Camera Inspections
Know exactly what is happening inside your pipes before you dig, repair, or replace. Fast diagnostics with HD video.
Fast diagnostics for sewer backups and line failures.
Fast Answers Without the Guesswork
Our camera inspections locate blockages, root intrusion, and structural problems with precision. You get clear answers and a focused repair plan.
When a Camera Inspection Makes Sense
Before buying an older home
Pre-closingA $350 camera scope before closing is the cheapest insurance you can buy on a pre-1970 Pittsburgh home. We've walked away from purchases for less.
Same clog keeps coming back
DiagnosticIf you've been snaking the same line every 6-12 months, something structural is happening. The camera finds the offset, the crack, or the root — and tells us the real fix.
Backup in a finished basement
CriticalBefore tearing out drywall or re-running the line, we scope it. The difference between a spot repair and a full trenchless liner can be $8K — worth knowing for certain.
After a repair — verify the work
VerificationPaid for a trenchless lining or a spot repair? A post-work scope confirms the line is clean, round, and fully restored. Documentation you can keep with the house.
Our Inspection Process
Find the cleanout or access
Most Pittsburgh homes have a sewer cleanout in the basement floor or at the house foundation. If yours doesn't, we discuss adding one — it's a small job that pays back many times over.
Push the camera in, record the whole run
HD push-cable camera with a built-in sonde (transmitter). You watch the live feed on the monitor. Every foot of line captured on video.
Locate every finding
When we spot a problem — a root, a crack, a belly — we lock the camera's sonde at that spot and use a locator from above ground to mark the exact location and depth with paint.
Video + photos + written summary
You get the video clip, still frames of every finding, a location diagram, and a written quote for each recommended fix. Email delivery, same day.
What We Commonly Find
Root intrusion at joints
Pittsburgh neighborhoods with mature trees see this constantly. We'll tell you if it's jet-and-maintain material or if the joints are too far gone.
Pipe offsets or separations
Ground settlement, frost heave, or an adjacent root can shift a joint open. The scope shows the gap size and the camera footage confirms whether it's still serviceable or needs repair.
Collapsed vitrified clay
A classic failure mode for 50+ year old lines. Full-section collapse means no more flow through that point — typically the call is for a trenchless liner or targeted excavation.
Bellies in the line
A sag in the pipe where water pools instead of flowing. Solids settle, clogs recur. We measure the length and depth of the belly to decide: cable + maintain, or excavate and re-pitch.
Camera Inspection FAQs
Do I need to clean the line before you camera it?
Not usually. A routine scope works fine on a line that's flowing. If the line is backed up solid, we'll cable it first so the camera has something to look at — we'll bundle both in one visit.
Do I get the video?
Yes. You get the video, still frames of every finding, and a written summary via email the same day. You can share with a realtor, insurance adjuster, or another contractor.
How much does it cost?
Flat-rate, typically $295-$395 depending on line length and access. If we find something and you have us do the repair, the scope fee applies toward the work. Quote in writing before we start.
Need Answers About Your Pipes?
We can inspect, locate, and help resolve the issue quickly. Schedule your camera inspection today.