
Sewer Camera Inspection
See the line before you spend a dollar on it.
Push-cameras let us see inside your sewer or drain line without digging or guessing. We use them before every lining decision, before real estate transactions, and any time a customer's had a recurring backup and wants to know why. In Columbia, SC and the surrounding Midlands, we do standalone inspections and bundle them free with any dra
What a Sewer Camera Inspection Tells You
A sewer camera inspection is a live video walk through your underground drainage system. We insert a self-illuminated push-camera (mounted on a flexible fiberglass rod) through a cleanout, floor drain, or roof vent, and drive it the full length of the line. What comes back on the monitor is a real-time video showing the exact condition of the pipe — cracks, roots, offsets, sags (bellies), grease buildup, channeling, breaks, and anything else that would otherwise be invisible until it caused a problem.
The value isn't just seeing the problem. It's knowing whether the problem is minor or major, whether it's fixable with cleaning or requires structural work, and whether the pipe is safe to leave alone for another decade or is a ticking time bomb. That answer is worth an order of magnitude more than the price of the inspection.
Every pipe has its own story. We're specifically watching for:
We walk you through every finding on-screen while the camera is running. No surprises, no upsell theater. You see what we see.
Here's the deal that matters: if your visit includes any drain or sewer service — cabling, jetting, mainline clearing — the camera inspection is free. We only charge the standalone inspection rate when you want the camera as a diagnostic on its own (pre-purchase, insurance documentation, etc.). If you're already having us out for a clog, ask for the camera to be included at no extra cost.
For property transactions, insurance claims, or your own records, we provide a written inspection report with photos, findings, and recommendations. That level of documentation costs a bit more than a verbal walkthrough, but it's what real-estate attorneys and insurance adjusters expect. Ask when you call and we'll get the report format that fits.
- Before buying a home — especially anything built before 1980, or any home with mature trees near the sewer line. Standard home inspections do not include a sewer scope.
- After recurring backups — if you've had to snake the same line more than once in a year, there's a reason and it's underground.
- Before any pipe lining or excavation work — no reputable trenchless contractor should quote a job without seeing the pipe first.
- For insurance or real estate documentation — some insurance policies and real-estate contracts require a written sewer report.
- For older cast iron, clay, or Orangeburg pipes — pipe materials from before ~1980 have known failure patterns that a camera catches early.
- Cracks and longitudinal splits — common in cast iron and Orangeburg pipes as they age.
- Root intrusion — roots enter through joints and cracks, then thicken.
- Offsets and misalignments — where pipe sections have shifted apart at a joint, common with clay or Orangeburg.
- Bellies (sags) — where the pipe has dropped between supports, causing standing water.
- Channeling — bottom-wear in older cast iron; you can see the pipe wall thinning.
- Grease and scale buildup — restricts flow but is fixable with hydro jetting.
- Full or partial collapses — the pipe has physically failed and needs structural repair.
- Trenchless Pipe Lining — the fix, when the camera shows the pipe needs one.
- Hydro Jetting — the cleaning method for grease or root buildup found on camera.
- Drain Cleaning — clearing the immediate blockage while the camera assesses long-term condition.
Schedule a Camera Inspection Today.
See exactly what's happening in your sewer or drain line before you spend a dollar guessing. Free with any service; standalone rates are honest and posted.
What goes wrong underground
The problems we solve
Root intrusion
Roots find joints and cracks, then grow until the line blocks and backs up.
Cracked or deteriorated pipe
Aging pipe develops cracks and breaks that lead to leaks and failures.
Joint separation
Separated joints let soil and water infiltrate, causing sinkholes and voids.
Corrosion and material failure
Corroded or deteriorated pipe risks collapse and loss of service.
Costly disruption
Traditional excavation means torn-up landscaping, lost parking, and unhappy tenants.
How a lining job runs
Our proven process
Five steps start to finish. Most residential laterals are done in a day, and the yard, driveway, or parking lot stays exactly where it is.
Inspect
We run a CCTV camera through the line to find the fault and verify the pipe's condition before recommending anything.
Clean
High-pressure jetting strips roots, grease, and scale so the liner bonds to a clean host pipe.
Line
A resin-saturated liner goes in through an existing access point and is positioned inside the damaged pipe.
Cure
UV light cures the liner in place, forming a strong, seamless new pipe inside the old one.
Reinstate
Service is restored and verified on camera. We leave the property the way we found it.
Commercial & institutional
Fix the pipe. Don't close the property.
A pipe failure at a multi-tenant or institutional property is never only a plumbing problem. It's occupant complaints, liability exposure, and unplanned capital spend. We inspect aging infrastructure before it fails and repair it without excavation, road plates, or lost parking.
- Avoid unplanned emergency repairs and occupant complaints
- Protect curb appeal, landscaping, and property value
- Reduce liability from backups, sinkholes, and property damage
- Extend the life of underground infrastructure
- Plan proactively and budget more effectively
Where we work
Service areas
Full service
Pipe lining, camera inspection, jetting, drain cleaning, and sewer replacement.
Pipe lining statewide
Trenchless CIPP lining, anywhere in South Carolina.
Frequently asked
Sewer Camera Inspection questions
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Most residential sewer camera inspections take 30 to 60 minutes on-site. That includes locating an access point, running the camera the full length of the line, marking depth if requested, and walking through findings with you.
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost in Columbia, SC?
A standalone camera inspection in the Columbia area typically runs $195–$495 depending on access and whether a written report is required. Camera inspections are FREE when bundled with any drain or sewer service we perform.
Should I get a sewer camera inspection before buying a house?
For any home built before 1980, or any home with mature trees near the sewer line, yes. A camera inspection reveals hidden problems that standard home inspections miss — collapsed sections, root intrusion, deteriorated Orangeburg pipe, or channeling in cast iron — any of which can cost $5,000+ to fix. A $195 inspection is cheap insurance.
Do you provide video footage?
Yes. Every inspection includes real-time video during the run so you can see what we see. For real estate transactions, insurance claims, or your own records, we provide a written report and a copy of the video footage.
Can you locate and mark the pipe depth?
Yes — our cameras include a sonde locator so we can pinpoint the camera head from above ground and mark depth. Especially useful before any planned excavation, or when the sewer line's exact path isn't documented.
Let's solve the problem — without disrupting your property.
Call or text for a camera inspection and a straight answer about whether the line needs lining, cleaning, or replacement.
Call or text 803-814-5544