We diagnose sewer lines with a locating video camera run through an existing cleanout — no digging. It shows pipe material and condition, the exact cause of a problem, and marks its depth and position on the surface so any repair is targeted rather than exploratory.
The Process
- Access. The camera enters through an existing cleanout. If your home does not have one — common in older Albuquerque properties — we can go through a roof vent or pulled toilet, and we will usually recommend installing a proper cleanout since it reduces the cost of every future service call.
- Inspection. A self-leveling camera head on a push rod travels the length of the lateral to the city connection, with live video the whole way.
- Locating. A transmitter in the camera head lets us pinpoint a problem’s depth and position and mark it on the surface.
- Review. You see the footage and we explain what it shows.
What It Identifies
- Root intrusion, and exactly where roots are entering
- Cracks, joint separations, and collapsed sections
- Sags or bellies where standing water collects and solids settle
- Grease and mineral scale coating the pipe wall
- Pipe material — cast iron, clay, PVC, or Orangeburg
- Foreign objects and improper connections from past work
Why This Matters Before Any Repair
Sewer work is expensive and buried, which is exactly why it should not be based on assumption. The camera determines whether the answer is hydrojetting and a maintenance schedule, a spot repair of a few feet, or full replacement — and those differ by an order of magnitude in cost. It also determines whether a trenchless method is viable, which can save your yard and driveway entirely.
The Local Context
Serving Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, and the surrounding communities since 1971 — long enough to recognize the failure patterns specific to local pipe, soil, and tree cover.
