When Snakes Fail, the Camera Shows the Truth
Snaking a drain is the go-to method for a lot of plumbers and handymen. It’s been around for decades. It works—sometimes. But when the problem isn’t just a simple blockage, it’s the wrong tool. And wasting time with the wrong tool costs money, especially for contractors on a tight timeline.
At The Pine Plumbing, we’ve seen countless jobs where someone spent hours—sometimes days—snaking the same line over and over. No fix. Just frustration. That’s where a camera inspection makes all the difference. It takes the guesswork out of the job. It shows the exact location and the exact cause.
Here are three real examples from the field—cases where a camera found what the snake never could.
1. Two Days With a Snake. Still Clogged. Solved in Minutes.
A real estate broker in Los Angeles had a handyman handling a clogged sewer line on a rental property. The handyman wasn’t new to plumbing. He had experience and was confident in his approach. He rented a large drain snake and went to work.
For two days, he snaked both toward the house and out toward the street. Still clogged. Water wasn’t moving. Tenants were complaining. The handyman was getting frustrated.
That’s when the broker called us.
We sent one of our drain specialists out the same day. No guessing. We started with a camera inspection from the cleanout. We checked toward the street first—line was clear. Then we went toward the house. About six feet in, the camera stopped. We spotted the issue: the main sewer line was broken. No snake was going to fix that.
We pinpointed the exact location of the break and scheduled a focused repair. Within hours, the drain was working like it should have from the start.
This is why our team runs a camera before quoting major work—especially on jobs where multiple people have already tried and failed.
2. $18,000 Sewer Line Quote—Turned Out to Be a Missing Vent
This one still gets talked about in the shop.
A property manager called us about a duplex in Van Nuys. One unit had slow drains. Another plumber had already looked at it. They said there were roots in the line and quoted $18,000 to replace the main sewer. On top of that, they wanted $500 just to show the camera footage.
Something felt off. The manager decided to hold off and called us instead.
We showed up, ran the camera, and found zero issues with the main line. No roots. No damage. Nothing to replace.
Then we looked at the plumbing layout and saw what others missed: the back unit was a newly built ADU. And the plumbing wasn’t vented correctly. That meant air couldn’t escape through the pipes, so water wasn’t flowing properly.
We added the missing vent and restored flow throughout the unit.
Total cost? A tiny fraction of the $18,000 quote. And most importantly, the actual problem was fixed.
This job shows how easy it is for even experienced plumbers to misdiagnose an issue when they skip inspection or fail to consider building layout.
3. Restaurant Owner Told to Dig Up the Street. Camera Showed the Real Problem
A restaurant contractor in North Hollywood called us in as a second opinion. Their client—an owner of a small café—had received a quote from another plumber to dig up part of the sidewalk and replace a 30-foot section of sewer line. Estimated cost: $22,000. They were told it was the only solution.
The contractor wasn’t convinced. He’d worked with us on previous jobs and brought us in to take a second look.
We arrived the next morning and ran a camera from the kitchen cleanout. The camera hit grease buildup about 15 feet out. We flushed the line with hydro jetting and ran the camera again. This time, we could see the whole line—no breaks, no roots, no damage.
It was just an old, poorly maintained line clogged with years of grease. Not surprising for a restaurant.
No trench. No jackhammer. No street closure.
The entire job cost less than 10% of what the original plumber quoted. That restaurant owner has referred us to two other local businesses since then.
Why Camera Inspections Matter
General contractors, restaurant builders, and commercial property owners can’t afford delays. They need real answers, fast. Guesswork is expensive. So is tearing up a sewer line that doesn’t need to be replaced.
Here’s what a camera inspection can catch that a snake can’t:
- Broken lines hidden under slabs or driveways
- Collapsed or offset pipes in older cast iron systems
- Improper venting, especially in additions like ADUs
- Grease buildup, foreign objects, or buried construction debris
- Disconnected or shifted joints from earthquakes or poor installation
In every one of the stories above, the snake came up empty—but the camera showed the truth. That’s why we use it first, and why we include it free if you hire us for the repair.
Red Flags to Watch For on Your Jobsite
If you’re a contractor or property manager and a plumber tells you a major sewer job is needed, here are some signs you might want to hit pause:
1. No Camera Footage or Refusal to Share It
You should never approve a dig without seeing the problem. And you shouldn’t have to pay extra just to see it.
2. Excessive Quotes Without a Clear Explanation
If the quote doesn’t match the story—or if the contractor can’t clearly explain what’s wrong—it’s time to call someone else.
3. Quotes That Feel Too Fast
We’ve seen plenty of contractors get hit with a five-figure estimate within 15 minutes of arrival. Real inspections take time.
4. “We’ll Figure It Out Once We Dig”
That’s a dangerous mindset. You could end up spending thousands to find out the issue wasn’t even underground.
Call the Team That Shows You What’s Really Going On
At The Pine Plumbing, we’re equipped for every job—big or small. Whether it’s a clogged restaurant line, a new commercial build, or a sewer issue at a rental unit, we bring the right tools to the site and give you the full picture before we quote the fix.
If the line is clean, we’ll show you. If it’s broken, we’ll mark the spot. If the problem is venting, we’ll explain why it matters and how to fix it—without adding unnecessary work.
We work with:
- General contractors building ADUs and multi-units
- Commercial contractors and tenant improvement crews
- Restaurant owners and facility managers
- HOAs and real estate brokers
- Property managers throughout Los Angeles County
We know how important it is to stay on schedule and on budget. That’s why we show up ready to work—and ready to prove what’s really happening inside the pipes.
Book a Camera Inspection Today
Think the job might be bigger than it looks?
Already got a quote that seems too high?
Need to keep your build on track?
Let’s take a real look first. Call The Pine Plumbing or visit thepineplumbing.com to schedule a camera inspection today.
