Plumbing service
Sewer camera inspection
Short answer
A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera on a flexible cable through your drain or sewer line to record its condition. It shows roots, cracks, sags, offset joints, grease and collapsed sections, with the distance and depth of each, so the repair can be targeted instead of guessed.
Updated · Editorial team; not yet technically reviewed
Sewer Camera Inspection at a glance
- Also called
- Sewer scope, video pipe inspection, drain camera inspection.
- Best times to get one
- Recurring main line clogs, before buying a home, before trenchless repair, after root clearing.
- What you should receive
- The video, notes on each defect with its distance from the access point, and ideally a marked location on the ground.
- Limits
- The camera needs an open path; a fully blocked line is cleared first.
How the inspection works
Access
The camera goes in through a cleanout. Without one, it can go in through a toilet flange (the toilet is pulled) or a roof vent, which takes longer.
Push and record
The plumber pushes the camera head down the line while a counter records distance. Self-leveling heads keep the picture upright so the bottom of the pipe is obvious.
Locate
A small transmitter (sonde) in the camera head is traced from above with a receiver to mark the spot and depth of any defect.
Report
You get footage and notes. Ask them to pause on each defect and explain it.
What the camera finds, and what it usually means
| Defect | Looks like | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Root intrusion | Hair-like or dense root masses at joints | Cutting or hydro jetting; repair if roots keep returning |
| Belly (sag) | Standing water the camera dips into | Excavated repair; relining can't fix a sag |
| Offset joint | A lip where two pipe sections don't line up | Monitor if small; repair if it catches debris |
| Crack or fracture | Visible lines, sometimes with soil or water entering | Relining or spot repair |
| Scale or corrosion | Rough, bumpy walls in cast iron | Descaling or jetting; lining if the wall is thin |
| Collapse or deformation | Oval or broken pipe, camera can't pass | Excavation or replacement |
Before buying a home
A general home inspection usually doesn't include the sewer line. For older homes, homes with mature trees in the yard, or homes where the line material is unknown, a separate sewer scope before closing is often worth the cost, because replacing a sewer line is one of the larger repair bills a homeowner can face. Ask for the video so you can share it with another plumber for a second opinion.
Getting a second opinion
- Ask for the full video file, not just screenshots.
- Check the footage shows distances, so another plumber can match defects to locations.
- Be cautious if every defect leads to full replacement. Isolated problems can often be spot-repaired or relined.
- Ask whether the defect is on your side of the property line or in the portion your sewer utility is responsible for.
Problems that lead to sewer camera inspection
- Drain backing upWhen water rises in a tub, shower or floor drain from another fixture, the main line is blocked. How to confirm it, what to stop doing and how it's cleared.
- Gurgling drainsGurgling means air is being pulled through water in a trap. How to tell a partial clog from a blocked vent, and why it can lead to sewer smells.
- Sewer smell in the houseWhere sewer smells come from, in order of likelihood: dry traps, overflows, wax rings, vents, cleanouts and cracked pipes, and how to find yours.
Common questions
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Often under an hour for a typical house lateral when there's a usable cleanout. No cleanout, long runs, or a blockage that must be cleared first add time.
Can a camera inspection be done if the drain is clogged?
The camera needs a path, so a full blockage is usually opened with a cable machine first. The inspection then shows why it clogged.
Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?
It's especially worth it for older homes, homes with large trees near the line, or where the sewer material is unknown, since a hidden sewer problem can be expensive.