VIDEO SEWER INSPECTION — SEE THE PIPE YOURSELF

A camera inspection is the only way to know what's actually happening inside your sewer line. A clog could be hair and grease. It could also be a root mat from the neighbor's tree. It could be a pipe belly where the soil settled 3 inches in 1978 and water's been pooling ever since. You can't guess from the outside — you look.

Our techs run a self-leveling camera on a push-rod down the cleanout. You watch on the monitor with the tech — no staring at the ceiling wondering what's happening below you. The camera transmits a locator signal so if we find a problem, we can mark the exact spot on the yard or slab above. Recording is included and we send you the video file and still images when the job's done.

When you should scope the sewer

1. Before buying a home — this is the #1 reason people call us. Home inspections don't include sewer lines. A $195 scope has saved North Louisiana buyers five-figure surprise repair bills more times than we can count, especially on homes built 1950-1975 with original clay or cast iron mains
2. Recurring clogs in the same line — if the same drain backs up more than once a year, something's wrong with the pipe, not the fixture
3. Multiple drains backing up at once — almost always a main line issue
4. Sewer smell in the basement or yard — gas shouldn't escape a sealed system
5. Wet spots in the yard where the sewer line runs
6. After heavy tree work — root intrusion can start or worsen when nearby trees are removed or cut back
7. Before a major plumbing upgrade — a new water heater or repipe is a good time to scope the main while we're there anyway

What we typically find

In North Louisiana, the usual suspects by pipe age. Homes built pre-1960 with clay or cast iron: tuberculation (scale narrowing the pipe by 30-50%), partial offsets at joints, and occasional clay lateral from house to main. Homes built 1960-1980: cast iron mains, sometimes Orangeburg tar-paper pipe that's crushed or collapsed. Newer builds: usually PVC in good shape, occasional construction debris or improper backfill settling that causes bellies.

What Mark Johnson & Sons does differently

We run the camera with you watching. No "trust me, there's a root mat" followed by a giant repair quote. You see what we see, on the monitor, in real time. If we find nothing, we tell you nothing's wrong — we don't invent repairs. Inspection fee is $195 and it's fully waived if you move forward with a recommended repair with us. We send you the video and photos in a shareable link within 24 hours.

If the camera finds a real problem, you get three price points on the fix — spot repair (trenchless or dig), main sewer lining for a full pipe rehab, or full replacement. You pick based on your budget, how long you plan to stay, and what makes sense. No pressure.