What a sewer camera inspection is, and who needs one
A sewer camera inspection pushes a small waterproof camera down your drain line and records what it sees, so you can look at the pipe instead of guessing. It answers a plain question: is the line sound, or is something wrong in the dirt you cannot see?
Most calls come from a few situations. A drain keeps clogging, a buyer wants proof before closing, a seller wants to disclose what is true, or a contractor needs to know where the line runs before digging. Our licensed plumbers book these as planned visits, and same-day appointments are available when the schedule allows.
Reading the video: what each finding looks like
| Finding | On screen | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Roots | Fibrous mat entering at a joint | Clean the line, then decide on repair. |
| Belly or sag | Standing water in a low section | Monitor, clean regularly or repair. |
| Crack or break | A dark line or a gap in the pipe wall | Spot repair or lining. |
| Offset joint | Two pipe ends that do not meet | Repair at that joint. |
| Grease or scale | Rough, coated walls | Jetting. |
| Clean, sound pipe | Smooth wall, steady flow | Nothing to fix. Keep the video. |
We stop on each finding, note the footage position and explain it in ordinary words. A clean report is a real result, not a failed sale. It means the clogs you have are coming from somewhere else, such as the fixture side.
Buying or selling a house in Brigham City
A sewer line cannot be seen during a normal walk-through, and the problems that matter, roots, sags and breaks, sit under the lawn. A camera inspection before closing turns an unknown into a recorded fact you can use in negotiation. We do not assume anything about the age of a given house, because the video shows what the pipe actually is.
If you are selling, a recorded inspection lets you answer questions with evidence. Ask your real estate agent how it fits your contract. Our team can put the findings in plain words, but the contract decisions belong to you and your agent.
Closing on a house soon?
Ask about a recorded inspection before the paperwork deadline.
Do you have the equipment? A plain answer
Callers often ask this first, and they are right to. We use a push camera on a flexible rod with a lit head, a recorder that saves the footage and a locating receiver that picks up a signal from the camera head. That combination lets us see the pipe, save the video and mark the position above ground.
The camera cannot see through standing water or heavy buildup. If the line is partly full, we may clear it first with a cable or hydro jetting, then re-run the camera. We say so before work starts.
Locating the line and marking the spot
- Insert the camera
We enter through a cleanout, a pulled toilet or another access point.
- Follow the pipe
The camera advances while the locator tracks the signal at the surface.
- Mark depth and position
We paint or flag the ground at the problem and note how deep the pipe lies.
- Call 811 before digging
Blue Stakes of Utah asks for a call to 811 at least 3 business days before excavation. Plan any dig around that.
Locating helps even without a problem. Knowing where the line runs keeps a fence post, a new patio or a tree from landing on top of it.
What affects the price of an inspection
Access
A cleanout makes it quick. Pulling a toilet adds steps.
Length of line
A longer run takes more time and cable.
Cleaning first
Standing water or heavy buildup may need clearing before the camera passes.
Locating
Marking position and depth is added work.
Report and video
Tell us if a buyer, seller or lender needs a copy.
Homeowners insurance usually does not pay for an inspection that is requested for curiosity or a sale. If the camera finds a sudden accidental failure, ask your agent what applies. Want your real number? Call (855) 575-2890, and you get a clear price before work starts.
After the video: what happens next
You choose. If the pipe is clean, you are done and you keep the video. If it needs cleaning, we can do sewer line cleaning on the same visit or another day. If the pipe is broken, we outline the repair options in sewer line repair terms and give you the price before work starts.
A sewer inspection looks at drain pipe only. If the house also has leaking or low-pressure supply lines, that is a different question, and repiping has its own diagnosis and its own price.
Willard, Brigham City and the question of city sewer
Not every property in the area is on a city sewer. If you live in or near Willard, about 7 miles south, ask Willard City whether your address is on city sewer before booking, since a septic system calls for different service. In Brigham City, Public Works at (435) 734-6615 can tell you where the public main begins.
A camera can only inspect the private line. It does not enter the city main, so call Public Works if the video points to the connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We record the video and note the footage position of every finding, so you can show it to an agent, lender or other contractor.
It depends on the length of the line, the access and what the camera meets. A clear line is quick. A line that needs cleaning first takes longer.
Yes, with the locating receiver. We mark position and depth, then you call 811 before digging.
For many buyers, yes, since the sewer line is hidden and costly to fix. The video gives you facts. We do not assume an age or material, because the camera shows the actual pipe.
Then you have a clean record for your file, and we look at fixtures and branch lines for the cause of any clog.
No. We inspect your private line. For the public main, call Brigham City Public Works at (435) 734-6615.
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.