Sewer Camera Inspection & Mainline Diagnostics – Bradenton, FL (mid-September 2025)
We performed a comprehensive main sewer line camera inspection from the exterior cleanout toward both the house and the street to verify pipe condition, identify blockages, and locate improper transitions. Using professional-grade equipment, we documented defects impacting wastewater flow, including a misaligned connection at the clay tap and a back-pitched section near the PVC-to-cast-iron transition.
Our process included electronic line locating to mark precise dig points, verifying invert elevations, and assessing the pipe slope to code. Findings showed partial obstruction at the street-side tie-in and standing water under the slab—classic symptoms of negative grade and offset joints that trap debris and grease. Corrective action will involve excavation, transition couplings (shielded no-hub), and a smooth, watertight PVC connection to the existing clay tap.
Inside the property line, the camera reached the bottom of the toilet branch where we observed a cracked cast-iron section with a foreign intrusion. This is the most critical repair area between the cleanout and bathroom fixtures. Proper remediation will require slab saw-cutting, removing the failed cast-iron, installing new Schedule 40 PVC with correct grade, and re-establishing vent and trap arm integrity.
Once repairs are completed, the mainline will have code-compliant slope, flush transitions, and restored hydraulic capacity, reducing risks of recurrent clogs, sewer gas, and water damage. Below are on-site images captured during the sewer scoping and locating phase.
Scoping from the Cleanout
Here I’m feeding the sewer inspection camera into the mainline at the exterior cleanout to survey the run toward the street and the home. This step verifies pipe material changes, checks for root intrusions, offset joints, and confirms flow direction before we start any excavation or spot repair.
Locating & Marking the Clay Tap
Using electronic line locating, I identified the municipal clay tap where the home’s PVC sewer pipe ties in. The camera showed a misaligned transition creating a partial blockage. We marked the dig point so we can reconnect with a shielded no-hub coupling and establish a smooth, watertight joint to improve downstream flow capacity.
Under-Slab Back-Pitch & Cast-Iron Crack
Inside, about five feet from the cleanout, the camera found a back-pitched section where PVC transitions to cast-iron, holding water and catching debris. There’s also a crack in the cast-iron with a foreign obstruction. The fix is a slab cut, removal of damaged pipe, and reinstallation of Schedule 40 PVC with correct grade and alignment to restore full hydraulics.