Had some issues with slow drains lately, figured I'd try checking out the sewer line myself before spending money on a plumber. Grabbed a cheap inspection camera online, opened up the cleanout cap (um, wear gloves, trust me), and slowly fed the camera cable down the pipe. Took my time, checked for blockages or cracks. Wasn't too hard really, but I'm wondering if there's an easier or better way to do this DIY?
Did pretty much the same thing last month—cheap camera, gloves (definitely gloves), and all. Honestly, I don't think there's a simpler DIY method than what you did. Only thing I'd add is maybe running some water while inspecting to help spot partial blockages or slow spots easier. But yeah, sewer lines aren't exactly rocket science...just messy and kinda gross.
Had a similar issue a few years back at one of my older properties—constant slow drains, tenants complaining, the works. Did the camera thing myself too, gloves and all (couldn't agree more about those gloves...). One thing I found helpful was marking spots on the ground with spray paint as I went along—that way, when I spotted trouble areas, I knew exactly where to dig if repairs were needed later. Saved me a lot of headache down the line.
