How to Choose a Sewer Inspection Camera: A Pro Buyer’s Guide

Investing in a professional sewer inspection camera is a major business decision. The right system can dramatically increase your efficiency and profitability, while the wrong one can be a source of constant frustration on the job site.

With so many models on the market, all with different specs and price points, how do you choose the right one for your business?

This buyer’s guide will walk you through the five key features you need to analyze to make a smart investment.

1. Push Cable: Length and Rigidity The push cable is your lifeline. Its length determines your maximum inspection range.

• For Residential Plumbers: A 30-40 meter (100-130 ft) cable is often sufficient for inspecting residential sewer laterals from a cleanout to the street.
• For Municipal/Commercial Work: You’ll need a longer cable, typically in the 60-100 meter (200-330 ft) range, to inspect mainlines and longer pipe runs.

Equally important is rigidity. The cable needs to be stiff enough to be pushed long distances without coiling up or “snaking” on itself, yet flexible enough to navigate standard P-traps and 90-degree bends.

2. The Camera Head: Diameter, Lighting, and Self-Leveling The camera head is where the magic happens.

• Diameter: Ensure the camera head is small enough for the narrowest pipes you typically work on (e.g., 2-inch pipes), but durable enough for larger mainlines.
• Lighting: Look for powerful, adjustable LEDs. The ability to dim the lights is crucial, as too much light in a white PVC pipe can cause a blinding glare.
• Self-Leveling: This is a must-have professional feature. A self-leveling camera head automatically keeps the image oriented upright. Without it, you’ll be struggling to tell up from down as the camera twists through the pipe, making diagnosis difficult and unprofessional.

3. The Sonde: Don’t Buy a System Without It A camera without a sonde is only half a tool. The sonde is a transmitter in the camera head that emits a signal (typically 512Hz). Using a handheld locator, you can find the camera’s exact position and depth from the surface.

• Why it’s essential: It allows you to move from “There’s a blockage somewhere in this pipe” to “The blockage is exactly here, 4.5 feet deep.” This enables precise, targeted excavation, saving enormous amounts of time and money. A system without a sonde is not a true professional diagnostic tool.

4. The Control Unit: Recording and Reporting The ability to record and report is what separates a professional from an amateur.

• Recording Media: Look for systems that can easily record video and still images to a standard SD card or USB drive. This allows you to provide a copy to your client as proof of the problem and a record of the pipe’s condition.
• On-Screen Display: A good system will allow you to overlay important information onto the video, such as the distance counter, date, and time. Some advanced systems even allow for text annotation.
• Battery Life: Ensure the unit has a robust, rechargeable battery that can last for a full day’s work (at least 4-6 hours of continuous operation).

5. Durability and Serviceability This is a tool that will be used in harsh, wet, and dirty environments.

• Waterproofing: The entire push cable and camera head assembly must be fully waterproof (IP68 rated). The control unit should be at least water-resistant.
• Build Quality: Look for stainless steel camera heads, durable connectors, and a rugged case for the monitor and controls.
• Service and Support: What happens when something breaks? Can you easily get replacement parts like camera heads or push cables? Choose a reputable brand that offers good customer support and readily available spare parts to minimize your downtime.

By carefully evaluating these five areas, you can choose a sewer inspection camera system that is perfectly suited to your business needs, ensuring it will be a reliable and profitable asset for years to come.