Sewer Camera Inspection: What to Expect, Step by Step

A camera inspection is the highest-value service in sewer work — $150–$400 that can save you thousands in unnecessary repairs. Here's what a proper one looks like.

Before the technician arrives

Clear access to your sewer cleanout (usually near the foundation or property line). Know roughly where your lateral runs, and gather any prior plumbing records. That's it — no other prep needed.

Step 1: Access (5–10 minutes)

The technician opens the cleanout. No cleanout? A toilet can be pulled for access, or we can install a cleanout — which pays for itself in future service ease.

Step 2: The camera run (20–40 minutes)

A waterproof, self-leveling camera on a flexible rod travels the full lateral to the city main. You'll watch the live monitor as the technician narrates: pipe material, joints, roots, cracks, scale, bellies, standing water — everything, in real time.

Step 3: Locating (10–15 minutes)

A transmitter in the camera head lets the technician pinpoint problems from above ground with depth readings. Defects get marked by distance — “root intrusion at 47 feet, 5 feet deep” — not vague hand-waving.

Step 4: The report

You should receive: the full video recording, a written summary of findings, and honest recommendations with pricing. Keep all three — they're yours.

Red flags of a rushed inspection

• The camera never reaches the city main (or the tech can't say how far it went).
• No recording offered — only a verbal “trust me.”
• An immediate hard sell for a full replacement before you've seen the footage.
• No locating — defects described without distances or depths.

When to get one

Before buying a home, when drains slow repeatedly, before any major sewer repair quote, and every few years for homes with mature trees or 30+ year-old pipe. Schedule your inspection or call (833) 713-2101.