What you are really paying for
A sewer camera inspection is a recorded look inside your main sewer line using a camera on a flexible cable. The price follows the work involved, not a fixed menu. Five things move it most: how easy the line is to enter, how long it runs, whether it must be cleaned first, whether the line needs to be located, and what documentation you want.
This page gives no dollar amounts, because a price quoted without knowing your cleanout would be a guess. It does tell you what to report on the phone so the number you hear is firm. Our sewer camera inspection service works that way, with a clear price before work starts.
The cost drivers, ranked by how much they matter
| Driver | How it changes the cost | What to tell dispatch |
|---|---|---|
| Access to the line | A clear cleanout outside is quick. Entering through a toilet means pulling it, which adds labor | Where the cleanout is, or that you cannot find one. |
| Line length and bends | Longer runs and more turns take more time and cable | Rough distance from the house to the street. |
| Blockage or buildup | A camera cannot see through a clog. Cleaning first is a separate task | Whether the line is draining slowly or backing up now. |
| Locating the line | Marking the pipe's path above ground takes extra equipment and time | Whether you plan to dig or build over the line. |
| Report and recording | A written summary with video costs more effort than a quick look | Whether a buyer, lender, or insurer needs the record. |
| Distance to your address | Travel time can be part of a visit | Your town, so dispatch can plan the trip. |
Want to know what yours would involve?
Call (855) 575-2890 and tell us where your cleanout is.
Three reasons people book, and how each shapes the visit
Buying a house
The goal is a recorded condition report before closing. You want the whole run to the street, the video, and notes on roots, offsets, and cracks.
Repeated backups
The goal is the cause. Expect cleaning first, then the camera, because grease, roots, and a sagging section look different on video.
Planning a project
The goal is the path and depth. Locating the line matters more than the video if you are putting in a patio, a fence, or an addition.
When a cleaning comes before the camera
If the line is clogged, the camera stops at the clog and shows you nothing beyond it. That is why a quote often has two parts, clearing the line and then recording it. A sewer line cleaning pass opens the pipe so the lens can travel the full run.
Ask whether the quote covers the camera alone or the camera plus cleaning. A low number for the camera alone sounds fine until the crew finds a blockage and the job changes. Knowing the split up front keeps the surprise out of it.
Why two quotes for the same house can differ
Two shops can describe the same visit in different words. One quote may include cleaning, a locate, and a written report. Another may cover a short look from the cleanout and nothing else.
Line the quotes up item by item. Ask each shop what happens if the camera hits a blockage at 30 feet, and whether the video runs to the street. The lower number is only the better deal if it covers the same work.
Also ask whether the visit ends with a recommendation. A video with no interpretation leaves you holding footage you cannot read.
What you should walk away with
- A video of the full run, not a clip of the first few feet.
- Notes on what was seen, such as roots, cracks, sags, or a belly that holds water.
- The distance to each problem, measured from the cleanout.
- A plain recommendation: leave it alone, clean it on a schedule, or repair a section.
- A mark on the ground if the line was located.
If a visit leaves out the video, the notes, or a recommendation, you paid for less than the job was worth.
Questions worth asking before you book
- Does the quote include cleaning if the line is blocked?
- Will I get the video and notes after the visit?
- Can you find the line from above ground if I need it marked?
- If a repair is needed, will you say so before any digging price is discussed?
- Who is licensed on the job? You can look any plumber up with the state's license lookup.
If the problem is on the city side of the property line, the camera will not fix it. Ask Public Works who owns which segment before you spend money on a repair. Homes in Willard, about 7 miles south, and Tremonton, about 20 miles north, get the same camera visit, and the distance is worth mentioning when you call.
When the camera is not the first call
If sewage is coming up in a tub or floor drain right now, stop using water and call for emergency help. Clearing the line comes first, and the camera can follow once the line is open.
If the problem is on the city side of the property line, the camera will not fix it. Ask Public Works who owns which segment before you spend money on a repair.
Brigham City note: who to call about the line in the street
Brigham City's water and public works services run through Public Works, reachable at (435) 734-6615. If a camera shows damage close to the property line, ask Public Works which segment is yours before you commit to a repair. The answer decides who pays for the fix.
If a locate leads to digging, Blue Stakes of Utah asks you to call 811 at least 3 business days before excavation, and not more than 14 calendar days. Schedule the call early so a repair is not delayed. Older homes near downtown Main Street may have older lines, and a camera confirms what yours has.
Source type: City Public Works contact page and Blue Stakes of Utah
Frequently Asked Questions
Not directly. Line length, access, and bends matter more than square footage. A small house on a long lateral can take longer than a big house with a short one.
It can, when paired with a locator that marks the pipe's path above ground. Tell dispatch you need the path if you plan to dig, and call 811 first so utility lines are marked.
It is one of the more useful checks you can order, since the sewer line is hidden. Ask dispatch about timing early, because closing dates are tight. The video becomes part of your records.
Ownership depends on where the line sits relative to the property line and the city main. Ask Brigham City Public Works at (435) 734-6615 who owns which segment at your address.
Usually not for the inspection itself. Policies often cover sudden accidental damage but not wear or neglect, so read your policy and ask your agent about sewer backup coverage.
Sources and standards
- Plumbing codes in the UPC and IPC families set the rules for fixtures, venting and drains. Ask the Brigham City building office at (435) 734-6604 which edition and permit rules apply to your job.
- The Utah Division of Professional Licensing offers a public Verify a License tool for checking any plumber's license class.
- Blue Stakes of Utah asks you to call 811 at least 3 business days before any digging so buried lines get marked.
Written by Brigham City Pro Plumbing. Last updated October 29, 2026.