Sewer Camera Inspection in San Diego — See the Problem Before You Pay to Fix It
Sewer Camera & Video Pipe Inspection Across San Diego County
A Camera Turns Guesswork Into a Diagnosis
A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof, high-definition camera on a flexible cable through your sewer line so we can watch the inside of the pipe in real time. No digging, no guessing. Tree roots, cracks, corrosion, bellies in the line, collapsed sections and misaligned joints all show up on screen, and you see the footage with us.
If a drain has clogged more than once, if more than one fixture is slow at the same time, or if you are buying a home in San Diego County and need a sewer scope before close, this is the service that tells you what is actually going on underground. We inspect sewer lines across Carlsbad, Oceanside, Escondido, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, Del Mar, La Jolla, Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Santa Fe.
Call us today at (760) 276-6690, or contact us online to book a sewer camera inspection.
Commonly Asked Questions
What is a sewer camera inspection?
A licensed plumber feeds a small camera on a flexible rod into your sewer line through a cleanout or access point and pushes it through the pipe. The video comes back live. It is the only way to see the condition of a buried line without excavating, and it turns “something is wrong down there” into a specific problem at a specific distance from the house.
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?
Our main line snaking includes a complimentary camera inspection, so if you are already having the line cleared, the camera comes with it. As a standalone diagnostic the cost depends on access and line length — we quote it upfront before we start, and you will never get a surprise line item on the invoice.
Do I need a sewer scope inspection before buying a home?
It is strongly recommended, and increasingly expected. A sewer scope is not part of a standard home inspection in California, so buyers routinely close on a house without knowing the condition of the one pipe that is most expensive to replace. On older North County homes with cast iron or clay laterals, a scope before close is the difference between a negotiating point and a five-figure surprise. We provide video footage you can share with your agent.
What can the camera actually find?
Tree root intrusion, cracked and offset pipe, corrosion and scale build-up, bellies where the line has sagged and holds water, grease accumulation, foreign objects, and full or partial collapse. It also confirms pipe material and diameter, which determines what repair options are even available to you.
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes for a residential property. Longer if the line is badly blocked and has to be cleared before the camera can pass, which is one reason snaking and inspection often happen in the same visit.
Do you have to dig up my yard?
No. That is the entire point of the camera. We access the line through an existing cleanout. Digging only enters the conversation after the inspection shows a specific problem at a specific location — and then we are digging in one known spot rather than searching.
When should I have my sewer line inspected?
Any of these: a drain that has clogged twice or more in six months, several fixtures draining slowly at once, sewage odor indoors or in the yard, gurgling toilets, unexplained wet patches or unusually green grass along the sewer route, before buying a home, or before a remodel that adds fixtures to the existing line.
Can you inspect cast iron and clay pipes?
Yes. Cast iron and clay laterals are common in homes built across North County before 1980, and they are exactly the lines that benefit most from a camera. Clay is prone to root intrusion at the joints; cast iron scales and corrodes from the inside. The camera shows how much usable pipe wall is left.
What happens if the camera finds a problem?
You see it on screen with us, and we give you a written, upfront price for the repair before any work starts. Depending on what the footage shows, the answer might be hydro jetting, a spot repair, trenchless lining, or a full replacement. We will tell you which, and we will tell you if the line is fine and needs nothing.
Every main sewer line snaking includes a complimentary camera inspection. Terms apply — contact us for details.
