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Service · Sewer

Sewer Camera Inspection — See the Line Before You Dig

Same-day camera work across San Luis Obispo County

Rather than guess at what's happening underground, we run a professional camera the full length of your main line and show you the footage on the spot. You see the roots, the break, or the belly for yourself — and you get the recording and a written summary before we leave, so any repair decision is based on evidence instead of a sales pitch.

CA Lic. #1102487 DIR #2000010117 5.0 · Google Reviews Grover Beach, CA
What The Camera Finds

What We See Inside Central Coast Sewer Lines

Root Intrusion

Roots find the joints in older clay and cast iron lines and keep coming back after every clearing. The camera shows how far in they've grown and whether hydro-jetting will hold or the section needs to be replaced.

Bellies, Offsets, and Breaks

A sagging or separated section traps waste and causes repeat backups no amount of snaking will fix. We locate the exact spot from above ground and mark it, so any excavation is a targeted dig rather than a trench across your yard.

Grease and Scale Buildup

Decades of buildup narrows a 4-inch line to a fraction of its capacity. Seeing the interior tells us whether jetting restores full flow or the pipe wall is already compromised underneath.

Pre-Purchase Lateral Condition

Standard home inspections skip the sewer lateral, and replacing one typically runs $7,000 to $15,000. A camera inspection before closing is the cheapest insurance a buyer can get, and the footage gives you something concrete to negotiate with.

If the camera finds a failed lateral, we repair and replace them too — see sewer line repair.

What You Get

What's Included

Pre-purchase sewer inspections

Know the condition of the lateral before you close

Root intrusion detection

Find where roots are entering the line

Pipe condition reporting

Cracks, bellies, offsets, and scale — documented

Blockage location

Pinpoint the spot instead of guessing

Above-ground locating

We mark the exact spot on the surface so digging stays minimal

Video footage provided

You get the recording and a written summary

Paired with hydro-jetting

Clear the line, then verify it on camera

Repair recommendations

Spot repair, liner, or replacement — explained plainly

Local, Not Regional

Why Homeowners Call MPP for Camera Work

We camera lines every week in Oceano, Arroyo Grande, and San Luis Obispo. You are not calling a regional dispatch center — when you call (805) 788-8444, you reach us.

  • Family-run, father-and-son shop based in Grover Beach
  • You reach us directly at (805) 788-8444 — not a regional dispatch center
  • Upfront pricing before we start, every time
  • 1-year labor warranty on our work
  • Licensed C-36 (CA Lic. #1102487), bonded, and insured
  • Rated 5.0 across 77 Google reviews
Straight Answers

Why should I get a sewer camera inspection before buying a home?

A sewer camera inspection shows the true condition of the lateral — roots, cracks, offsets, bellies, and collapse — before you're legally responsible for it. Sewer line replacement runs into five figures, and a standard home inspection never looks inside the pipe. A $200–$350 camera inspection is the cheapest protection in the entire purchase.

On the Central Coast, many older neighborhoods have clay or Orangeburg laterals at the end of their life. We record the inspection and give you the video file — useful for negotiating repairs into the sale. Call (805) 788-8444 to schedule before your contingency period ends.

Who is responsible for the sewer lateral — me or the city?

In most Central Coast jurisdictions, the homeowner is responsible for the entire lateral from the house to the city main connection — including the portion under the sidewalk and street. The city maintains only the main line itself. Responsibility rules vary slightly by city, so we confirm the local ordinance when we scope your line.

That's exactly why knowing the lateral's condition matters: if it fails, the repair bill — and any required street restoration — is on the property owner. A camera inspection tells you where you stand.

What does a sewer camera inspection actually show?

A high-resolution camera travels the full length of your lateral, showing roots intruding at joints, grease and scale buildup, cracks, separated or offset joints, sagging sections holding water, and any collapse. You watch the footage with us, and we mark depths and distances so any needed repair can be priced precisely.

You receive the recording and a written summary of findings. If the line is clean, you get peace of mind in writing; if it needs work, you get an exact diagnosis instead of a guess. Call (805) 788-8444.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

+ What does a sewer camera inspection show?

The camera shows the inside of your main sewer line in real time. We look for root intrusion, cracks, separated joints, bellies (sagging sections), scale or grease buildup, and any blockages. You watch the footage with us as we go, so you see exactly what we see rather than getting a verbal summary.

+ What happens after the diagnosis?

You get the video recording and a written summary with our findings. If the line is clear, you have documentation for your records. If we find a problem, we explain the repair options — spot repair, hydro-jetting, liner, or replacement — and give you upfront pricing before any work starts. There is no pressure to decide on the spot.

+ How long does a sewer camera inspection take?

Typically 45 minutes to an hour. We run the camera the full length of the lateral, locate any issues, and walk you through the footage before we leave.

+ Do I get the video?

Yes — we send you the footage and a written summary. Buyers and agents use it during due diligence; homeowners keep it for future reference.

+ Can you locate a problem in the yard from above?

Yes — our camera has a transmitter, and we use a locator to mark the exact spot on the surface so digging is precise and minimal.

+ Should I camera-inspect before buying a home?

Yes. Standard home inspections don't include the sewer lateral, and replacing one typically runs $7,000 to $15,000. A camera inspection is the cheapest insurance you can buy before closing.

+ My drain keeps backing up. Is a camera worth it?

If a line clogs more than once, something structural is usually behind it — roots, a belly, or a broken section. The camera tells you which, so you're not paying to clear the same line every few months.

+ Which areas do you cover?

All of San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County from our Grover Beach shop, including Oceano, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Nipomo, and San Luis Obispo.

Book Now

Ready to Get Started?

Call or text (805) 788-8444 — we answer live Monday–Friday 6AM–5PM and monitor after hours for emergency plumbing. Or book online.

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Last updated · Reviewed by Ed Cota, CA C-36 Lic. #1102487