When it comes to plumbing, what you can’t see can absolutely hurt your property—and your budget. Pipes run behind walls, under floors, and beneath the slab. Problems can go undetected for months, quietly causing damage until it’s too late.
That’s where The Pine Plumbing’s camera inspections come in. Instead of guessing, we run a high-resolution camera directly into your plumbing lines. This gives you—and us—a clear, real-time view of what’s going on.
Over the years, we’ve found some surprising problems hidden away in homes and commercial buildings. Today, we’re sharing three issues our techs have caught on camera that most property owners never would have suspected.
Why Guessing is Expensive
Many plumbers still diagnose problems based on surface symptoms—slow drains, foul odors, or water stains. The problem? The cause isn’t always obvious. Without a camera inspection, they may give you a high quote for work that doesn’t actually fix the root problem.
At The Pine Plumbing, we show you the footage before we give you a plan. You see the same view we do—no smoke, no mirrors. That’s how you know you’re getting an accurate diagnosis and a fair price.
Real Story: The Restaurant With the Mysterious Backup
A commercial client in Van Nuys called us after their kitchen drain backed up three times in a single month. Their old plumber had snaked the line each time, but the problem kept returning.
When we ran our camera, we found the real cause: a collapsed section of pipe about 15 feet down the line. Every time they cleared it, debris just piled up again.
We showed the video to the restaurant owner on the spot. He could see the pipe walls caved in and water struggling to pass. With that proof, he approved the repair immediately. The problem never came back—and he saved himself from paying for unnecessary cleanings that weren’t solving anything.
3 Hidden Plumbing Problems We Catch on Camera
1. Improper Venting
Venting is what allows air to move through your plumbing system so water drains smoothly. Without it, you’ll get slow drains, strange noises, and even sewer gas smells.
The problem? Improper venting is almost impossible to diagnose without opening walls or running a camera. We’ve seen new construction homes where the vent was never connected properly, leading to recurring drainage problems that puzzled every other plumber.
For contractors, this is especially important during remodels and additions. A quick camera check before closing walls can save your client from costly fixes later.
2. Broken or Misaligned Traps
Every sink, shower, and floor drain has a trap—a U-shaped pipe that holds water to block sewer gases from entering your building. When a trap is broken, misaligned, or installed incorrectly, the seal can fail.
We once inspected a multi-unit property in Hollywood that had complaints of foul odors in one section of the building. The camera revealed a broken trap in a laundry drain, hidden in the wall behind tile.
Without a camera inspection, the property manager might have replaced flooring, painted walls, and spent thousands chasing the smell without fixing the actual cause.
3. Collapsed or Cracked Sections
A collapsed pipe isn’t always obvious until it’s too late. You might notice recurring backups, but without a camera, it’s guesswork. We’ve found collapsed sections caused by tree roots, shifting soil, or old, brittle materials.
One Pasadena homeowner thought their drain issue was just “old plumbing” acting up. The camera showed a large crack that allowed soil to enter the line, slowly blocking it. If they’d waited, it could have caused foundation issues.
Why Camera Inspections Matter for Large Projects
If you’re a general contractor, restaurant contractor, or manage commercial properties, you already know surprises can kill a budget. Running a camera inspection before starting a major plumbing project gives you the facts upfront.
We can locate the exact position and depth of the problem, saving time and avoiding unnecessary demolition. For remodels, it’s an easy way to confirm the existing plumbing can handle the new load.
The Pine Plumbing Advantage
When you call us for a camera inspection, you get:
- Full HD footage of your plumbing system.
- A clear explanation of what’s happening, in plain language.
- An honest recommendation for repair or maintenance.
- The ability to handle small repairs or large-scale commercial projects with the same level of attention.
Whether you’re a homeowner with one slow drain or a contractor managing a buildout for a restaurant, we have the tools and the team for the job.
How It Works
- We run the camera through your plumbing lines, either through a cleanout or another access point.
- You watch the live feed as we inspect every section.
- We mark problem spots for exact location and depth.
- We give you a plan for repair, replacement, or maintenance.
When to Call for a Camera Inspection
- Recurring backups in the same drain
- Unexplained odors
- Gurgling noises in sinks or toilets
- Before buying a home or commercial property
- Before starting a renovation or remodel
- After major plumbing repairs, to confirm the fix
Final Word: Don’t Guess—See It for Yourself
Hidden plumbing problems are expensive because they hide until the damage is done. A camera inspection gives you proof, lets you make informed decisions, and protects your budget.
If you need a team ready to handle big projects, or you just want to stop guessing at what’s happening in your pipes, The Pine Plumbing is here to help.
Call us today to schedule your camera inspection. See the problem. Fix it right.
