Sewer Camera
Diagnostic Inspection
Gurgling drains, sewer odor, wet patches in the yard — your pipe is telling you something is wrong. A Picote Solutions HD camera inspection is the only way to find out exactly what before committing to a repair method. Bison Plumbing performs standalone diagnostics across Macomb and Oakland County — written report, HD video, and a repair recommendation based on footage. No upselling without evidence.
A sewer camera diagnostic inspection uses a Picote Solutions HD push camera to inspect the full sewer lateral from the cleanout — identifying crack location and severity, root intrusion depth and entry points, pipe material and condition, joint offsets, belly sections, and groundwater infiltration. The technician records footage of the complete run and provides a written report with repair recommendations supported by that footage. Available as a standalone diagnostic ($150–$400) — not bundled with repair. Inspection fee applied toward any Bison Plumbing repair. Part of Bison’s Sewer Camera Inspection services.
Sewer problems announce themselves in ways that feel urgent but tell you very little about the actual cause: a drain that gurgles when you flush, a faint sewage smell from the basement floor drain, a section of lawn that stays soft and green after weeks of dry weather, or a backup that clears after snaking and then returns two months later. Each symptom points toward a problem — but none of them tells you whether that problem is a $300 hydro jetting job or a $12,000 pipe lining project.
A camera inspection does. It is the single diagnostic tool that replaces guesswork with footage. For every repair recommendation Bison Plumbing makes — whether it’s a cleanout snaking, a full CIPP lining, or a referral to pipe bursting — there is camera footage that shows exactly why that recommendation applies and not another one.
Symptoms That Trigger a Diagnostic Camera Inspection
These are the conditions that confirm a camera inspection is the right next step — before any repair money is committed:
Drain Clogs That Keep Returning
A clog that was snaked and returned within 2–3 months is almost certainly root intrusion — not a grease clog. Camera confirms root entry location, depth, and whether the pipe wall has been structurally damaged.
Gurgling from Toilets or Floor Drains
Gurgling when flushing or when running other fixtures means air is trapped behind a partial obstruction downstream. Camera identifies whether it’s root mass, grease buildup, or a structural collapse beginning.
Sewage Smell from Drains or Yard
A sealed sewer line should contain all odors. Persistent sewage smell means the seal is broken — a crack, open joint, or partial collapse is allowing hydrogen sulfide gas to escape. Camera locates the breach point.
Wet or Unusually Green Yard Patches
Soggy ground or lush grass above the sewer line route during dry weather means the lateral is actively leaking below grade. Camera confirms the leak location before any excavation or trenchless repair is planned.
Pre-Purchase Home Inspection Finding
Standard home inspections don’t assess the sewer lateral. A pre-purchase camera inspection reveals whether the pipe is sound, root-invaded, cracked, or near end-of-life — before the buyer takes ownership.
Contractor Recommended Expensive Repair
If another contractor recommended full sewer line replacement without showing you the camera footage that justifies it, a second opinion diagnostic provides independent HD documentation of the pipe’s actual condition.
What the Technician Looks for — Eight Diagnostic Findings
Each pass of the Picote HD camera generates footage the technician reviews in real time — recording footage distance, damage type, and severity at each finding. Here is what Bison’s technicians document on every diagnostic run:
Crack Location and Severity
Hairline cracks, circumferential fractures, and longitudinal splits are recorded with footage distance from the cleanout — so the exact location is known for any subsequent repair. Crack severity determines whether pipe patching, full CIPP lining, or replacement is appropriate. A hairline crack may be addressed by a spot patch. A shattered pipe section requires something different.
Root Intrusion — Entry Points, Depth, and Mass Density
Camera footage shows which joint the roots entered through, how far the root mass extends into the pipe diameter, and how many entry points are present along the lateral. Early-stage intrusion (fine root tendrils at one joint) is a different repair situation than a lateral where roots have filled 80% of the diameter at multiple locations. Both are confirmed by footage — not assumed.
Pipe Material and Wall Condition
Camera footage identifies pipe material — clay tile, cast-iron, PVC, or concrete — and its current wall condition. Cast-iron interior corrosion shows as pitting and wall thinning. Clay tile shows joint deterioration and hairline fractures. The material and wall condition determine which repair methods are compatible and the urgency of the repair.
Joint Offset — Measured Severity
Where pipe sections have shifted out of alignment at joint connections, the camera footage shows the degree of offset. Joint offset is measured in millimeters — small offsets are within CIPP liner bridging tolerance and can be addressed by lining. Severe offsets that have separated the pipe sections entirely may require excavation for joint repair or pipe section replacement before lining is viable.
Belly and Sag Sections
A belly is a low point in the pipe run where the pipe has settled below the grade line — creating a pooling point where wastewater, solids, and root mass accumulate. Camera footage shows belly location and approximate depth. Shallow bellies can be addressed by lining (liner follows the existing grade). Severe bellies require grade correction — only achievable by excavation and pipe repositioning.
Groundwater Infiltration
When groundwater is actively entering the pipe through cracks or open joints — visible on camera as running water or wet pipe walls without active sewage flow — it indicates structural openings in the pipe. Infiltration adds flow volume to the sewer system, can cause basement seepage, and confirms open pipe breaches that need sealing.
Diameter Reduction from Buildup or Corrosion
Grease and mineral scale buildup on cast-iron pipe walls, or corrosion that has reduced the effective pipe diameter, is visible as narrowing of the pipe interior. Severe diameter reduction is relevant to CIPP lining viability — a pipe reduced to less than 60% of its original diameter may not accommodate a liner insertion. Cleaning before lining is also assessed.
Partial or Full Collapse
In advanced deterioration cases, camera footage reveals partial or complete pipe collapse — sections where the pipe wall has failed and the channel is obstructed or gone. Camera may not pass the collapse point. Partial collapse visible on camera defines the extent of the failed section and confirms whether trenchless pipe bursting or full excavation replacement is required.
The Picote Solutions HD Camera System
Why Equipment Quality Matters in a Diagnostic Inspection
HD Video Resolution
High-definition footage allows clear identification of hairline cracks, early-stage root tendrils, and subtle wall pitting — defects that lower-resolution cameras miss or misrepresent. The footage Bison provides is the same footage that defines the repair recommendation.
Distance Measurement
Picote’s camera system records the footage distance from the cleanout at each finding — so the technician knows and documents that a crack is at 34 feet from the cleanout, not just “somewhere in the middle of the lateral.” This measurement is critical for accurate repair planning and access pit placement.
Recorded Footage Provided
The full inspection run is recorded and provided to the homeowner — not just a technician’s verbal summary. The video is yours to keep, share with other contractors for second opinions, or use as documentation for a real estate transaction.
Waterproof Push Camera
The Picote push camera operates in active wastewater flow without requiring the lateral to be dewatered. Inspections are performed from the standard cleanout access point — no digging required to access the pipe for the diagnostic run.
Post-Repair Verification
The same Picote HD camera used for pre-repair diagnostics is used for post-installation verification after CIPP lining, pipe patching, or pipe bursting — confirming the repair was completed to ASTM F1216/F1743 standards.
Used on Every Bison Job
Bison Plumbing does not quote or begin any sewer repair — lining, patching, root removal, or replacement — without camera inspection footage. The Picote camera runs on every job as a non-negotiable diagnostic step, not an optional add-on.
What the Diagnostic Report Includes
📄 Your Inspection Deliverables
Full HD Video Footage — Complete Lateral Run
Recorded footage of the complete inspection run from cleanout to the end of the camera’s reach. Footage is timestamped and distance-marked at each finding. Provided digitally — yours to keep, share, or use as documentation regardless of which contractor performs the repair.
Written Inspection Report
Technician’s written assessment of each finding — pipe material, damage type, footage distance, severity rating, and repair recommendation. The report references the video footage at each finding so every recommendation is supported by a specific, verifiable footage timestamp.
Repair Recommendation with Method and Cost Range
Based on the footage findings, the technician provides a specific repair recommendation — with the method (hydro jetting, root removal, pipe patching, CIPP lining, pipe bursting, or replacement) and a cost range. If the camera reveals nothing requiring repair, that is documented too.
Inspection Fee Applied Toward Repair
The full inspection fee ($150–$400) is applied toward the cost of any Bison Plumbing repair performed based on the findings. If you choose a different contractor for the repair, the report and video are yours and there is no additional charge.
Four Situations Where a Standalone Diagnostic Is the Right First Call
Pre-Purchase Home Inspection
A standard home inspection does not assess the sewer lateral. For Macomb and Oakland County homes built before 1980 — where clay and cast-iron pipe is standard — a pre-purchase camera inspection is one of the most financially protective decisions a buyer can make. The $150–$400 inspection cost can reveal a $15,000 pipe replacement need before closing.
Second Opinion on a Repair Recommendation
If a contractor recommended full sewer line replacement without providing footage that justifies it, a standalone diagnostic with Bison provides independent HD documentation of the pipe’s actual condition — confirming or refuting the recommendation with footage you can review yourself.
Recurring Problem — Root Cause Unknown
A drain that has been snaked two or three times and keeps returning needs a camera inspection, not another snake. Recurring problems without a diagnosed cause will continue to recur until the footage-confirmed root cause is addressed with the appropriate treatment.
Preventive Assessment — Older Home
For Warren, Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Birmingham homes built before 1970 — where the sewer lateral has never been inspected — a camera inspection every 3–5 years provides early detection. Catching a developing crack or root intrusion at an early stage costs $300 for the inspection and $1,500 for a patch. Waiting costs $12,000 for a lining.
From Diagnosis to Repair — Where the Camera Points
The inspection report and footage define the repair path. Here are the most common diagnostic findings and where each leads:
Main Sewer Line Cleaning
Soft blockage, grease buildup, or debris accumulation — no structural damage. Hydro jetting clears the lateral.
Root Removal + Maintenance
Root mass cleared, pipe wall structurally intact. Annual or biennial maintenance cleaning manages regrowth.
Pipe Patching
Isolated damage on an otherwise sound lateral. Spot CIPP patch at the confirmed location — $1,500–$4,000.
CIPP Pipe Lining
Distributed cracks, root damage at multiple joints, or widespread deterioration. Full lateral lining rehabilitates in one job.
Pipe Bursting
Pipe too collapsed for lining but trenchless replacement is viable. New HDPE pipe installed with two access pits.
Sewer Line Replacement
Pipe cannot be lined or burst. Full lateral replacement — trenchless preferred, open-trench where required.
Bison Plumbing’s diagnostic camera inspection runs $150–$400 depending on lateral length and access conditions. This fee is fully applied toward the cost of any Bison repair performed based on the findings. If the camera reveals root intrusion requiring $450 in hydro jetting, the net cost to you is $450 — not $400 + $450. The diagnostic is not an add-on — it is the first step of the repair process, priced accordingly. Contact Bison to schedule.
A sewer repair recommendation — whether it’s $500 in hydro jetting or $15,000 in CIPP lining — that is not supported by camera footage is a guess. Every Bison Plumbing repair recommendation references specific camera footage timestamps. If a contractor quotes a major sewer repair without running a camera first, ask to see the footage that justifies it before authorizing any work.
Related Services
Sewer Camera Inspection Hub
All camera inspection services — diagnostic, pre-purchase, and post-repair verification.
CIPP Pipe Lining
The most common repair path when camera confirms distributed damage along the lateral.
Main Sewer Line Cleaning
When camera confirms a cleanable blockage — hydro jetting or rooter to restore full flow.
Sewer Line Repair
Camera footage determines whether patching, lining, or replacement is the appropriate repair.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sewer Camera Diagnostic Inspection
A Picote Solutions HD camera inspection reveals: the exact location and severity of pipe cracks; root intrusion — entry joint, depth, and number of entry points; pipe material and wall condition; joint offsets with measured severity; belly and sag sections; groundwater infiltration points; and diameter reduction from corrosion or buildup. The footage is recorded and provided to the homeowner with a written assessment and repair recommendation.
A standalone sewer camera diagnostic with Bison Plumbing runs $150–$400. The inspection fee is fully applied toward the cost of any Bison repair performed based on the findings. If you choose another contractor for the repair, the report and HD video footage are yours to keep.
Yes — a pre-purchase sewer camera inspection is one of the most financially protective steps a buyer can take in Macomb and Oakland County, where clay and cast-iron laterals from the 1940s–1970s are standard. A standard home inspection does not assess the sewer lateral. A camera inspection reveals whether the pipe needs $6,500–$15,000+ in repair or replacement — before the buyer takes ownership and the financial responsibility with it.
The Picote Solutions HD camera is a professional-grade push camera system providing high-resolution video footage with distance measurement capability — recording the exact footage distance from the cleanout at each defect location. This measurement is critical for accurate repair planning: it defines access pit placement, liner length, and patch position. Bison Plumbing uses the Picote camera on every diagnostic inspection and for post-repair verification on all lining and patching jobs.
Yes — Bison performs standalone diagnostic inspections for homeowners who want independent footage to verify another contractor’s repair recommendation. If a contractor recommended full sewer line replacement without providing camera footage that justifies the scope, a second opinion inspection ($150–$400) provides HD documentation of the pipe’s actual condition. The footage is yours regardless of which contractor you choose for the repair.
Know What’s Wrong Before You Commit to a Repair.
Bison Plumbing’s Picote Solutions HD camera inspection provides written report, HD video, and a footage-supported repair recommendation. $150–$400. Applied toward any Bison repair. Warren, MI since 1998.
Schedule a Camera Inspection ✆ (586) 784-4281 2,800+ five-star customers — LARA licensed — footage-supported recommendations only