Push-camera inspection of Lakewood’s cast iron drain stacks and clay sewer laterals. Written findings and recorded video. Call (562) 358-3931.
A waterproof push camera inserted into the drain system provides direct visual documentation of what is happening inside the pipe. For Lakewood's original 1950s and 1960s drain systems, this is the most reliable way to determine the actual condition of a cast iron drain stack or clay sewer lateral: whether root intrusion is present and how advanced it is, whether the pipe wall interior is scaled and roughened from decades of MIC corrosion, whether any joint sections are offset or displaced, whether the lateral has any bellied sections holding standing water, and whether any sections have cracked or collapsed. No other diagnostic method provides equivalent specificity about conditions inside the pipe.
Camera inspection is not just a diagnostic tool for active problems. It is also the essential pre-treatment step before CIPP trenchless lining, the standard due-diligence inspection before purchasing an older Lakewood property, and the confirmation step after sewer line repair or replacement to verify that the work was performed correctly and that no conditions were missed. We perform camera inspections as standalone services and as part of larger drain and sewer projects. Written findings with camera recording are provided after every inspection.
Standard home inspections do not assess the condition inside the sewer lateral. For Lakewood homes built before 1970 with no documented lateral replacement history, a camera inspection before purchase is the most reliable way to assess the single largest potential deferred maintenance item in an older property. Root intrusion, bellying, and joint offsets found before purchase can be addressed in negotiations or factored into the purchase decision.
A main line that backs up repeatedly after being cleared by cable snaking has a structural condition that clearing is not resolving. Camera inspection after the clearing reveals what that condition is: root intrusion at clay joints, pipe offset, pipe bellying, or lateral collapse. The camera findings determine whether repair, lining, or replacement is the appropriate next step.
A camera inspection is a required first step before CIPP trenchless lining is proposed for any Lakewood sewer lateral. The inspection confirms the lateral is a lining candidate (no sections with major collapse or displacement that would prevent the liner from seating), identifies root mass or debris that must be removed by hydro jetting before lining, and documents the baseline pipe condition against which the completed lining will be assessed.
A post-repair camera inspection confirms that the repair was completed correctly and that no additional conditions exist in adjacent pipe sections that were not addressed. For trenchless CIPP lining, the post-installation inspection confirms full liner seating throughout the treated section. We include a post-installation camera inspection in the scope of all sewer repair and replacement projects we perform.
Push camera inspection of a Lakewood residential drain system accesses the pipe through the main cleanout, which in Lakewood's original construction is typically located inside the house near the main drain exit point, in the garage, or at a cleanout cap at the base of the main drain stack. If no accessible cleanout is present, the toilet nearest the main stack can be used as an access point after removing the toilet. The camera is advanced through the drain system from the access point toward the city sewer main, with continuous recording of the video feed and pauses at any finding to document the condition.
After the inspection run is complete, we review the recording with you in real time. For significant findings, we capture still images from the recording and include them in a written report that documents each finding with its location in the lateral (by distance from the access point), the nature of the condition (root intrusion, offset joint, crack, belly, scale buildup), and the recommended response. The written report and recording are provided to you as documentation after every inspection, regardless of whether additional work is performed.
Standalone sewer camera inspection in Lakewood costs $200 to $400 depending on scope (lateral only, stack and lateral combined, or extended inspection including multiple branch drains). When performed on the same visit as drain clearing, hydro jetting, or a repair or replacement estimate, the inspection cost is credited toward the service cost. Camera inspection is included in the scope of all CIPP trenchless lining, sewer line repair, and sewer line replacement projects we perform.
A push-camera inspection documents the interior condition of the drain pipe in real time. In Lakewood's original cast iron drain stacks and clay sewer laterals, the camera typically reveals: root intrusion at clay pipe joint gaps, interior scale and corrosion on cast iron pipe walls, offset or displaced joint sections, pipe bellying where the pipe has settled below grade, cracked pipe sections, and grease or debris accumulation. The inspection is recorded and the recording is available as part of the written findings.
Yes, particularly for Lakewood homes built before 1970 with no documented lateral replacement history. The sewer lateral is an expensive repair item that is not visible in a standard home inspection. A push-camera inspection of the lateral from the main cleanout to the city sewer main connection reveals the current condition of the clay pipe and any root intrusion, offsets, or bellying that would require repair or replacement after purchase. The inspection typically costs $200 to $400 and can prevent a $10,000 to $20,000 surprise after closing.
A standard residential push-camera inspection of the main sewer lateral from the interior cleanout to the city sewer main connection takes 30 to 60 minutes for the inspection itself, plus time to review findings with you and provide written documentation. If the main cleanout is accessible and the lateral is unobstructed, the inspection is typically completed in under an hour. For cast iron stack inspections in addition to the lateral, allow 60 to 90 minutes total.
A standalone sewer camera inspection in Lakewood costs $200 to $400 depending on the scope of the inspection (lateral only, stack only, or both) and travel from our Lakewood base. When camera inspection is performed on the same visit as drain clearing or hydro jetting, the inspection cost is credited toward the service cost. When camera inspection precedes a CIPP lining or sewer line repair or replacement estimate, the inspection cost is credited toward the project if you proceed with us.
Licensed and insured plumbing in Lakewood and the SE LA Gateway Cities. Free estimates, upfront pricing.
Call (562) 358-3931