Ran a 2" kitchen line yesterday that backs up every 3–4 months; camera showed a belly at 18–22 feet and heavy grease past 40’… I jetted at 3,500 PSI with a 4.0 nozzle and then ran 5/8" cable, but the belly is the root problem. For repeat calls like this, do you diagnose with the camera first every time or just cable if you get flow and move on?
I clear just enough to get flow, then camera before I leave on repeat kitchen lines. Turn the sonde on and physically locate that ‘belly at 18–22’’ so you can mark it on the floor and price a spot repair instead of rolling a cable every quarter. Do you have a locator on your rig to mark it?
On repeats, I’ll restore flow, then camera from both ends if possible — the downstream cleanout view shows the sag profile better and keeps the lens beyond the grease field. I also do a quick timed “drain-down” at the sink after jetting to document how the belly holds water for the repair estimate; if it’s still lagging after a minute, I stop cabling and write it up. @gmille54’s mark-it tip is spot on — do you have a cleanout past 40’ to scope back?
@peter51 +1; I’d get it open, then do a quick hose test on camera — run about 2–3 gpm and time how long water stands through the 18–22 ft section. If it hangs, I document the footage start/stop for a spot repair and add a 2‑way cleanout upstream for easier service next time; you running hot water on the jetter — cold turns that belly into peanut butter in a hammock.