Sewer Camera Inspection in Greenbelt, MD

In Greenbelt, WSSC Water handles sewer service and emergencies, and the pipe from your home to its main is the part a plumber inspects. A camera inspection records that pipe from the inside, showing roots, cracks, sags or buildup and where they are, so you know what to fix. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Greenbelt.

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent local plumber who works in Greenbelt. Expect a few questions: which fixtures are backing up, how old the home is, whether there's a cleanout, and whether the line has been cleaned before. On the visit, the plumber clears standing water if needed, feeds the camera in through the cleanout or a fixture, and watches the screen as it travels toward the main. You can watch along and ask about what you see. Problems can usually be located from above and marked with their depth.

Cost factors

Access point: outdoor cleanout, basement cleanout, toilet or roof vent
Whether the line must be opened before filming
Run length and any shared sections in townhouse or co-op rows
Locating and marking defects, and saving a recording

Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Greenbelt.

(202) 915-7612

Greenbelt conditions

Greenbelt was planned in 1937 as the first and largest of the federal Greenbelt Towns, and Old Greenbelt is now a National Historic Landmark District. The median home citywide was built around 1976, so Greenbelt has everything from late-1930s rows in the historic core to later neighborhoods such as Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West, Lakeside and Springhill Lake. In the older rows, sewer piping can be shared or run under common ground, which makes knowing the layout before any work starts important. In later sections, lines are more likely to be plastic, which can sag or separate at joints.

The City directs residents to WSSC Water's Emergency Services Center, 301-206-4002, for water and sewer emergencies, including a blocked main or an overflow in the street. If the footage leads to a repair, WSSC Water permits and inspects the plumbing work, and a plumber holding a WSSC license has to do it. Greenbelt also requires its own city building permit for projects that need a Prince George's County building permit, so a large excavation may involve the City as well.

Before the plumber arrives

Find the cleanout and clear access to it
Move stored items away from the basement floor drain
Write down when backups happen and which fixtures are involved
If your home is part of a shared row, check with the co-op or association about who owns which section of pipe

Sewer Camera Inspection questions in Greenbelt

Can a camera tell whether a basement backup came from my line or the main?

Often. If the camera reaches the end of your line cleanly, the backup may be in the WSSC main. The City of Greenbelt points residents to WSSC's emergency line at 301-206-4002 for that.

Does a camera inspection need a permit?

No permit is needed just to film a line. Repairs fall under a WSSC Water permit, and larger projects that need a county building permit also need a City of Greenbelt permit.

Can I keep a recording of the inspection?

Yes, ask for it. A copy helps when talking with a co-op, an association or another plumber about the repair.

Should the line be filmed again after a repair?

It's worth doing. A quick pass after the repair confirms the new pipe is clean and aligned and gives you a record of the finished work.