Why look
Seeing inside the pipe instead of guessing
A cable tells a plumber how far it went and how it felt. A camera shows what the cable was touching. That difference decides whether you pay for another cleaning, a spot repair or nothing at all.
Callers often ask for a camera on a line that clogs every couple of years, or when a cleaning did not hold. Others want to know whether a sewer smell is coming from the pipe, a dry trap or a vent. A recorded run answers those questions with footage rather than opinion.
The camera head is on a flexible cable with lights and a transmitter. It enters through a cleanout, and in most cases the plumber watches a monitor as it advances. If the line is full of debris, it may need cleaning first so the lens can see.
What to do if a drain backs up before the camera visit
A camera visit is usually planned, but a backup can start first, and sewage needs careful handling.
- Stop using water.Hold off on toilets, showers, the washer and the dishwasher until the line is clear.
- Keep people and pets away.Sewage water can carry germs, so wear gloves and boots if you must go near it.
- Call Public Works first.For a backup the village asks for a call to Public Works at 847-459-2545 in business hours, or the police non-emergency line at 847-459-2560 after hours.
- Then call the 24/7 line.A plumber can explain the next step while you wait.
How a camera inspection works, start to finish
Most visits follow the same order. The details change with the house.
Find the access point
The plumber looks for the cleanout. Without one, access may come through a toilet flange or a roof vent.
Clear the line if needed
A blocked pipe has to be opened before the lens can travel. That is a separate step with its own price.
Run the camera toward the street
The camera advances while the plumber watches the screen, noting the distance to each feature.
Mark and locate
A transmitter in the camera head lets the plumber trace the depth and position of a problem from above ground.
Review and decide
You see the footage, hear what it shows and get options with the price explained before any repair.
What a sewer camera can show
Each of these findings points toward a different next step.
Roots
Fine hair or thick masses entering at joints. Cutting and cleaning can clear them, and a repair stops them from coming back.
Cracks and broken joints
Splits, missing sections or joints that have pulled apart. These leak sewage out and let soil or groundwater in.
Sags and offsets
Low spots that hold water and joints that no longer line up. Solids settle there and cause repeat clogs.
Grease and scale
A coating on the pipe walls that narrows the opening. Hydro jetting is the usual cleaning method.
Foreign objects
Toys, wipes or construction debris stuck in the line. They can sometimes be removed without digging.
A clean, sound pipe
Many inspections find nothing wrong, and that is a useful result too. It tells you the clog was a one-time event.
When people schedule a sewer inspection
The reason for the visit changes what the plumber looks for.
| Situation | What the inspection answers | Possible next step |
|---|---|---|
| Buying or selling a house | Is the lateral sound or already failing? | Negotiate, repair or plan ahead |
| Clogs that keep returning | Is there a root, sag or crack behind them? | Sewer line cleaning or repair |
| Sewer smell in the house | Is the pipe leaking, or is it a trap or vent? | Fix the source the camera finds |
| Wet patch in the yard | Is sewage escaping through a break? | Sewer line repair |
| Build-out or remodel | Where does the line run, and is it usable? | Mark the path before digging or building |
A plumber tailors the visit to the reason you call.
Locating
Finding where the line runs
Sometimes the question is not what is wrong but where the pipe goes. A contractor planning an addition, a homeowner with a new patio, or a buyer wanting to see the route all need to know. The camera head carries a transmitter, and a locator at the surface picks up its signal to show the line's path and depth.
This also helps when a leak is suspected. The plumber can mark a point above the break so any repair opens a small area instead of a long trench. If you plan to dig, call JULIE at 811 at least 3 days ahead so utilities are marked, because the camera locate does not replace that call.
If you are building or remodeling, tell the dispatcher what you plan to change. The plumber can focus on the part of the line that matters and give you a marked sketch or a recording to hand to your contractor.
Ready to schedule a camera visit?
Call (847) 281-8626 and tell the dispatcher what you want to learn about the line.
Local
Buffalo Grove homeowners and the private sewer line
In Buffalo Grove the sewer service line from the house to the village main is the homeowner's to maintain. Public Works handles the mains in the street, and it does not root-cut or televise private lines. A camera inspection therefore falls to a private plumber, and what it finds becomes your information to act on.
Buffalo Grove was incorporated in 1958 and its population grew about 80 percent in the 1970s, so many houses have sewer lines that are several decades old. Age alone does not mean trouble, but it is a good reason to look before a problem shows itself. Seeing the pipe first can spare you a surprise backup later.
If an inspection leads to work, the village has rules for sewer service repairs. A permit may apply, underground work needs an inspection, and Community Development at 847-459-2530 can confirm the steps.
What affects the price of a sewer inspection
A clear price is given before the camera goes in. These are the pieces that change it.
Sources
Standards and sources used here
The private line ownership and the permit steps come from the Village of Buffalo Grove Sewer and Drainage page and from Community Development. The explanation of backups and laterals follows the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's sewer guide, which recommends inspecting and cleaning the lateral.
Illinois plumbers are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Plumbing Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 890) is the statewide standard. You can check a license on IDPH's online verification page.
The 811 advice comes from JULIE.
Questions we hear from homeowners
It shows the inside of the pipe: roots, cracks, joints that have shifted, low spots, grease, scale and objects. The plumber notes the distance to each feature so you know where it sits.
It is a sensible step on an older home, because the sewer line is out of sight and a failing one can be costly. A recorded run shows the condition and gives you something to discuss before closing.
Yes. The camera head sends a signal that a locator picks up above ground, which shows the route and depth. You should still call 811 before digging.
Sometimes. If the pipe is blocked or coated, the lens cannot see. The plumber tells you if cleaning is needed and what it adds to the price.
The camera can look at house drain lines where there is access. Tell the dispatcher which line and which symptoms are involved and the visit is planned around them.
The homeowner owns the private line from the house to the village main. Public Works handles the village mains and does not televise private lines.
Call the same number any hour. A plumber can clear the line first, and the camera visit can follow.