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Serving Urbandale
Slow drains in an older home? A drain camera inspection in Urbandale shows what your sewer line is made of, and we explain options before any work.
By Jarod Smith, Owner, Clog Busters. 26 years in plumbing and drain cleaning. Updated October 2026.
If your Urbandale home has a slow or backing up drain, a drain camera inspection tells you what the pipe is made of, where it is damaged, and what it will take to fix. Clog Busters Drain Cleaning & Repair runs the camera, shows you the footage, and lays out your options before any work starts. Book service online.
The camera answers questions no one can answer from the yard. In one pass, we can see:
Each finding points to a different fix. That is why we look before we quote.
We at Clog Busters tailor each inspection to the drain that is giving you trouble. These are the visits we run most often.
Sewer lateral inspection. The camera travels from a cleanout or drain opening out toward the city main. We record the material and condition of each section along the way.
Toilet and fixture drain checks. A toilet that drains slowly or refills poorly can point to a blockage past the bowl. The camera shows whether the issue sits in the fixture branch or farther down the line.
Clog clearing with a camera check. When an Urbandale drain auger breaks up a clog, a camera pass afterward confirms the line is open. It also shows whether something in the pipe caused the clog in the first place.
Root and crack location. Roots and cracks cluster at joints. We mark each one on the video so you know how many trouble spots there are, not just the first one.
Cleaning recommendations. If the camera finds buildup rather than damage, drain cleaning in Urbandale is often the next step. We tell you which method fits the pipe we saw.
Emergency inspections. Backups happen at night and on weekends. Our 24/7 emergency service opens the line first, then inspects it once the water drains down.
A large share of Urbandale’s houses went up in the 1960s and 1970s. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2000 housing profile for Urbandale counted 17.8 percent of housing units built from 1960 to 1969 and 21.2 percent from 1970 to 1979. Another 11.0 percent were built from 1940 to 1959.
Sewer laterals from that era were laid in several materials. Clay tile was common. So was Orangeburg, a fiber pipe made of wood pulp bonded with coal tar pitch, used in some homes of the period as a lower cost option.
Each one fails in its own way. Orangeburg softens with age and can flatten out of round or blister on the inside under the weight of the soil. Clay tile is hard, but it cracks, and its many joints give roots a way in.
You cannot tell which pipe you have from the yard, and the right fix depends on it. On camera, Orangeburg usually shows as a dark wall that may look oval or bubbled. Clay shows a joint every few feet and a rougher surface.
We name the material on the video, show you its condition, and explain which options make sense. A deformed fiber line calls for a different decision than a clay line with a few roots.
Bill Dedecker contacted our Des Moines branch about a toilet that was not working the way it should. Our technician ran the camera to find the cause before any repair began.
“Was having toilet drain/refill issues and he showed me videos of issues and explained options available. Did the work and cleaned up afterwards. Hopefully no more issues.”
That order matters to us: video first, options second, work third. A homeowner who sees the problem can make a clear choice about the fix.
Dave Fuchs called our Des Moines branch about a stubborn clog. The technician on the call cleared the blockage and then sent the camera down the line to check the result.
“Dustin was awesome! Found the problem and busted that clog out. Camera was great to see and assure the job was done. Very friendly and professional. Would highly recommend their services.”
A camera pass after clearing a drain is how we confirm the job is finished. You see the open pipe on screen instead of taking our word for it.
Our owner, Jarod Smith, holds Iowa Master Plumber license #4913, issued by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing.
Our Des Moines branch covers all of Urbandale, from homes near Walker Johnston Park to the area around Living History Farms. Schedule your inspection online and tell us which drain is acting up.
For everything else we handle in town, visit our Urbandale plumbing and drain services page.
Only a look inside the line will tell you for sure. Orangeburg shows up on camera as a dark fiber wall, often out of round or blistered. If your home dates to the mid century building years, a drain camera inspection is the fastest way to find out.
If drains are slow, backing up or gurgling, yes. Lines of that age may be clay tile or fiber pipe, and both wear in ways a cleaning cannot fix. A camera shows whether you have buildup to clear or a section to repair.
Often, yes. A slow toilet can come from a blockage in the toilet branch or a problem farther down the main line. The camera shows which one it is, so we clear the right spot.
Yes. Clog Busters serves Urbandale from our Des Moines branch with fully stocked trucks. Same day visits depend on the day’s schedule, and emergency calls are answered 24/7.
We show you where it is on the video and explain the repair options before quoting. If the line needs more than a cleaning, our sewer services in Urbandale take it from there. You decide on the next step after seeing the footage.
Book service online and tell us your home’s approximate age and what the drain is doing. That helps us plan the inspection before we arrive.
