Sewer camera inspections: see the problem first
Before paying for a sewer repair, pay for the camera. A scope inspection runs a waterproof camera down the line and shows exactly what's wrong: roots at a joint, a collapsed section, a belly holding water, or (sometimes) nothing wrong at all.
When a scope is worth it
- Recurring drain backups: find the cause instead of paying for the third cleaning
- Buying a pre-1980s home: older clay and cast-iron laterals fail; a scope before closing turns a $10,000 surprise into a negotiation item
- After a big repair quote: a second opinion with video beats arguing over a diagram you can't see
- Locating the line: the camera's transmitter marks the pipe's path and depth from the surface
What you should get
Ask for the video or photos, not just a verbal summary. A legitimate scope produces a file you keep, and any repair quote should reference what the camera actually showed.
Sewer laterals are on you
The line from your house to the city main is the homeowner's responsibility in the Tri-Cities, a fact most people learn at the worst possible time. A $200-400 scope tells you its condition before it fails in January.
Other services
