A sewer camera inspection is a diagnostic procedure in which a waterproof, high-resolution camera mounted on a flexible cable is fed through your drain cleanout or a toilet and guided through the sewer line to visually document the pipe’s interior condition. The technician watches a live video feed on a monitor and can see root intrusion, cracks, joint offsets, grease buildup, collapsed sections, and anything else inside the pipe — without digging up your yard. It is the most accurate, non-invasive way to find out exactly what is happening inside a sewer line that is causing problems, or to confirm a line is in good condition before a real estate purchase or after a repair.
How the Process Works
The inspection begins at a cleanout — a capped pipe access point that gives the camera cable a clear path into the line. If there is no accessible cleanout, the technician can often access the line by removing a toilet. The camera cable is fed in and advanced through the pipe toward the municipal sewer main. As the camera travels, the technician narrates what is visible and notes any areas of concern. A radio transmitter inside the camera head broadcasts a signal that the technician can pick up with a handheld locator wand at the surface, pinpointing the exact above-ground location and depth of any problem. The entire process for a typical residential lateral takes 30 to 60 minutes.
What the Camera Can Reveal
- Tree root intrusion — even fine hair roots at joints that will become a full blockage if left untreated
- Grease and scale buildup narrowing the pipe’s usable diameter
- Cracks and fractures in clay tile, cast iron, or PVC
- Joint offsets caused by soil movement — common with Front Range expansive clay soils
- Pipe bellies (low spots) where solids accumulate and water does not fully drain
- Collapsed or crushed sections requiring repair or replacement
- Back-pitched sections where the pipe runs against the correct slope
When Is a Camera Inspection Ordered?
There are two main situations that call for a camera inspection: something is clearly wrong, or you need to verify the line’s condition proactively. On the diagnostic side, recurring slow drains throughout the house, sewage backups, gurgling toilets, unexplained odors, or wet spots in the yard over the sewer line all warrant a camera look before any cleaning or repair begins — you need to know what you are treating before you treat it. On the proactive side, a camera inspection is standard practice when buying a home (especially one built before 1980), before adding a bathroom or ADU, after a significant root clearing, or as part of routine maintenance on an aging line.
Is the Inspection Recorded?
Done’s sewer camera inspections are recorded so you have a video record of the pipe’s condition. This is useful for several reasons: it gives you documentation to share with a real estate agent or buyer, it provides a before-and-after comparison if cleaning or repair work follows, and it serves as a baseline for future inspections so the technician can see whether a problem is new or has been slowly developing. If a repair is recommended, the video is what helps you understand exactly why — seeing a root mass or a cracked pipe on camera makes the repair recommendation concrete rather than abstract.
What Happens After the Inspection?
If the camera shows a clean line in good condition, that is a great result — you have peace of mind and a baseline record. If it shows buildup or roots, hydro jetting or cable cleaning is typically scheduled next. If it reveals structural damage, Done will walk you through the repair options — which may include trenchless pipe lining for cracks and root entry points, or traditional excavation for sections that are fully collapsed. The camera inspection drives every decision that follows; without it, any repair or cleaning is essentially guesswork.
To schedule a sewer camera inspection with Done, or to learn more about what our drain and sewer team can find and fix, visit our drains and sewer services page.
