Sewer Camera Inspection

Do not pay for a repair nobody has seen.

A sewer camera inspection pushes a waterproof camera through your lateral from a cleanout or drain opening, recording the pipe from the house toward the street. It turns a guess into evidence, and it is the single best way to compare repair recommendations.

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Signs

When this applies to you

Repeated slow drains or backups after clearing
Buying an older home and wanting to know the lateral condition
A contractor recommended full replacement and you want confirmation
Sinkholes or soggy spots in the yard along the sewer path
Planning a basement finish or landscaping over the line

First steps

What to do before anyone arrives

01Locate any cleanout caps in the basement floor or yard.
02Clear access to the floor drain and main stack.
03Ask for the recording and footage markers, not just a verbal summary.
04Ask whether the line will be located and marked from the surface.

Methods

How the work is typically done

Access

A cleanout is ideal. Without one, a toilet pull or roof vent may be used depending on the home.

Record

The camera logs distance so defects can be tied to a spot in the yard or under the slab.

Locate

A transmitter in the camera head can be traced from above to mark depth and position.

Cost depends on scope

What moves the price

Whether there is an accessible cleanout
Whether the line must be cleared before the camera can pass
Length of the run to the city connection
Whether locating and marking is included
Whether you want a written report and recording

This site does not publish fixed prices. Any estimate should be based on an inspection of your line and confirmed in writing by the contractor.

What a useful sewer-scope report should contain

Ask for a recorded survey identifying the starting cleanout, approximate distance reached, material transitions and specific defects. If the public connection cannot be reached, the report should explain why and identify the uninspected portion. A few still photographs without a route or distance make a second opinion difficult.

Standing water can obscure the bottom of the pipe, and a blockage may prevent passage. Ask whether cleaning and a return survey are included or separately priced. The operator should distinguish an observation, such as roots at a joint, from a repair conclusion, such as a recommendation to replace a measured section. A camera alone is not a municipal ownership determination.

Use the footage before a purchase or a major repair

For an older Metro Detroit home, arrange the scope while inspection contingencies can still be discussed with your advisers. A general home inspection may not include it. Request the video, report and accessible cleanout location rather than relying on a seller's recollection of a cleaning.

For an existing owner, keep before-and-after footage and locator marks. Have competing proposals refer to the same defect, length and depth. The inspection cost is separate from repair and usually separate from contamination cleanup; ask about travel, access and additional footage before agreeing to a service package.

Budget planning

Published planning ranges

These are published planning ranges, not Michigan Sewer Pros quotes. Actual local quotes vary with line length, depth, access, permits and restoration.

Basic sewer snakingAngi's Detroit method-specific planning range. Complex roots, access or structural repairs cost more.: $95–$240
Hydro jettingAngi's Detroit cleaning-method range; inspection and pipe repair may be additional.: $340–$580
Camera inspectionAngi's Detroit inspection reference; route length, access and scope affect price.: $195–$1,275+
Line replacementHomeGuide national planning range for about 40 linear feet, not a local fixed quote. Longer, deeper or obstructed projects can exceed this.: $2,000–$10,000
Cured-in-place liningHomeGuide national range. Suitability, preparation, access and minimum job charges affect total cost.: $90–$250 / foot
Pipe burstingHomeGuide national range; utility conflicts, pits, connections and restoration must be scoped.: $60–$200 / foot

Sources: Angi: Detroit sewer-clog and inspection cost data (updated August 2026) · HomeGuide: national sewer repair and replacement cost guide

Good to know: A camera cannot see through a fully blocked line. If water is standing, the line usually has to be cleared first.

Sewer Camera Inspection: common questions

Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?

For older Metro Detroit homes, many buyers consider it worth doing. Clay, cast iron and older Orangeburg-style pipe can hide roots, offsets or collapse that a general home inspection does not see.

Will I get to keep the video?

Ask before the work starts. A copy of the recording is useful for getting second opinions and comparing repair options.

What defects show up on camera?

Root intrusion at joints, cracked or broken pipe, offset joints, bellies where water pools, grease buildup, and collapsed sections are the most common findings.

Request help

Request help with camera inspection

Two minutes, no sales script. Describe the problem and you get a reference number for your request. Prefer to talk it through?

Call 248-331-7754

No obligation to book anything
Ask for camera footage before any big repair
Pricing depends on scope and is confirmed by the contractor