Sewer camera inspection in Ventura

A sewer camera inspection is a video recording of the inside of a drain or sewer line, made by pushing a waterproof camera on a flexible cable through the pipe. It shows exactly where roots, cracks, sags and blockages are, and how deep the pipe sits at each point.

When you need a sewer camera inspection

• Recurring clogs. The main line backs up again within months of a cleaning.
• Selling a Ventura home. The city's private sewer lateral inspection requires a video inspection before close of escrow.
• Buying an older home. A 1950s clay lateral can hide a costly repair that a general home inspection doesn't cover.
• Before a remodel that adds a bathroom or moves drains.
• To check a repair quote before committing to a full replacement.

What the camera finds

The camera records the pipe material, joints, and every defect along the line. We note each defect with its distance from the cleanout, using the codes on the City of Ventura's inspection report.

• Roots, graded by how much of the pipe they fill (25, 50 or 75 percent).
• Cracks, fractures and broken sections.
• Offset joints and sags (bellies).
• Infiltration, out-of-round pipe and changes in pipe material.
• Grease, scale and foreign objects.

How a camera inspection works

1. Access the line through a cleanout, roof vent or a toilet pulled from the floor.
2. Clear it if needed. We open a heavy blockage first so the camera can pass.
3. Record the full length from the house to the city main, with distance shown on screen.
4. Locate defects from above. A transmitter in the camera head lets us mark the spot and depth on the ground.
5. Review the video with you and send you the recording and a written summary.

How pricing works

Every job is different, so the cost depends on the type of work and what the job requires. We look at the problem first, explain your options, and confirm the price with you before any work starts.

Camera inspection questions