Stop guessing. Start knowing.
When a drain backs up, there are at least a half-dozen possible causes: a simple clog, root intrusion, a bellied pipe, a joint that’s shifted, heavy scale narrowing the bore, or a section that’s partially collapsed. Each one has a different fix at a different price point. Without a camera, you’re guessing.
A sewer camera inspection eliminates the guesswork. We feed a waterproof, high-resolution camera on a flexible fiberglass cable through your cleanout or a pulled fixture, and watch live footage on a monitor — together with you. What we see is what’s there.
What we’re looking for
Root intrusion. Tree roots are drawn to the warm, moist air that seeps from sewer pipe joints. Once inside, they grow into dense mats that trap solids and eventually block the line entirely. Camera footage shows exactly where roots have entered, how advanced the intrusion is, and whether the pipe joint itself has been damaged by root growth. Las Vegas neighborhoods with mature landscaping — Summerlin, Green Valley, Spring Valley, and older Henderson tracts — have higher rates of root intrusion than newer developments.
Pipe bellies. A belly is a low spot in the sewer line where the pipe has settled and lost its downward pitch. Solids settle in the belly instead of draining out, causing recurring backups that a snake temporarily clears but can never fix. Bellies are especially common in Las Vegas because of unstable desert soil, the vibration from nearby construction, and — in older homes — ground movement related to post-tension slab foundations. Camera inspection locates the belly precisely so repair can be planned without unnecessary excavation.
Cast-iron deterioration. Las Vegas homes built before roughly 2000 were often plumbed with cast-iron sewer lines. Cast iron has a long service life, but hard water accelerates internal corrosion, and decades of use leave pipes with pitted, roughened walls that collect buildup faster than smooth PVC. On camera, severely corroded cast iron has a cratered, flaking interior — a sign that the pipe’s remaining service life is limited and trenchless lining or replacement should be on the planning horizon.
Offset joints and cracks. Ground movement, improper bedding during original installation, and root pressure all cause pipe joints to shift and separate. A camera shows offset joints, cracks, and collapsed sections that would never be found by symptom alone.
Locating included — no extra charge
When we find a problem, we also locate it. Our camera system tracks the head’s depth and distance from the access point. We mark the surface directly above the issue — with a flag or spray paint — so any excavation for a repair is targeted within inches rather than requiring a wide trench. That precision saves significant labor cost in any repair that follows.
If the inspection reveals a problem that calls for hydro jetting, sewer line repair, or trenchless sewer repair, we credit the inspection fee toward that work. You’re not paying twice for a diagnosis.