Buying a home, or fighting a recurring backup? We push a high-def camera through your sewer lateral and show you exactly what's down there — roots, cracks, bellies, Orangeburg — with a recorded video, a written report, and a line locate. Same-day, by a licensed plumber.
A pre-purchase sewer scope tells you the true condition of the buried lateral before you close — so a $10,000+ problem doesn't become your problem on day one. You get documented evidence to negotiate a repair, a credit, or your exit, before the inspection contingency expires.
A diagnostic scope finds the cause of a sewer that keeps backing up — roots at a joint, a bellied section, a crack, or a blockage — so you fix the real problem instead of paying to snake it again and again.
We feed a flexible, self-leveling HD camera into your sewer lateral through a cleanout and run it from the house toward the city main, watching live on a monitor. A built-in transmitter lets us locate the exact path and depth of the line and mark the distance to any problem — all without digging.
It's the only way to actually see the condition of a buried pipe, and it turns guesswork into a clear, recorded picture.
Much of Portland's housing predates 1985, plumbed with clay tile, cast iron, or Orangeburg — all near or past their lifespan. Pair that with the city's mature street trees and heavy clay soils, and root intrusion and collapse are common. That's why a sewer scope is practically standard on a Portland home sale.
A scope turns up the problems that hide underground until they flood your basement or kill your home sale.
Roots creeping in at joints and cracks — the #1 cause of backups in Portland's tree-lined neighborhoods.
Sagging low spots that hold waste, and offset or separated joints that catch debris.
Fractures, crushed sections, and full collapse in clay, cast iron, or Orangeburg pipe.
Deteriorating tar-fiber Orangeburg and corroded cast iron that need replacement.
Grease, scale, and debris narrowing the pipe and slowing every drain in the house.
Non-conforming or "party line" connections that can trigger City compliance requirements.
| Standalone sewer scope | $100 – $250 |
| Scope with locate + written report | included |
| Same-day / rush before contingency | available |
Flat price quoted upfront; cost depends mainly on cleanout access and line length. Cheap insurance against a five-figure sewer surprise.
Because we're a licensed plumber — not just an inspector — you don't have to start over with another company. Based on what the camera shows, we'll recommend and perform the right fix:
A camera shows the inside of the main lateral — but it won't see branch lines, can't pass a full blockage (we may need to clear it first), and isn't a definitive leak test — a suspected hidden or under-slab leak needs a hydrostatic or electronic leak test. We'll tell you honestly what the scope can and can't confirm.
Same-day and next-day sewer scopes across Portland — recorded video, written report, and a licensed plumber who can fix what we find. Beat your inspection deadline.
From the first call to a clean finish, our licensed Portland plumbers handle sewer camera inspection with upfront, flat-rate pricing and no overtime fees — day, night, weekends and holidays.
Call (971) 386-1515Buying soon? Ask about a rush scope before your contingency expires.
A standalone sewer scope typically runs about $100–$250 in the metro, depending on cleanout access and line length. We give you the flat price upfront — cheap insurance before buying a home or chasing a recurring backup.
Yes — for any home roughly 20-plus years old or built before ~1985. Portland's older clay, cast-iron, and Orangeburg laterals plus big street trees make root damage and collapse common. It's worth it even on new builds for installation defects.
Root intrusion, cracks and breaks, bellies (low spots that hold waste), offset joints, deteriorating Orangeburg and clay pipe, scale and grease buildup, blockages, and illegal or non-conforming connections.
Usually 30 to 60 minutes, occasionally up to one to two hours with poor access. You can watch the live video, and we explain what we see in plain language.
A recorded video, a written report with a clear pass/fail and findings, and a line locate marking the pipe's path, depth, and distance to any defect — everything you need to decide or negotiate.
No — standard home inspections exclude the underground sewer line. A scope is a separate add-on, and the only way to see the buried lateral's condition before you buy.
Yes — it's non-invasive. We feed a flexible HD camera through the cleanout; no digging, no pressure on the pipe, so it's safe even for fragile old clay or Orangeburg.
You get documented video and a report to negotiate a sale — and because we're a licensed plumber, we can quote and perform the fix, from jetting roots to lining or replacing the pipe.
It shows visible cracks and breaks, but isn't a definitive leak test. A suspected hidden or under-slab leak is confirmed with a hydrostatic or electronic leak test, which we also provide.
Yes — same-day and next-day scoping across the metro, including before an inspection-contingency deadline on a home purchase. Call and we'll get you scheduled fast.