Sewer Camera Inspection & Sewer Scope in Fort Collins

When to get a camera inspection

• You are buying a home. A sewer repair is one of the most expensive surprises a new owner can get, and it is rarely covered by a standard home inspection.
• Clogs keep coming back after the line is snaked.
• Several drains are slow or gurgling at the same time.
• You have had a backup, and want to know why before it happens again.
• You are planning a remodel, a new driveway or a patio over the line. It is far cheaper to fix the pipe before the concrete goes in.
• The house was built before 1980. About 31% of Fort Collins homes and 34% of Loveland homes were (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year estimates), and many still have their original clay, cast iron or fiber sewer lines.
• After root cutting or jetting, to confirm the line is clear and to see the condition of the pipe underneath.

Pre-purchase sewer scopes

A sewer scope during your inspection period costs a small fraction of what a failed line costs to fix, and it gives you something concrete to negotiate with.

Older homes in established neighborhoods are the obvious candidates: original clay joints, mature trees and decades of use.

Newer homes are worth scoping too. Northern Colorado has built a lot of housing recently: more than half the homes in Timnath, Severance, Berthoud and Wellington were built in 2010 or later (ACS 2024 5-year). New lines can still have construction debris, poorly compacted backfill that has settled into a sag, or damage from landscaping and fence installs.

If the scope finds a problem, you get the video and a written description you can share with the seller and their agent, plus a repair quote if you want one.

How the inspection works

We access the line through an outdoor or basement cleanout. If there is no cleanout, we can usually go in through a toilet flange, and we will tell you whether adding a cleanout makes sense. The camera is pushed down the line to the main while we watch and record. A locator in the camera head lets us mark the line’s route and depth on the ground. Most residential inspections take about an hour.

Sewer camera inspection FAQ

Is a sewer scope worth it when buying a house?

Yes, in our view. It costs a small fraction of a sewer repair, it is not part of a standard home inspection, and it gives you leverage if the line needs work.

How long does a sewer camera inspection take?

Usually about an hour for a typical home, longer if the line needs clearing first.

Can the camera tell where the problem is underground?

Yes. A locator transmitter in the camera head lets us mark the exact spot and depth on the surface, so any digging is a small, targeted hole.

What if my house does not have a cleanout?

We can usually inspect through a toilet flange. If you will need regular access, adding an outdoor cleanout is a worthwhile upgrade.

Will the inspection fix my clog?

The camera finds the cause. If the line is blocked, it may need hydro jetting or root cutting first, and we will price that before we start.