A sewer camera inspection sends a waterproof camera on a push cable through your drain or sewer lateral so a plumber can see cracks, roots, sags and blockages and measure where they are. It turns guesswork into recorded footage before you pay for repairs or close on a house. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in San Diego.
Good times to run a camera
- Before buying a home, especially one built before 1980
- After the main line has backed up more than once
- Before jetting an older or unfamiliar line
- When a contractor recommends replacement and you want proof
- After a repair, to confirm the work and keep a record
- When a remodel will tie new fixtures into an old drain
Why buyers in San Diego ask for it
The median San Diego home was built around 1979, and roughly half the housing stock is older than that. Older communities around Balboa Park such as Hillcrest and North Park can have cast iron drains and older sewer laterals. A standard home inspection usually stops at running water through the fixtures, which says little about the pipe under the yard. A short video can change how you negotiate.
How the inspection works
The plumber enters through a cleanout, or pulls a toilet or roof vent if there is no cleanout. The camera head carries lights and a transmitter, and a counter on the reel tracks distance. When a defect appears, a handheld locator above ground picks up the transmitter so the spot and its depth can be marked. If the line is clogged, it may need to be cleared first so the camera can get through and see the pipe wall.
What the footage can show
| Finding | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Roots at joints | Gaps the roots grew through; expect them back after cutting |
| Standing water in a section | A belly or sag where waste settles |
| Offset joints | Pipe sections that shifted, often from soil movement |
| Flaking or rough cast iron | Corrosion and scale narrowing the pipe |
| Cracks or missing pipe | Repair or replacement territory |
Whose side the problem is on
San Diego homeowners repair the sewer lateral between the house and the property line, and the City operates the public mains. Footage that pinpoints the distance to a defect helps show which side it is on. If it is beyond the property line, the plumber files a Plumber's Report with the City's Sewer Emergency Line.
Cost and what to ask for
Price depends on access, line length, whether the line must be cleared first, and whether locating and a recorded copy are included. Ask for the video file and a written summary with distances.
Sewer Camera Inspection questions from San Diego homeowners
Should I get a sewer camera inspection before buying a San Diego house?
What if my house has no cleanout?
Can the camera tell whether a problem is on the City side?
Do I get to keep the video?
Related plumbing services in San Diego
Sewer Camera Inspection in nearby cities and towns
San Diego County
Sources
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