What a camera inspection tells you
A camera answers the question a cable cannot: what is actually wrong. It also tells you what is not wrong, which can save you from an unneeded repair.
| Finding | What it means | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Roots at joints | Roots are entering through gaps | Cut roots, then repair the joint. |
| Offset or separated joint | Pipe sections have shifted | Spot repair or lining depending on severity. |
| Belly (sag) | Water and debris pool in a low spot | Monitor, clean regularly or replace the section. |
| Cracks or fractures | Pipe wall is damaged | Lining or spot repair. |
| Scale or grease buildup | Pipe bore is shrinking | Hydro jetting. |
| Collapse | Pipe has failed | Excavation or trenchless replacement. |
What to do with each finding is spelled out on our sewer line repair page.
When to book an inspection
The best time is before a problem becomes an emergency.
- A drain that clogs repeatedly despite being cleared.
- Before buying a home, especially an older one.
- After a backup, to find the cause.
- Before lining or any major repair, to plan the work.
- When trees are growing near the sewer line.
- When a landlord wants to confirm the condition of a rental.
Buying a home in Florence: why the sewer line is worth checking
A general home inspection does not normally put a camera in the sewer line. A seller may not know the line has roots or a belly. A camera visit before closing gives you the footage to negotiate or to plan the repair.
Homes in the Florence Townsite Historic District date back well over a century in some cases, so the line there may be an older material. Newer subdivisions such as Anthem at Merrill Ranch have newer pipe, but construction debris and installation faults still show up on camera.
Book a sewer camera visit
Call us with the reason for the inspection and the address. We will schedule the visit and explain what you will receive.
Call (480) 741-9332How the inspection works
The visit is short and clean when there is a cleanout.
- Access.We open the cleanout, or pull a toilet if there is none.
- Run the camera.A flexible rod carries the camera from the house toward the street, recording footage and depth.
- Locate.A surface locator tracks the camera so we can mark depth and position of any defect.
- Review.You see the video and hear what each finding means.
- Plan.If repair is needed, we outline the options. If not, we tell you the line is sound.
If the line needs clearing before the camera can pass, we do that first. See sewer line cleaning and drain cleaning.
What an inspection cannot show
A camera shows the inside of the pipe, not the soil around it. It cannot predict future root intrusion, and a recent clearing can hide a defect temporarily. A line that is full of water or debris may not be viewable until it is cleaned.
If the camera cannot pass a collapse or a severe offset, the footage up to that point still helps plan the excavation.
Septic systems and sewer laterals
Tell us whether your home connects to a sewer or a septic tank. A camera can inspect the line leading to a septic tank, but the tank and leach field are a different inspection. We tell you which part we can see and which part needs a septic specialist.
What a sewer inspection costs and what moves the price
You get a price before the camera goes in.
A cleanout outside makes the visit quick. Pulling a toilet adds labor.
Longer lines take more time to record.
A blocked line must be cleared before the camera can pass.
A surface locator and depth mark add time but save digging cost.
A recorded copy of the footage is part of the visit.
Want your real number? Call (480) 741-9332 and tell us the address and the reason.
Code note: what an inspection does not replace
A camera visit is not a code inspection. Building departments apply the plumbing code adopted locally, usually based on the UPC or IPC. Our footage shows condition, and the department decides what a permit requires.
Sewer inspection around Florence
We inspect lines in town, along Hunt Highway and at Anthem at Merrill Ranch, and dispatch also covers Coolidge and San Tan Valley. Landlords and property managers can book inspections for rentals.
Questions about sewer inspection in Florence
A typical residential inspection is a short visit. Cleaning a blocked line first, or a long run, adds time.
Yes. You see the footage during the visit, and we provide a copy.
It finds cracks, gaps and root entry that cause leaks in a sewer line. Water supply leaks are found with the methods on our leak detection page.
Probably not. A single slow fixture is usually a branch clog. An inspection makes sense if the main line is slow or clogs repeat.
Yes. Book with the seller or agent so we can get access to the cleanout. You receive footage and an explanation.
Yes. Larger and longer lines are priced by scope.