in the line.

If your basement or yard flooded and you have had slow drains since, inspect before you assume the problem is a simple clog.

Sewer inspection questions

Code basis. Plumbing work in New Jersey follows the state plumbing subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.15, which adopts the 2021 National Standard Plumbing Code. Ask which permits apply to your job and confirm with the Lodi Building Department.