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.
- Cause diagnosed first
- Written price before work
- Permits pulled where required
- Clean-up included
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
- Where
- 19 towns across the Charlotte metro (NC and York County, SC)
- Urgent service
- Scheduled service — call if water is actively leaking.
- Pricing
- Written price after diagnosis, before any work starts.
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 the visit involves
- 1
Access the line
Through an exterior cleanout, or by pulling a toilet if there isn't one.
- 2
Record the run
We record video to the city tap or septic tank, calling out footage marks as we go.
- 3
Locate problems
A sonde in the camera head lets us 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
We don't publish flat prices for work that depends on what we find. These are the things that move the number — you'll get a written price before any work starts.
- Cleanout access
- Line length
- Whether the line must be cleared before the camera can pass
- Written report for a home purchase
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.
Service area
Sewer Camera Inspection across the Charlotte metro
Related
Related services
Sewer Line Repair & Replacement
A damaged sewer line can often be fixed with a spot repair at the failed section.
Learn more
Drain Cleaning
A plumber clears a clogged drain with a drain cable (snake) sized to the pipe, and uses a camera or hydro jetting when a clog keeps coming back.
Learn moreHydro Jetting
Hydro jetting cleans a drain or sewer pipe with high-pressure water, removing grease, scale and fine roots from the pipe wall.
Learn moreGet help with a sewer line problem
Call for current availability — urgent leaks and backups are prioritized.