A sewer camera inspection feeds a small waterproof camera on a flexible cable through your lateral and records everything it sees. You watch the footage with the technician, so a cracked joint or a belly full of water is something you have seen, not something you were told.
People book it for different reasons. Some are buying a home and want to know what the seller's pipe really looks like. Others have had a clog return and want the cause, or they are gathering evidence for the City of Maryland Heights lateral repair program.
It is a scheduled visit, and same-day appointments are offered when available. We tell you the price before the camera goes in.
What the camera finds inside a sewer line
The footage is straightforward to read once someone points out what each thing is.
| On the screen | What it means | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Fine white or brown hair-like growth | Tree roots entering at a joint | Cut the roots, then repair the joint if it is open |
| Pooled water in a dip | A belly where the pipe has settled | Monitor, jet or replace that section depending on depth |
| Flaking, rough, narrowed pipe wall | Scale in cast iron | Clean and decide between lining and replacement |
| A gap or step at a joint | Offset or separated pipe | Spot repair, since cleaning will not fix it |
| A clean, smooth pipe with steady flow | A healthy line | No work needed, keep the video for your records |
Buying a home? Inspect the sewer line before closing
A general home inspection does not look inside the sewer line. A cracked or rooted lateral can turn into a repair that costs far more than a camera visit, and the City of Maryland Heights says most lateral repairs cost at least $3,000, with complicated ones exceeding $10,000.
The city also notes that the lateral is owned by the homeowner, which means the buyer inherits any damage. Footage before closing gives you something to negotiate with or a reason to walk away.
If the line is clean, you have a baseline recording for the day you sell or if a backup ever occurs.
How an inspection visit goes
Locate the access point
We use a cleanout when there is one, or pull a toilet or open a vent when there is not.
Run the camera to the main
A push camera travels the line, marking footage and distance as it goes.
Locate and measure
A locator at the surface traces the camera head, so we know the path of the pipe and its depth.
Review together
We pause on problem areas and explain what is there, and what is not a problem.
Written findings
You receive notes with distances and recommended steps, plus the video file.
Locating the line and its depth
Knowing where the lateral runs matters before any digging, a fence, a patio or a new tree. The camera transmitter lets us mark the path on the ground and measure depth at points along it.
That information also helps with a repair quote. A pipe 3 feet down and a pipe 8 feet down are different excavations, and the marks save everyone from probing with a shovel.
Using the footage for the city lateral program
Evidence you can attach
The City of Maryland Heights lateral repair program covers approved repairs on residential properties with six or fewer dwellings. The city pays 100 percent up to $10,000 and 50 percent above that, and the application is the Sewer Lateral Claim Form handled through Public Works at (314) 291-6550.
We cannot promise a claim will be approved. The written findings and video give Public Works a clear view of what failed, and our sewer line repair team can scope the work to match.
What a camera cannot tell you
A camera sees the inside of the pipe. It cannot tell you the strength of the pipe wall behind a surface that looks fine, or what is in the soil around a joint.
It also cannot inspect a line that is full of water or debris. In that case we clean first, which is where hydro jetting or a cable comes in, and then record the pipe.
What affects the price of an inspection
You hear a clear price before the camera goes in. These factors matter.
Access
A cleanout makes the visit short. Pulling a toilet adds time.
Length of the line
A short lateral is quick, a long one with a bend near the street takes longer.
Need to clean first
A pipe full of grease or roots must be cleared before the picture is useful.
Locating and marking
Tracing the path and depth takes extra time on the surface.
Written report and video copy
A full set of findings for a buyer or a city claim is extra paperwork.
Insurance rarely pays for an inspection by itself. For your price, call the dispatch line or use our contact page.
Booking an inspection around Maryland Heights
We schedule inspections in the 63043 ZIP code and in neighboring towns such as Creve Coeur. If you are on a buying deadline, tell the dispatcher the closing date and we will work to fit it.
The standard behind a sewer camera report
A good inspection report follows the NASSCO Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) coding standard for defects such as cracks, fractures, roots and offset joints. That published standard gives a buyer or an insurer a common language, so ask whether your report uses it.
For a home purchase, ask for the recording and the footage counter as well as the notes. A defect marked at a specific distance from the cleanout is something a repair contractor can price.
Sewer inspection questions from buyers and homeowners
A typical residential line takes about an hour with setup, the run and the review, though a dirty or long line takes longer. We confirm what to expect when you book.
It helps, but it is not required. If there is no cleanout, we can usually use a pulled toilet or a roof vent.
Yes. You receive the recording and notes with distances and recommended steps, which is useful for a closing negotiation or a city claim.
The City of Maryland Heights says the lateral is owned by the homeowner, while the public main belongs to MSD at (314) 768-6260. The camera shows where the problem is relative to your property line.
No. The camera shows the condition of the pipe. If it needs cleaning first, that is a separate step, and we tell you before we do it.
Yes. Many do so before a lease renewal or purchase, and the video can be shared with owners and contractors.