Had some nasty plumbing issues lately, and my buddy lent me his sewer camera to scope things out. Honestly, I was skeptical at first (felt kinda silly playing plumber lol), but man... seeing exactly what's clogging things up without guessing or tearing stuff apart was pretty awesome. Saved me from a ton of hassle and probably cash too. Curious if anyone else found these cameras helpful or just another gadget collecting dust?
I've borrowed one before and honestly, it's pretty handy if you're cautious about messing around with plumbing like I am. I mean, you never know what's down there, and blindly shoving tools into pipes always felt risky to me...
"seeing exactly what's clogging things up without guessing or tearing stuff apart was pretty awesome."
Exactly my experience. It takes out the guesswork and makes the job safer and cleaner overall. I'd say it's worth it, even if you only use it once or twice.
Yeah, I get the appeal, but I wonder if it's really worth it for most DIYers. I mean, how often do you actually have a mystery clog deep enough to justify the cost or hassle of renting one? Might be easier to just call in a pro at that point. Still, gotta admit, seeing exactly what's lurking down there does sound oddly satisfying...
"Still, gotta admit, seeing exactly what's lurking down there does sound oddly satisfying..."
Haha, you're not wrong there—there's definitely a weird satisfaction in finally seeing what's been causing all the trouble. But honestly, for most DIYers, renting a sewer cam probably isn't worth the hassle or cost unless you're dealing with recurring issues or an older property. Usually, by the time you need one, it's because something serious is going on deeper down the line. At that point, calling in a pro who can interpret what they're seeing and recommend a proper fix might save you more headaches (and money) in the long run...
Used one last year at a rental property after tenants complained about slow drains. Wasn't thrilled about the rental fee, but it pinpointed a tree root invading the pipe about 15 feet from the house. Saved me from digging up half the yard guessing where the blockage was. Agree with others though—it's probably overkill for simple clogs. If you're dealing with repeated issues or older plumbing, it can definitely pay off. Otherwise, a plunger and a snake usually do the trick.
