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Sewer camera inspection in NYC
A waterproof camera travels down the drain or sewer line and records exactly what's inside: roots, grease, a sag, a crack or a collapse, with the distance to each one. You keep the video and get written findings. Starting at $495.
- Answered 24/7
- Price confirmed before work starts
Starting prices. Every job is different, so the technician confirms your price on site before any work starts. Nights, weekends and holidays add $150. All prices
When a camera inspection makes sense
- The same drain or main line clogs again and again.
- You’re buying a house and want to know the condition of the sewer line.
- There’s a sewer smell with no obvious cause.
- Someone quoted you for digging and you want to see the problem first.
- A property manager or co-op board needs records of the building’s lines.
- After hydro jetting, to confirm the line is clean.
How a sewer camera inspection works
- Access the line. Through the cleanout, house trap or another existing opening. No digging.
- Record the full run. The camera head on a push rod travels the length of the line while we record. A counter marks the distance.
- Locate problems. When the camera finds something, we note its distance from the access point.
- Explain what you’re seeing. We walk you through the footage on screen.
- Send the findings. You get the video and a short written summary: what we found, where, and what we recommend.
What the camera finds
| Finding | What it looks like on camera | What usually fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Grease buildup | Thick coating narrowing the pipe | Hydro jetting |
| Tree roots | Hair-like or thick roots at joints | Root-cutting jet, then regular cleaning |
| Scale and corrosion | Rough, crusty walls in cast iron | Jetting, or a referral if the wall is failing |
| Wipes or objects | A visible blockage | Clearing |
| Sag (belly) | Standing water in a low section | Regular cleaning, or a referral for repair |
| Offset or separated joint | A ledge or gap at a joint | Referral to an NYC master plumber |
| Crack or collapse | Broken pipe wall or soil in the line | Referral to an NYC master plumber |
Why see it before you spend
Sewer repair quotes vary widely, and the expensive answer isn’t always the right one. With footage in hand, you know whether a cleaning will do or whether you need a repair, and any contractor you call is quoting on the same evidence.
Camera inspections for NYC property types
- Pre-purchase: houses, brownstones and two-family homes before closing.
- Co-op and condo buildings: stacks and mains, with footage for board records.
- Restaurants: grease line condition and a cleaning schedule.
- Property managers: baseline footage for each building in your portfolio.
Pipe materials you’ll see in NYC
| Material | Where it’s common | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Cast iron | Prewar and postwar buildings, brownstones | Scale and corrosion that narrows the pipe and catches debris |
| Clay (vitrified) | Older house laterals under yards and sidewalks | Roots at joints, cracked or shifted sections |
| Fiber pipe | Some mid-century houses | Flattening or blistering of the pipe wall |
| PVC or ABS plastic | Newer construction and replaced sections | Generally smooth; check joints and transitions to older pipe |
Reading the footage
- A smooth, round pipe with water flowing freely: a healthy line.
- Hair-like strands or thick bundles at the joints: roots. They come back unless cut out regularly.
- A thick, uneven coating: grease or scale. Jetting usually clears it.
- Standing water in one section: a sag, also called a belly, where the pipe has settled. Waste settles there.
- A ledge or gap at a joint: an offset or separated joint. It catches debris and may need repair.
- Daylight, soil or a broken edge: a crack, hole or collapse. That’s a repair job for an NYC master plumber.
What you get
- The full video of the inspection.
- A written summary of each finding, with its distance from the access point.
- A plain recommendation: nothing needed, cleaning, jetting on a schedule, or a referral for repair.
When to inspect
- After any main line backup, once the line is cleared
- Before buying a house or building
- Before agreeing to any digging or replacement quote
- After hydro jetting, to confirm the line is clean
- Every few years on older buildings with cast iron or clay lines
From real jobs
Photos and footage from our own work. No stock images.
Where we work
What we don't do. We clear, clean and inspect drains and sewer lines. If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or separated line, you get the footage and a referral to an NYC master plumber for the fix. Why we work this way
Common questions
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost in NYC?
Ours starts at $495 with the video and written findings. If we're already clearing the main line, a camera check is included in main line clearing, which starts at $595.
What can a sewer camera find?
Roots growing through joints, grease and scale buildup, objects like wipes or toys, sags where water pools, offset or separated joints, cracks and collapsed sections. Each one is marked with its distance from the access point.
Should I get a camera inspection before buying a house?
For any NYC house built before about 1980, we'd say yes. Main line problems are among the most expensive surprises after closing, and owners are generally responsible for the line out to the city sewer. See our pre-purchase sewer inspection page.
Do I keep the video?
Yes. You get the recording and a plain-English summary of what we found and where.
What happens if you find a broken pipe?
You get the footage and the distance to the problem. Repairs and replacements are referred to an NYC master plumber. Having the footage first means any quote you get is based on what's actually there.
Can you inspect a co-op or condo line?
Yes, with access arranged through the building. We coordinate with the super or management office, and the footage works well for board records.
Can the camera go through a full clog?
Not usually. If the line is fully blocked, we clear it first and then run the camera to see what caused it.
Can the camera tell if my line needs replacing?
It shows the condition of the pipe: cracks, collapses, offsets and sags. Whether to repair or replace is a decision for an NYC master plumber, and the footage gives them exactly what they need to quote it.
Can you inspect from the roof vent or a toilet?
Usually we go in through a cleanout or the house trap, which gives the best view of the main. We'll tell you on the call what access we need for your building.
Need a drain cleared?
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. A technician looks at the job and confirms your price on site before any work starts.