How A Sewer Line Inspection Saves You Money

Q: What happens after a sewer line inspection finds damage?

Once the camera locates the specific issue—whether it is roots, a break, or a clog—the next step is determining the best repair method. New Flow Plumbing provides a free repair estimate immediately following the diagnosis, offering solutions ranging from simple hydro-jetting for cleaning to trenchless pipe lining for permanent structural repairs.

A sewer line inspection saves you money by spotting hidden problems early before they turn into costly repairs or replacements. Using a small camera to check your pipes, plumbers can catch tree root damage, cracks, or buildup for a fraction of the cost of major sewer work. Instead of paying thousands for emergency repairs, a quick inspection helps you plan affordable fixes and avoid surprise expenses.

What Is A Sewer Line Inspection?

A sewer line inspection is a diagnostic process where a plumber uses a specialized CCTV camera to see inside your pipes. Instead of guessing where a problem is located, the plumber feeds a flexible camera cable through an existing drain or cleanout. This streams a live video to a monitor, allowing you to see the exact condition of your sewer line in real-time. The primary benefit of this method is that it reveals blockages and damage without the need to dig up your yard, tear down walls, or remove flooring.

What The Camera Finds

The live video feed helps identifying the specific cause of your plumbing issues. The camera can spot invasive tree roots that have penetrated small cracks in search of water, which can break apart clay or plastic pipes. It also reveals clogs caused by grease, oil, and fats that have solidified, or “flushable” wipes that have failed to dissolve. Additionally, the inspection detects structural damage, such as corrosion in old cast iron pipes, cracks, or collapsed sections caused by ground pressure. By identifying the exact problem, you can avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure that only human waste and toilet paper are going down your drains.

Note: Don’t treat your toilet like a trash can and flush just anything. Make sure only human waste and toilet paper go down into your pipes.

How A Sewer Line Inspection Works

To perform the inspection, a plumber uses a specialized CCTV camera specifically designed to navigate residential pipes that are two to six inches wide. This camera is attached to a flexible reel that the plumber manually pushes and pulls through the line, giving them precise control over the process. Because sewer lines are dark, the camera head is equipped with a bright light that illuminates the interior of the pipe as it travels up to 175 feet from the starting point.

The plumber gains entry to the system through an accessible opening, such as a designated “cleanout” in your yard, a toilet drain, or another existing drain. Throughout the journey, the camera records high-quality video footage, which allows the plumber to review the findings in detail later and show you exactly what is happening underground.

How Sewer Line Inspection Saves You Money (How Much Does It Cost?)

If you let problems build up unnoticed, and worst-case scenario, your sewer line breaks and you have sewage leaking everywhere, you are going to pay a lot more money in the end.

Sewer repair can cost up to $15,000 if your sewer line needs to be repair or replaced. A CCTV sewer line inspection can cost around $199 if proper access is available.

What Comes After A Sewer Line Inspection?

After the inspection is completed, and the problems are located, what needs to be done next?
If the pipe just needs to be cleaned, that can be a simple process using hydro-jetting. If the pipe needs more than simple cleaning, we offer trenchless and traditional sewer repair and replacement.

Hydro-jetting – Hydro-jetting uses highly pressurized water to clean out sewer pipes. It’s non-invasive, requires no digging, uses no chemicals and restores your pipes’ original diameter. Sometimes plungers and snakes don’t work, so hydro-jetting is like a super deep clean. It’s not something you can grab off the shelf, so calling a licensed plumber like New Flow Plumbing will get you the service. The condition of the pipe determines the amount of pressure and which nozzles are used during hydro jetting.

Trenchless sewer repair – A method that involves minimal digging, it can replace a damaged pipe in just a few hours. It avoids digging trenches, knocking down walls, or tearing up floors. It’s cost-effective, minimally invasive, and environmentally friendly. There are two types of trenchless repair; sewer pipe bursting and sewer pipe lining. Trenchless sewer repair can last up to 100 years after installation, giving you your money’s worth.

Traditional sewer repair – Sometimes a pipe is so badly damaged, that trenchless repair is not usable. If a pipe is back-pitched (If a pipe is back-pitched (i.e., it wasn’t installed correctly) or collapsed), we can’t use the trenchless route. Traditional sewer repair does involve digging trenches, but trenchless sewer repair is a common correction.

Who To Call For A Sewer Line Inspection

It’s time that New Flow Plumbing comes in to save the day. We’ll get you started with a CCTV sewer camera inspection to determine where your problems come from. Then, we give you a free repair estimate, followed by available repair options. Whatever the issue, New Flow Plumbing will have your plumbing running perfectly again.

FAQs

Can flushable wipes damage my sewer line?

Yes, absolutely. While they are marketed as “flushable” because they go down the toilet, they do not dissolve like toilet paper. Instead, they often get caught in the drain, creating stubborn blockages that require professional removal. New Flow Plumbing frequently uses camera inspections to identify these wipes as the source of major clogs and can remove them to restore proper flow.

How far can a sewer inspection camera travel?

The specialized CCTV cameras used for residential inspections are attached to a long, flexible reel that allows them to travel up to 175 feet deep into your sewer line. This extensive range enables the plumber to examine the entire length of the pipe from the access point out to the municipal connection, ensuring no deep-seated blockages or breaks are missed during the evaluation.

Why do cast iron sewer pipes collapse?

Cast iron pipes are durable but prone to corrosion and rusting over long periods, which weakens the metal and causes cracks. Additionally, if the pipe runs under a driveway or street, the added pressure from vehicles driving over the ground can crush these weakened sections. An inspection can reveal these structural failures before the pipe collapses completely.

What happens after a sewer line inspection finds damage?

Once the camera locates the specific issue – whether it is roots, a break, or a clog—the next step is determining the best repair method. New Flow Plumbing provides a free repair estimate immediately following the diagnosis, offering solutions ranging from simple hydro-jetting for cleaning to trenchless pipe lining for permanent structural repairs.

How does a plumbing inspection camera work?

Designed for residential pipes between 2 and 6 inches in diameter, the camera is mounted on a reel that a plumber manually pushes and pulls through the line. It features a bright light to illuminate the dark pipe interior and records footage, allowing the plumber to analyze the condition of your system in detail and spot issues like cracks or obstructions.

When is traditional excavation sewer repair necessary?

While trenchless methods are efficient, they cannot fix a pipe that is “back-pitched” (installed at the wrong angle) or completely collapsed. In these severe instances, New Flow Plumbing must use traditional excavation to physically correct the slope and structure of the line, though they will always assess if a less invasive option is viable first.

Can tree roots damage my sewer pipes?

Yes, tree roots are a major threat as they actively search through soil for water and nutrients, capable of penetrating the smallest openings or cracks in clay, plastic, or cast iron pipes. Once inside, they continue to grow and expand, which can shatter the pipe material or cause significant blockages that require immediate professional attention to resolve.

How long does trenchless sewer pipe lining last?

Trenchless sewer repairs, including pipe lining and bursting, are incredibly durable solutions designed to last up to 100 years after installation. This longevity ensures that homeowners get their money’s worth by securing the sewer system against future failures for a century, all while avoiding the mess of digging up the property today.

Do I need a sewer inspection if I don't have a backup?

Yes, because an inspection allows you to spot hidden issues like root intrusion or grease buildup early, turning potential disasters into affordable, planned fixes. By calling New Flow Plumbing for a routine check, you avoid the “worst-case scenario” of a sudden break that results in sewage leaks and expensive emergency repairs.

How do plumbers get a camera into the sewer line?

To avoid digging, plumbers utilize existing access points such as a yard cleanout, a toilet drain, or other drain openings to feed the camera into the system. This non-invasive entry allows the technician to stream a live video of the sewer line to a monitor, diagnosing blockages or breaks without ever needing to remove flooring or disturb your landscape.

Arman Grigoryan

Founder & President of New Flow Plumbing

Arman Grigoryan is the founder and president of New Flow Plumbing, proudly serving Los Angeles, Sacramento, and surrounding areas. With extensive experience in plumbing diagnostics, he leads a skilled team specializing in advanced sewer and drain camera inspections to quickly identify problems and deliver lasting solutions. Arman is dedicated to using the latest technology to provide reliable service, honest answers, and dependable results for every customer.