Sewer Camera Inspection Services
Professional Sewer Camera Inspections for Accurate Diagnostics
A sewer camera inspection, also known as a CCTV pipe inspection or video pipe inspection, is one of the most accurate ways to diagnose hidden problems inside drain and sewer lines without excavation.
Using advanced video inspection technology, Total Drain Solutions can identify blockages, corrosion, root intrusion, cracks, collapsed pipes, bellied lines, and structural defects in real time.
Total Drain Solutions provides professional sewer camera inspection services for residential, commercial, condo, HOA, restaurant, and multi-unit properties throughout Florida and Nevada. We inspect first, explain the findings clearly, and recommend cleaning or repair based on the actual condition of the pipe.
Need a Second Opinion Before Major Sewer or Drain Work?
If another contractor has recommended pipe lining, sewer replacement, excavation, or another major repair, Total Drain Solutions can provide a professional second opinion before you approve the work.
Our team uses sewer camera inspection and video pipe inspection technology to document the actual condition of the line. This helps determine whether the proposed repair matches what is happening inside the pipe and whether a less invasive option may be appropriate.
A second-opinion inspection may be helpful if you:
- Received an expensive sewer repair or pipe lining estimate
- Were told that the entire sewer line must be replaced
- Want confirmation that the pipe is suitable for CIPP lining
- Are unsure whether recurring clogs are caused by buildup or structural damage
- Need documentation for a property manager, HOA, real estate transaction, or insurance discussion
- Want to compare cleaning, lining, repair, and replacement options before deciding
After the inspection, we review the footage and explain the findings in clear language. Depending on the condition of the line, the right next step may include drain cleaning, hydro jetting, mechanical cleaning, trenchless pipe lining, trenchless sewer repair, targeted replacement, ongoing monitoring, or no major repair at this time.
Our goal is to provide clear evidence before a property owner commits to costly sewer or drain work.
Sewer Camera Inspection Services in Your Area
Total Drain Solutions provides sewer camera inspection services for homes, businesses, restaurants, commercial properties, condos, and multi-unit buildings across our service areas.
Our local sewer camera inspection service areas include:
For Florida properties dealing with recurring clogs, slow drains, sewer odors, or suspected underground pipe damage, visit our local sewer camera inspection in Sarasota page. We may also recommend Sarasota drain cleaning, Sarasota hydro jetting, or Sarasota trenchless pipe lining, depending on what the inspection reveals. We cover many cities, including Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
How Sewer Camera and CCTV Pipe Inspections Work
During a CCTV pipe inspection, a small waterproof camera is inserted into the sewer or drain line to capture real-time video footage. This allows our team to inspect the inside of the pipe before recommending drain cleaning, hydro jetting, trenchless repair, or pipe lining.
Our process begins by inserting a high-definition camera through an existing cleanout or access point. As the camera moves through the line, it allows us to:
- Locate hidden drain clogs
- Identify corrosion or pipe scaling
- Detect root intrusion
- Find cracks, leaks, and collapsed sections
- Identify misaligned or sagging drain lines
- Check for grease, sludge, and debris buildup
After the inspection, we review the footage and explain the most effective next step based on the condition of the line.
What You Receive After a Sewer Camera Inspection
A professional sewer camera inspection should provide more than a quick look inside the pipe. After the inspection, Total Drain Solutions reviews the footage and explains what was found in clear, practical language.
Depending on the system and inspection scope, the findings may help identify:
- The location of clogs, grease, scale, roots, cracks, or corrosion
- Whether the problem is isolated or affects multiple pipe sections
- The condition of cast iron, clay, PVC, concrete, or other piping
- Whether the pipe appears suitable for trenchless pipe lining
- Whether cleaning, repair, monitoring, or replacement should be considered
- Which areas require immediate attention
- Which sections may be monitored or addressed during a later phase
- Whether branch lines, cleanouts, drain stacks, or connected pipes require additional inspection
For residential, commercial, condo, HOA, restaurant, and multi-unit properties, inspection findings can also support maintenance planning, repair budgeting, second-opinion evaluations, real estate decisions, and discussions with property managers or insurance representatives.
Our team does not simply provide camera footage without context. We explain what the footage shows, what the findings may mean, and which next steps are reasonable based on the actual condition of the drain or sewer system.
A Full-System Evaluation, Not Just the Problem Area
A slow drain, recurring backup, or sewer odor may appear to come from one fixture, but the underlying issue can involve another section of the drainage system.
When access and system layout allow, Total Drain Solutions looks beyond the most obvious symptom to determine whether the problem is isolated or connected to a larger issue involving the main sewer line, branch lines, drain stacks, cleanouts, or aging underground piping.
A broader sewer and drain evaluation may help identify:
- Multiple damaged or deteriorating pipe sections
- Problems affecting both main lines and connected branches
- Aging cast iron pipes that should be monitored
- Blockages or damage inside shared commercial or multi-unit systems
- Sections that require immediate repair
- Areas that can be maintained or monitored
- Opportunities to coordinate cleaning, pipe lining, or targeted repair
- Whether the property would benefit from a long-term maintenance plan
Not every problem needs to be repaired at the same time. Based on the inspection findings, our team can explain which issues appear most urgent, which areas may be addressed later, and whether the work can be completed in practical phases.
This system-level approach is especially helpful for condos, HOAs, restaurants, commercial facilities, multi-unit buildings, and properties with aging sewer and drain infrastructure.
When a Sewer Camera Inspection Is Recommended
Camera inspections are often recommended:
-
Before performing hydro jetting
-
Prior to trenchless sewer repair
-
When recurring backups occur
-
Before purchasing property
-
For preventative maintenance planning
-
For commercial or multi-unit properties
- When multiple drains are affected
- When the same blockage keeps returning
- When evaluating aging cast iron piping
- Before planning repairs across a condo, HOA, or commercial property
- When determining whether repairs can be completed in phases
In many cases, a camera inspection helps determine whether cleaning or structural repair is required.
How Inspection Findings Become a Repair Plan
After the sewer camera inspection, Total Drain Solutions reviews the footage and explains what was found, where the problem is located, and how serious it appears to be.
We do not automatically recommend the largest or most expensive repair. The appropriate next step depends on the pipe condition, the cause of the problem, and whether the issue affects one section or a larger part of the drainage system.
Depending on the findings, we may recommend:
- Drain cleaning for an isolated blockage
- Hydro jetting for grease, sludge, scale, roots, or heavy buildup
- Mechanical cleaning for hardened buildup or deteriorated cast iron
- Ongoing monitoring when aging pipe does not require immediate repair
- Trenchless pipe lining when the existing line can support a liner
- Trenchless sewer repair for more significant damage
- Targeted replacement when lining is not appropriate
- A phased repair plan when multiple sections need attention
- No major repair when the inspection does not show structural damage
For larger residential, commercial, condo, HOA, restaurant, and multi-unit systems, the findings can help identify which sections should be addressed first and which work may be planned for a later phase.
Our team can also explain how the recommended work may affect floors, landscaping, driveways, tenants, residents, or business operations. When needed, inspection findings may support communication with property managers, board members, contractors, real estate professionals, or insurance representatives.
The goal is to turn the camera footage into a clear and practical plan—not leave the property owner with a video they do not understand.
Benefits of Sewer Camera Inspections
-
Accurate diagnostics without digging
-
Prevents unnecessary repairs
-
Confirms pipe condition before trenchless work
-
Identifies small issues before they escalate
-
Provides video documentation for insurance or property records
-
Reduces trial-and-error plumbing work
This technology saves time, protects landscaping, and ensures long-term plumbing performance.
Common Problems Found During Sewer Camera Inspections
Sewer camera inspections frequently uncover:
Many of these issues can be resolved through targeted cleaning or trenchless rehabilitation.
Sewer Camera Inspection FAQs
A sewer camera inspection uses a waterproof video camera to inspect the inside of a drain or sewer line. It helps identify clogs, roots, corrosion, cracks, collapsed sections, bellied lines, and other hidden pipe problems without digging.
Yes. A sewer camera inspection can help prevent unnecessary repairs by showing the exact cause and location of the problem. It is especially useful for recurring clogs, sewer backups, older pipes, property inspections, and issues that keep coming back after cleaning.
Yes. A sewer camera can help locate blockages caused by grease, sludge, roots, debris, foreign objects, pipe corrosion, or damaged sections of the line. It can also show whether the issue requires drain cleaning, hydro jetting, or repair.
A CCTV pipe inspection is another name for a sewer camera inspection or video pipe inspection. It uses camera technology to record and inspect the inside of a pipe so technicians can diagnose the condition of the line.
The cost of a drain camera inspection depends on the accessibility of the line, the complexity of the plumbing system, and the reason for the inspection. Total Drain Solutions can evaluate the situation and provide clear pricing before beginning work.
Yes. A sewer camera inspection is usually needed before trenchless repair or pipe lining. It helps confirm the condition of the pipe, locate the damage, and determine whether the line is a good candidate for trenchless pipe lining or another repair method.
A sewer inspection diagnoses the condition of the pipe using a camera. Drain cleaning removes clogs and buildup from the line. In many cases, a camera inspection is used first to determine whether drain cleaning, hydro jetting, or repair is the right next step.
Yes. Total Drain Solutions can inspect the sewer or drain line and provide an independent assessment before you approve pipe lining, excavation, replacement, or another major repair. We review the camera footage and explain whether the proposed work appears appropriate for the condition of the pipe.
The inspection scope depends on the available access points and the layout of the drainage system. When appropriate, our team can inspect the main line, connected branches, cleanouts, drain stacks, or shared piping to determine whether the visible problem is isolated or part of a larger system issue.
Yes. Camera footage can help identify which sections appear most urgent, which areas may be monitored, and whether repairs can be completed in phases. This can be especially useful for commercial properties, condos, HOAs, and multi-unit buildings.
Yes. A camera inspection may help identify visible concerns with an existing liner, including folds, restrictions, separation, damage, or areas that may require further evaluation. The inspection can help determine whether additional testing, cleaning, repair, or specialist review is appropriate.
Inspection findings and available documentation may help support maintenance planning, repair proposals, property evaluations, HOA discussions, and insurance-related conversations. The exact documentation provided depends on the inspection scope and project requirements.
Yes. The inspection can help determine whether the problem is primarily caused by grease, sludge, scale, roots, or another blockage that may respond to cleaning, or whether cracks, corrosion, collapse, separation, or other structural damage requires repair.
Yes. A sewer inspection may reveal hidden clogs, root intrusion, corrosion, damaged piping, or other underground problems that may not be visible during a standard property inspection.
If the footage does not show significant structural damage, our team may recommend cleaning, monitoring, maintenance, or no immediate repair. The purpose of the inspection is to identify the correct next step, not automatically sell a major project.
If you're dealing with slow drains, gurgling pipes, or frequent backups, explore our full range of plumbing and drain services.
Schedule Service
Our Services
Who Benefits From a Sewer Video Inspection?
A sewer camera inspection is most useful when symptoms keep returning, the cause of a drainage problem is unclear, or significant cleaning or repair work is being considered.
Property owners and managers may benefit from an inspection when:
- Multiple drains are slow or backing up
- A blockage returns after drain cleaning
- Sewer odors or gurgling continue without a clear cause
- Aging cast iron, clay, concrete, or underground piping is present
- Tree roots or structural pipe damage are suspected
- Another contractor has recommended lining, excavation, or replacement
- A property is being purchased or sold
- A condo, HOA, restaurant, or commercial building needs maintenance planning
- An existing pipe liner needs to be inspected
- Repair work needs to be prioritized across multiple pipe sections
Routine or periodic inspections may also be appropriate for certain older, commercial, multi-unit, or high-use drainage systems. The right inspection frequency depends on the age, condition, use, and repair history of the system.
Not every slow drain requires a camera inspection. A simple, isolated clog may only need standard drain cleaning. Video inspection becomes especially valuable when problems are recurring, widespread, structural, or difficult to diagnose.
Schedule a Professional Sewer Camera Inspection
Recurring clogs, slow drains, sewer odors, backups, and conflicting repair recommendations can all point to a deeper problem inside the drainage system.
Total Drain Solutions provides professional sewer camera inspections for residential, commercial, condo, HOA, restaurant, and multi-unit properties throughout Florida and Nevada.
Our team will inspect the line, review the footage, explain the findings, and help determine whether the appropriate next step is cleaning, monitoring, trenchless repair, pipe lining, targeted replacement, or no major repair at this time.
Schedule service today to get clear evidence and a practical plan for your drain or sewer system.