Sewer Camera Inspections
We run a camera down the underground sewer line from the house to the street. The line isn't part of a standard home inspection, and its condition can't be seen any other way.
Who should get one
Buyers of older homes. Houses built before 1970 usually have clay tile sewer lines unless they've been replaced.
What we look for
- Tree roots growing into joints
- Broken or brittle sections of pipe
- Lost slope toward the street
- Low spots ("bellies") where soil has eroded and water sits
- Pipe sections offset from each other
How our sewer camera inspections work
Our inspectors can perform the sewer-camera portion when it is added to a home inspection. The camera runs from an interior clean-out, and you receive both the sewer video and photos. Meet the team.
The camera shows observable conditions inside the pipe, such as roots, cracks, offsets, sags and loss of slope, as of the inspection date. It doesn’t predict how the line will perform in the future, and our residential inspection agreement spells out exactly which sections of the line are covered. View a sample sewer camera report.
Price and requirements
Why it's worth it
Replacing a sewer line can cost several thousand dollars. A standard homeowners insurance policy often doesn’t cover it. Doing the camera inspection with your home inspection means you find out while you can still negotiate.
Sewer camera questions
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?
$265, added to your home inspection.
Can I book a sewer camera inspection by itself?
No. Sewer camera inspections are only available with a home inspection.
What happens if there is no accessible clean-out?
We skip the camera inspection and don’t charge for it. The camera needs an existing access point inside the home, usually in the basement.
How far does the sewer camera inspection go?
From the clean-out to where your line connects to the city sewer main. Drain lines upstream of the clean-out, and branch drains that join the line from other parts of the property, aren’t included.
Why are older Cleveland sewer lines a concern?
Most homes built before 1970 have clay tile sewer lines laid in sections end to end, and tree roots can grow in at the joints, crack the pipe and cause backups.
Does a clear sewer camera inspection guarantee there will be no future backups?
No. It shows the line’s condition on the inspection date and isn’t a guarantee against future backups, root intrusion or line damage.