Best sewer cameras are an integral part of any plumbing technician or drain cleaner’s toolbox, as well as any home inspector, municipality, or homeowner who wishes to pinpoint pipe issues underground without having to break ground. By using a modern sewer inspection camera, users can easily and precisely identify blockages, tree roots, cracked pipes, collapsed sewers, corrosion and other problems that cannot be seen. Rather than using trial and error, experts can now see the inside of a pipe in real time and make a video, take pictures and identify the exact location of a problem before suggesting repairs.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Sewer cameras have come a long way in ten years! Some of today’s offerings include HD image quality, self-leveling camera heads, built-in Wi-Fi, digital recording, rechargeable batteries and precision locating systems. It can save thousands of dollars in unnecessary excavation, and minimize diagnostic time, for a plumber working on public sewer lines or for a homeowner doing a home sewer inspection.
But not all sewer cameras are created equal. There are models which can be used for short residential drain inspections and others which are capable of hundreds of feet of travel in large commercial sewer systems. There are many factors to consider when choosing the equipment, such as camera resolution, cable length, waterproof rating, display quality, push rod flexibility and locating capability.
In this guide, you’ll see some of the top sewer cameras currently on the market, what features are important to consider, and how to select the right camera to fit your needs and budget.
Table of Contents
How We Selected the Best Sewer Cameras
When choosing a sewer inspection camera, it’s not just a matter of getting the most costly. The type of work you do, the size of the pipes you look at and how often you use the equipment will all play a part in determining which of the various types of cameras you should use.
In this guide, we analyzed cameras on the basis of a few practical considerations that are relevant to the plumbing and inspection work performed in real-world situations.
Image Quality
Images will help make pipe problems easier to diagnose. The major factors we looked for in the camera were good visibility in dark and dirty conditions, adjustable LED lighting controls and high resolution video.
Push Rod Quality
The only thing that’s as useful as a sewer camera is its cable. We searched for push rods with a good life and great flexibility if we needed to bend them, but with enough strength that they can run long distances.
Build Quality
Professional User requires equipment that can withstand the rigors of the job site, wet conditions and day-to-day wear and tear. Rugged construction and waterproof camera heads were significant factors to evaluate.
Ease of Use
Modern sewer cameras are easy to use, even by the novice. Easy navigation, controls, recording functions and large displays enhance productivity.
Value for Money
The pricey memory isn’t necessarily the best choice. Performance has been compared to price level to help the professional and homeowner to decide on a suitable option.
Best Overall: RIDGID SeeSnake Compact M40
RIDGID is among the few names that are as credible as any for professional plumbers. The SeeSnnake Compact M40 is known for its years of reliability and performance in residential and commercial inspections.
Compact M40 is designed for medium sized pipe inspections and offers excellent maneuverability along with durability. The fiberglass push cable is rigid and doesn’t lose rigidity with multiple bends and the camera self levels to maintain an upright picture as it is pushed through the pipe. This facilitates easier interpretation of inspections and decreases operator fatigue for longer jobs.
It’s compatible with the digital monitors of RIDGID, so inspectors can take still photographs, record high-definition video footage, create inspection reports and even send the results straight to the customer.
Pros
- Professional-grade construction
- Excellent image quality
- Self-leveling camera
- Durable push cable
- Fully compatible with high level RIDGID monitoring systems
Cons
- Premium price
- If you have bought a monitor separately, you will need to use the purchase number to monitor it.
Ideal for professional plumbing companies, city or municipality, and commercial contractors.
Best Professional Sewer Camera for Long-Distance Inspections: RIDGID SeeSnake Mini Pro
Inspections can be much longer than 100 feet, particularly for large commercial buildings, municipal sewer systems and industrial facilities. The RIDGID SeeSnake Mini Pro has been designed to tackle these challenging conditions.
This system typically runs out at about 200 feet depending on setup, enabling the tech to inspect long sewer lines while still having great image quality throughout the inspection.
It has a lot of merits, one of which is its modular construction. This camera works in perfect harmony with RIDGID’s inspection software, digital reporting and locating equipment, making it a great value for use for businesses that conduct many inspections daily.
Heavy-duty reel designed for regular professional use, reinforced push rod is designed to withstand repeated use on older cast iron, PVC and clay sewer systems.
Pros
- Long inspection distance
- Excellent durability
- High-quality recording
- Commercial-grade reliability
- Works with work locating systems
Cons
- Higher investment cost
- Each homeowner has more equipment than is necessary
Ideal for commercial plumbing, municipal maintenance and infrastructure inspection.
Best Budget Sewer Camera: VEVOR Sewer Inspection Camera
Not all buyers require a top of the line commercial inspection system. VEVOR has a wide range of easy-to-use and budget-friendly sewer inspection cameras for independent contractors, small plumbing companies and homeowners, that are surprisingly capable.
The cable length of VEVOR systems usually falls between about 98 to 164 feet, depends on the model you have selected. You will also get an integrated LCD display, DVR recording, rechargeable batteries and waterproof camera heads with the VEVOR systems.
The camera head has adjustable LED lights to enhance visibility of inspection inside dark pipelines and the monitor can be viewed without extra accessories.
While VEVOR’s equipment may not be as robust as that of our top tier professional systems, it’s fantastic for occasional inspections and light commercial work.
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Long cable options
- Built-in display
- Video recording
- Rechargeable battery
Cons
- The image quality will differ from model to model.
- Often not suitable for commercial production on a large scale
Ideal For: Minor installation projects, maintenance, property managers, small contractors, and on-the-go plumbing checks.
Best Sewer Camera for Home Inspectors: FORBEST Sewer Camera
One of the considerations for home inspectors is equipment which is portable, has good image quality, and is easy to use. The sewer camera systems from FORBEST are very popular because of the professional sewer camera capability without the large equipment found with more municipal grade systems.
Many FORBEST models come equipped with high definition displays, recording capabilities, self-leveling camera heads and rugged fiberglass push rods for home sewer exams.
A benefit of FORBEST systems is that they are relatively compact allowing easier transport from site to site for inspection. The systems are also capable of producing adequate images for recording defects like root intrusion, pipe separation, standing water and structural damage on real estate inspections.
Portability can be very beneficial to professionals who undergo multiple home inspections in a weekly period.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Excellent portability
- Good image quality
- Easy operation
- Able to be used for residential inspections.
Cons
- Not designed for very long municipal sewer lateral service lines
- Top-of-the-line model options are costly.
Best for: Home inspectors, residential plumbing and property evaluation professionals.
Best Sewer Camera for Homeowners: HBUDS Sewer Inspection Camera
Not all sewer inspections need to be performed using a few thousand dollar piece of professional level equipment. Many homeowners just want to find out what is causing a repeat clog or want to have their sewer lateral inspected before buying a house or if they want to check the condition of their underground pipes prior to contacting a plumber. In such cases, the HBUDS Sewer Inspection Camera is an easy-to-use, cost-effective and reliable solution.
Typically, most of the HBUDS systems come with HD camera head, adjustable LED lights, rechargeable battery, and portable IPS screen. Controls are simple and easily understood and appropriate for a DIY user with little or no experience in the use of inspection equipment.
Not designed for day-to-day use in commercial applications, these systems can inspect residential drain lines, sewer laterals, HVAC duct systems, wall cavities and more.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly operation
- Affordable price
- Portable design
- Rechargeable battery
- The ability to create good images for residential inspections.
Cons
- Does not support high workloads for commercial or enterprise applications.
- Reduced longevity when used on a continuous basis.
Ideal for: Homeowners, landlords, maintenance and regular inspections.
Best HD Sewer Camera: Anysun Pipe Inspection Camera
For clarity of the image, the Anysun Pipe Inspection Camera can be used. The high-definition imaging allows the inspector to see cracks, corrosion, root intrusion, pipe offsets, grease buildup, structural defects and more that may not be visible on lower resolution cameras.
A number of Anysun systems feature photo capture, adjustable LED brightness and long fiberglass push cables for residential and commercial inspections, as well as DVR recording.
The camera head offers a broad field of view and excellent performance in the darkside of pipelines. Another benefit of video is that they can keep a record of the problems they discover for customers, insurance companies or for planning maintenance in the future.
Pros
- It produces exceptional HD quality of picture and sound.
- The student can record video and images.The student can record video and images.
- Adjustable LED lighting
- Can be used for house and office
- Durable construction
Cons
- A higher priced camera than entry-level.
- Other options are available based on package
Ideal for: Professional inspectors, plumbers, contractors and property managers that need detailed inspection reports.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Sewer Camera
Buying a sewer camera is an investment and if you buy the wrong camera, you will be frustrated, waste money or purchase an appliance that is not suited to your needs.
These are the most significant attributes to consider when buying a new laptop.
Cable Length
The length of the cable will decide the distance the camera will move in the pipe.
Typical ranges include:
- 50–100 feet – Residential drain inspections
- 100–165 feet – Most plumbing companies
- 200 feet or more – Commercial and municipal work
Generally, the more cable you purchase, the heavier and more expensive the cable will be.
Camera Head Size
The size of the pipe will dictate the type of camera head needed.
Small camera heads move around:
- Kitchen drains
- Bathroom plumbing
- Floor drains
The larger camera heads are more effective in performing the following:
- Main sewer lines
- Storm drains
- Municipal pipelines
Always check manufacturer’s recommended pipe diameter.
Image Resolution
Today’s sewer cameras generally offer:
- HD
- Full HD
- Digital recording
A higher resolution enables inspectors to spot:
- Hairline cracks
- Joint separation
- Root intrusion
- Corrosion
- Grease buildup
When making reports for customers, it is important to consider image quality.
Self-Leveling Camera
The camera automatically rotates the image to keep it always upright, via a self-leveling mechanism.
Benefits include:
- Easier diagnosis
- Better video recordings
- Less operator fatigue
- More professional reports
Most pro plumbers feel this is an additional value.
Built-in Locator
Technicians may be able to find out the exact location of the camera in the sewer bed using a sonde or transmitter that is in some sewer cameras.
This helps to provide more precise excavation, and minimizes unnecessary digging.
To repair, finding capability can reduce considerable labour expenses.
Recording Features
Numerous modern systems provide:
- Video recording
- Photo capture
- USB export
- SD card storage
- Wi-Fi connectivity
Customer records and future maintenance are valuable benefits provided by the recording of inspections.
Who Should Buy a Sewer Camera?
Sewer cameras are no more reserved for big plumbing firms.
They can be useful resources for:
- Licensed plumbers
- Drain cleaning businesses
- Home inspectors
- Property managers
- Municipal maintenance departments
- Construction contractors
- Facility managers
- People who have drainage problems from time to time at their home.
It is more about the frequency of usage of the equipment rather than what the buyer’s job is.
Common Mistakes Buyers Make
There are a lot of people out there who will only look at the price without taking into account the features which affect the value of the product in the long run.
Common mistakes include:
Purchasing Excessive Camera
When a homeowner is performing a 40′ inspection on a residential drain, he or she is not likely to require a 200′ commercial inspection system.
Ignoring Pipe Size
There are camera heads that are just not going to fit in a smaller drain line.
Choosing Low Image Quality
Just as often, than the blockage itself, the quality of the image is poor, which makes diagnosis more difficult.
Forgetting About Battery Life
For long inspections, battery life is a key requirement.
Buying Unknown Brands Without Support
Availability of warranty, parts and technical support are just as significant as the specifications.
When investing in a good manufacturer, you will also save on owning the equipment in the long run.
Learning More About Sewer Inspection
If you are new to inspection equipment, you will be better able to make an informed decision about the kind of equipment you need to purchase.
To better understand the working of sewer cameras, we suggest you to read the article How Sewer Cameras Work: A Beginner’s Guide has simple explanations of components, technology and inspection process.
It is also important to read our article, How to Choose the Right Sewer Camera before buying a system, which shows and contrasts characteristics, spending plans and purchasing motives for different consumers.
The articles all taken together give a complete knowledge of the equipment used to inspect sewers.
Industry Standards and Safety
Professional sewer inspections may include specific sewer industry standards and sewer safety procedures.
The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) is a non-profit organization that creates training programs and inspection guidelines for the entire North American industry.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides detailed guidance for employers and contractors for other workplace safety concerns relating to confined spaces, underground utilities and inspection activities.
Reliable industry resources provides a safe and professional way of conducting inspections.
Conclusion
The type of inspections you do, where you’re using it, and the equipment’s price range are the main factors when picking the best sewer camera. For the professionals, the quality of systems like RIDGID, which come with high-end features and durability, is often worth their while; for homeowners and smaller contractors, higher quality systems like VEVOR, HBUDS or FORBEST may offer excellent value.
When looking for a camera, think of how well the camera will capture images, the length of the cables, the durability of the push rod, how the camera records and the reliability of the camera. The right sewer inspection camera can make countless plumbing inspection hours more productive than they are otherwise, help cut down on unneeded digging, and add to the quality of every plumbing inspection.
From residential to commercial sewer and municipal systems, the work is more professional, faster and cost-effective if you invest in the proper inspection equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best sewer camera for professional plumbers?
Professional plumbers often choose RIDGID systems because of their durability, image quality, modular accessories, and excellent support network.
Are sewer cameras worth buying?
Yes. Sewer cameras reduce unnecessary excavation, improve diagnostic accuracy, and often save both time and repair costs.
Can homeowners use sewer inspection cameras?
Absolutely. Many affordable models are specifically designed for residential drain inspections and are easy for beginners to operate.
How much should I spend on a sewer camera?
Homeowners may find quality systems in the several-hundred-dollar range, while professional inspection systems often cost several thousand dollars depending on features.
What features matter most?
The most important features include:
- Image quality
- Cable length
- Camera head size
- Waterproof rating
- Self-leveling capability
- Recording functions
- Locator compatibility
