The number on a sewer video is usually the amount of camera cable paid out from a reference point. It helps identify a feature along the pipe, but it does not tell you where to dig by itself. A bend, slack in the cable, or a different starting point can change the reading.
Record the access point and direction
Ask whether the camera entered through an exterior cleanout or another opening, and whether it traveled toward the street or the building. Keep those details with the clip. A reading from an indoor access point may differ from one taken at an outside cleanout even when both show the same joint.
Ask for a surface location before excavation
If a contractor needs to reach a defect, ask them to pair the video with a surface mark from a locator where conditions allow. Before comparing quotes, confirm that each contractor is referring to the same defect and access point.
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