Repair method
Sewer Camera Inspection
The cheapest step in the whole process, and the one that determines every decision after it.
Get a Sewer Camera InspectionA sewer camera inspection pushes a self-leveling camera head through the lateral from a cleanout or another access point, recording the inside of the pipe on video with distance measurements as it goes. Many crews also use a sonde and locator to mark the line's path and depth from the surface.
It is the difference between being told your line is bad and knowing exactly what is wrong, where, and how far from the house. Every method decision — lining, bursting or excavation — depends on that footage.
What a camera inspection can show
- Root intrusion at joints and cracks, and how far it extends.
- Cracks and fractures, from hairline to open breaks.
- Offset joints where sections have shifted out of alignment.
- Bellies and sags holding standing water, visible as a pooled section.
- Collapse or crushing, where the camera can no longer pass.
- Intrusions such as a badly cut tap, protruding lateral or debris.
- Pipe material — clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, PVC — and approximate diameter.
- Scale, grease and corrosion narrowing the bore.
- Distance from the access point to each defect, which sets the repair scope.
When this method fits — and when it doesn't
Honest suitability is the fastest way to avoid paying twice. Use this to sanity-check any quote you receive.
Usually a good fit
- Recurring backups that come back after clearing
- Before committing to any trenchless or excavation quote
- Home purchase due diligence on an older property
- After a repair, to verify what was actually delivered
- Before major hardscaping or an addition over the line's path
Often the wrong choice
- A line that is completely full — it usually needs clearing first
- Assessing pipe wall thickness or remaining structural strength precisely
- Substituting for a locate before digging, unless a sonde locate is included
What the job actually looks like
- 11. AccessThrough an existing cleanout where possible; otherwise a pulled toilet or a new cleanout.
- 22. Clearing if neededStanding water and debris block the view, so cabling or jetting may come first.
- 33. Camera runThe head is pushed the full length with continuous recording and footage markers.
- 44. LocatingA sonde and surface locator mark path and depth where excavation or pits may be needed.
- 55. ReportYou should receive video plus a written summary of defect type and location.
What moves the price
- Access availability
- An existing cleanout keeps it simple; creating access adds cost.
- Pre-clearing
- If the line must be cabled or jetted first, that is separate work.
- Line length
- Longer laterals take longer to run and document.
- Locating
- Sonde locating and marking is sometimes priced separately.
- Reporting
- A recorded video and written report may cost more than a quick look on a screen.
Why inspection comes before choosing a method
CIPP requires a continuous host pipe. Pipe bursting requires a viable path and pit locations. Excavation requires knowing depth and alignment. All three requirements are answered by the same recording.
Without it, a quote is priced on assumptions — and assumptions in this trade are usually priced conservatively, meaning you pay for the worst case.
Already have an inspection report or video?
If a camera survey has already been done, you are further along than most homeowners. Tell us what it found when you request an estimate and select camera inspection completed in the form — specialists can quote much more precisely against known defects.
Attachment upload for inspection reports, PDFs, video and pipe photos is planned as a next step; for now, describe the findings in the notes field and a specialist will follow up for the file.
Frequently asked questions
Related pages
Where we cover this work
Local rules, permits and lateral ownership differ by city. Start with the Pennsylvania trenchless sewer repair hub and pick your market.