Sewer Video Inspection & Sewer Scope
See What's Actually Happening Inside Your Line
A sewer line runs underground, out of sight, until something goes wrong. A sewer scope inspection changes that. By feeding a specialized camera through the line, our technicians can see the exact condition of a sewer pipe, its material, its joints, any cracks, roots, or blockages, without digging or guessing. This service is also known as a sewer camera inspection, or as CCTV sewer inspection for larger commercial and municipal-scale lines.
That visibility is useful well beyond a repair job. Property buyers and sellers order a sewer scope inspection to understand what they're taking on before a transaction closes. Property managers use them to document the condition of aging infrastructure or confirm a previous repair actually held. Homeowners use them when a slow drain or occasional backup has no obvious cause. And commercial and industrial properties use CCTV sewer inspection as part of routine due diligence on infrastructure that's expensive to replace and even more expensive to replace blind.
West Coast Hydro-Jet has performed sewer scope and video inspections throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego for more than 34 years, using equipment operated by our own trained technicians.
Reasons to Look Before You Dig, or Buy, or Assume
A sewer scope inspection makes sense in more situations than most property owners realize:
- Before buying or selling a property, to understand the true condition of the sewer line before it becomes your responsibility, or to document its condition before a sale
- When a drain or line has recurring issues with no clear cause, especially after other fixes haven't solved the problem
- Before major renovation or landscaping work, to avoid accidentally damaging a line you didn't know was there
- To verify a completed repair, confirming a previous fix actually resolved the issue rather than just moving it
- As part of routine due diligence for aging properties, particularly those with older cast iron or clay sewer lines
- For insurance or legal documentation, when a property needs a clear record of a line's condition at a specific point in time
What We're Actually Looking For
A trained eye reviewing a sewer camera feed can spot far more than just an obvious blockage. Inspections commonly reveal:
- Cracks and fractures in the pipe wall, which can worsen over time and eventually lead to leaks or collapse
- Root intrusion, where tree roots have worked into joints or small cracks in the line
- Pipe bellies or sagging sections, where the line has settled and now traps water and debris
- Offset or misaligned joints, often from ground shifting or age
- Buildup and scale, which narrows the pipe's effective diameter over time
- Pipe material and overall condition, useful for property records and future planning
We provide a clear explanation of what we find, along with recommendations, so you understand exactly what's going on before deciding on any next steps.
Why Older Properties Benefit Most
A lot of the sewer infrastructure across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego was installed decades ago, often using cast iron or clay pipe that wasn't built to last forever. Cast iron corrodes from the inside over time. Clay pipe cracks at the joints and is especially vulnerable to root intrusion. Neither failure mode is visible from the surface until a line is already in trouble.
For property owners and managers working with older buildings, a sewer scope inspection is one of the only ways to get a real answer to "how much life does this line have left" instead of guessing based on age alone. That's especially valuable for commercial and multi-family properties planning capital improvements or budgeting for infrastructure.
A Simple, Non-Invasive Process
Our technicians feed a waterproof camera, mounted on a flexible cable, into your sewer line through an existing cleanout or access point. As the camera moves through the pipe, we view a live feed to assess the line's condition in real time. Most sewer scope inspections are completed in a single visit, without any digging or disruption to your property.
Depending on your needs, we can provide documentation of the findings, useful for property records, insurance purposes, or a real estate transaction.
A Clear Picture, Explained Clearly
- No Guesswork - See the exact condition of your line before any decision gets made
- Non-Invasive - No digging required to get a full picture of what's happening underground
- Self-Performing Technicians - Our crews, our equipment, no subcontractors on your property
A sewer scope inspection is only as useful as the person interpreting it. Our technicians have looked at thousands of sewer lines across Los Angeles, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego, which means we can tell the difference between a minor issue that can wait and a developing problem that shouldn't.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Video Inspections
What is a sewer scope inspection?
A sewer scope inspection, also called a sewer video inspection or sewer camera inspection, uses a specialized camera fed through the sewer line to reveal its condition, including cracks, blockages, root intrusion, and pipe material, without digging.
How much does a sewer scope inspection cost?
Cost depends on the property and the scope of the inspection. We provide transparent, upfront pricing before any work begins.
Is a sewer scope inspection necessary before buying a home or commercial property?
It's not required, but it's a smart step for due diligence. A sewer scope inspection can reveal sewer line issues that wouldn't otherwise be visible until after a purchase closes.
Do you need to dig to perform a sewer scope inspection?
No. The camera is fed through an existing cleanout or access point, so the inspection itself doesn't require any digging.
How do I know if my sewer line is old enough to need inspection?
Cast iron and clay sewer lines, common throughout older Southern California properties, are more prone to corrosion and root intrusion as they age. A sewer scope inspection can tell you the line's actual condition rather than relying on age alone.
Will I get documentation of what the inspection finds?
Yes. We can provide documentation of our findings, useful for property records, insurance, or real estate purposes
Know What's Really Going On Underground
Availaable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays, contact us at 800-750-4426 to schedule service.
