Specialized diagnostics · D-03
Subsurface HD Sewer Scope Inspection
A high-definition camera inspection of the main sewer line from the house to the street, coordinated with a specialized partner — the one system a standard inspection can't see.
Specialized diagnostics · D-03
A high-definition camera inspection of the main sewer line from the house to the street, coordinated with a specialized partner — the one system a standard inspection can't see.
Overview
The main sewer line runs underground, out of sight. Roots, breaks and sagging pipe rarely show symptoms until there is a backup — and replacement can run well into five figures.
Our specialized sewer inspection partner runs a camera through the line from an accessible cleanout, records the full length and notes each observed defect with its distance from the access point.
See what a Caliber report looks likeMethod
HD push camera through an accessible cleanout
Coverage
Main lateral to the city connection or septic tank
Best for
Homes over 20 years old or with mature trees
Deliverable
Recorded video and annotated findings
Pairs with
Pre-purchase home inspection
Why this evaluation matters
A standard home inspection is strictly limited to visible, readily accessible interior plumbing fixtures and exposed piping. While we run sinks, tubs, and toilets inside the home, the buried main sewer lateral running from the foundation out to the municipal street connection is underground and completely invisible from above ground.
A partially collapsed or root-choked sewer line can easily hold 30 gallons of water during a normal inspection, only to back raw sewage into the basement once daily family laundry, dishwasher, and shower loads begin.
Older Homes: Clay tile, cast iron, and deteriorated fiber/Orangeburg pipes routinely crack, rust through, or suffer aggressive tree root intrusion.
Newer & New-Construction Homes: Heavy grading equipment can compress buried PVC sewer lines during construction, creating “bellies” (low spots that trap waste) or offset joints before the home is ever occupied.
The Cost of Skipping: Excavating a yard, driveway, or street connection to replace a failed sewer main runs $8,000 to $25,000+—and buried sewer laterals are excluded from standard homeowners insurance policies.
By feeding a high-definition fiber-optic camera through an existing, accessible cleanout, our specialized sewer inspection partner evaluates the interior condition of the lateral without digging.
(Requires a readily accessible, unobstructed cleanout; septic tanks and private disposal fields are excluded).
Scope
Each defect is located by distance from the access point.
Roots entering through joints and cracks.
Fractured pipe that leaks or lets soil in.
Low sections where waste and water collect.
Separated or shifted pipe sections.
Sections that have partly or fully failed.
Identification of clay, cast iron, PVC or Orangeburg pipe.
Recorded evidence
You receive the recorded video alongside the written findings, ready to share with a plumber for quotes.
Full-length recorded video
Defects located by distance
Pipe material identified
Recommendation for each finding
We recommend it for homes over 20 years old, homes with mature trees and any home with a history of backups.
We will tell you before the visit. Access can sometimes be made through a roof vent or by removing a toilet, at the inspector's discretion.
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