Parallel runs of copper and insulated pipe along a wall

Sewer lines

Sewer camera inspection

A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera through your drain line to show roots, cracks, sags and blockages, and a locator marks where and how deep the problem is. It's how a plumber confirms what's wrong before recommending repair or replacement.

Call (833) 753-0180 Request service online

At a glance

Common sign
Main line backups more than once
First step
Access the line

You can't fix what you can't see. A camera turns guesses into a recording you keep: pipe material, joint condition, roots, standing water, and the distance from the cleanout to each problem.

It's the right first step after repeat backups, before buying an older home, and before agreeing to any sewer replacement quote.

Sewer Camera Inspection at a glance

What it is: A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera through your drain line to show roots, cracks, sags and blockages, and a locator marks where and how deep the problem is.
Service category: Sewer lines
Related: Sewer Line Repair & Replacement, Drain Cleaning, Hydro Jetting

Signs you need sewer line problem help

Main line backups more than once
Sewer smell in the yard or lower level
Soggy or unusually green strip of lawn over the line
Buying a home built before about 1980

The visit

What a sewer camera inspection visit involves

1
Access the line
Through an exterior cleanout, or by pulling a toilet if there isn't one.
2
Record the run
Video is recorded to the city tap or septic tank, with footage marks called out along the way.
3
Locate problems
A sonde in the camera head lets the plumber mark the location and depth on the ground.
4
Walk you through it
You get the video and a plain-English summary of what's normal and what isn't.

What affects the cost of sewer camera inspection

Cleanout access
Line length
Whether the line must be cleared before the camera can pass
Written report for a home purchase

Check sewer camera inspection coverage near you

Use your location or ZIP code to see whether sewer camera inspection is covered where you are, and the nearest service area.

Location is only used to find the service area nearest you. It stays on your device and isn't stored.

Water actively leaking, overflowing or backing up? That's a job for 24-hour emergency service, not a scheduled visit.

Sewer Camera Inspection: common questions

Can a plumber clear a sewer line?

Yes. Plumbers clear sewer lines with a machine cable or hydro jetter, usually from an outdoor cleanout. A camera inspection afterward shows whether a defect caused the blockage.

Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a house?

For homes older than roughly 40 years, or with large trees near the line, it's worth it. Standard home inspections usually don't include the sewer lateral.

What does a sewer camera inspection show?

It shows the inside of the sewer lateral: pipe material, cracks, offset or separated joints, root intrusion, sags where water collects, and blockages, with the distance and depth of each. You get the video to keep.

How long does a sewer camera inspection take?

Typically about an hour when there's an accessible cleanout and the line is clear enough for the camera to pass. A blocked line has to be cleared first.

Do I need a sewer scope for an older home purchase?

It's strongly recommended for homes over about 40 years old or with large trees in the yard. Standard home inspections don't include the sewer lateral, and repairs to it are the buyer's cost after closing.

What should a sewer camera report include?

The pipe material, the location and depth of each defect, distances from the cleanout, the type of defect (roots, crack, offset, sag or collapse), and the video itself so you can compare repair quotes.

What is Orangeburg pipe?

A bituminous fiber sewer pipe used in many homes from the 1940s into the early 1970s. It deforms with age and often fails before its intended 50-year life; a camera identifies it.

Sources: PHCP Pros: Orangeburg pipe. Prices are national estimates, not quotes.

Service area