Sewer Camera Inspection in Greeley, CO

Want to know what’s really going on inside your sewer line? A sewer camera inspection in Greeley shows the pipe from the inside, so you can see roots, cracks or a sag with your own eyes before anyone quotes a repair. Call SewerProof Greeley to talk to a local sewer pro about a camera check.

Talk to a local sewer pro

See inside your sewer line

Tell us what’s happening. A local pro will explain what a camera check covers and what it costs.

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What is a sewer camera inspection?

A sewer camera inspection is a video check of the pipe that carries waste from your house to the City sewer. A small waterproof camera on a long cable is pushed into the line, usually through the cleanout. You watch the inside of the pipe on a screen while a counter shows how far the camera has gone. It’s also how a pro checks for a cracked line behind a sewer smell in the house.

What a sewer camera inspection shows along your lineA camera goes into the sewer service line through the cleanout. A counter tracks how many feet it has traveled, so each problem is recorded with its distance: roots at a joint, a low spot holding water, and an offset joint. Your service line runs from the house to the tap on the City main. The City inspects its own main lines.Your homeCleanoutCamera head22 ft: roots at a joint41 ft: low spot holding water(water can hide the pipe floor)58 ft: offset jointCitymainTap on the mainYour service line (yours to maintain)City’s jobDistance counter records each spot

It’s also called a sewer scope, a sewer line inspection, a drain camera inspection or a video camera inspection. They’re all the same service. Because every problem is recorded with its distance, a sewer pro can tell you where it is and, with a locator, how deep the pipe sits. That’s what makes a small, targeted repair possible.

On this page 11 sections
  1. When should you get a sewer scope in Greeley?
  2. What does a sewer camera inspection show?
  3. Your home’s age and what the camera often finds
  4. Your line or the City’s?
  5. How a sewer inspection in Greeley works, step by step
  6. Example of camera inspection findings
  7. Buying a home? Scope before your deadline
  8. How much does a sewer camera inspection cost in Greeley?
  9. After the inspection: what comes next
  10. Questions to ask before a camera inspection
  11. Frequently asked questions

When should you get a sewer scope in Greeley?

These are the most common reasons homeowners and buyers book a sewer scope inspection in Greeley:

  • Before you buy a home A standard home inspection usually doesn’t include the sewer line. A scope is ordered on its own, often on the same visit.
  • Clogs that keep coming back If the main line has been cleared and backs up again, something in the pipe is catching waste.
  • Several slow drains at once When the tub, sinks and floor drain all slow down together, the problem is usually in the main line.
  • Big trees in the yard Cottonwoods, willows and silver maples send roots toward any leaking joint.
  • After a sewage backup A camera shows what caused it, so the same thing doesn’t happen next month.
  • Before a remodel or new build warranty ends Check the line before new floors go in, or before a builder’s warranty runs out.

How often should you scope your line? There’s no fixed rule. Many inspectors suggest a check every few years for older lines or yards with big trees, and right away after any backup.

What does a sewer camera inspection show?

The camera shows the inside of the pipe as it really is. These are the problems it finds most often:

  • Roots at the joints Fine roots slip in at leaking joints and grow into a mat. See how tree roots in a sewer line are handled.
  • Cracks and breaks A crack or broken section in one place can often be fixed with a spot repair.
  • A belly (low spot) A sunken section holds water and waste. Learn how a sewer line belly is judged.
  • Offset joints Two pipe ends that have shifted out of line give paper and waste something to catch on.
  • Flattened or collapsed pipe Old fiber pipe can squash out of round. A failing line may need a new sewer line.
  • Grease, scale and buildup Buildup narrows the pipe and causes slow drains. A clogged main line is usually cleared first.

It also shows where your line meets the City main, so you know which side the problem is on before you pay for anything.

Your home’s age and what the camera often finds

The age of your house says a lot about what kind of pipe is underground. These are general patterns, not rules:

Home built

Common sewer pipe

What a scope often shows

Before about 1950

Clay

Roots at joints, cracked or shifted sections

About 1945 to 1973

Orangeburg fiber pipe in some homes, plus clay and cast iron

Pipe flattening at the bottom, roots, collapse

Through the 1960s and early 1970s

Cast iron

Rust and scale inside, cracks along the bottom

1980s and newer

PVC

Usually sound pipe; sags, offset joints or construction debris

Greeley has homes from many decades, so the pipe under any one house could be anything in this table. New sewer service lines in Greeley today are PVC SDR 35.

Your line or the City’s?

The City of Greeley maintains about 390 miles of sewer pipeline and 11 pump stations. City crews check the public system with their own camera equipment and clean it every 18 to 20 months. Rules differ by town; our Johnstown sewer repair guide covers who owns the line there, plus new-build backups and builder warranties.

The service line from your house to the main is yours to maintain, so the City doesn’t scope it for you. A camera sewer inspection in Greeley, CO shows your whole line and where it meets the main. If the problem is in the main, call the City’s sewer line, listed on its website.

Who pays for what

  • Your side: the service line from the house to the tap on the main
  • City side: the public sewer main in the street
  • Not sure? The camera footage and distance show where the problem sits
  • Read our homeowner section on who pays

Want to see inside your line?

Call and ask for a camera check. A local sewer pro can explain what they’ll look for and what it costs before anyone comes out.

How a sewer inspection in Greeley works, step by step

  • 1 Find the access point. Most inspections start at the cleanout, a capped pipe outside or in the basement.
  • 2 Clear the line if it’s blocked. A camera can’t get past a full clog, so a badly backed-up line is cleared first.
  • 3 Run the camera. The camera is pushed slowly down the line while a counter tracks the distance.
  • 4 Locate problem spots. A transmitter in the camera head, often called a sonde, sends a signal. A handheld locator finds it through the ground, so the spot and depth can be marked. Pros call this camera locating.
  • 5 Review the footage together. You watch the video, see each problem and ask questions before any repair is discussed.
Sewer camera inspection in Greeley: technician watching the camera feed on a cable reel
The camera feed shows the inside of the pipe while a counter tracks the distance.

Most inspections take about 15 minutes to an hour, depending on access and what the camera finds.

No cleanout? Here’s what that means

Without a cleanout, the camera usually goes in through the lowest toilet. The toilet is pulled, the line is checked, and the toilet is reset on a new wax ring. It works, but it takes longer, costs more and carries more risk of a mess inside. A roof vent is another option, but it’s harder to work from. If your home has no cleanout, ask about adding one.

What the camera can’t see

  • Under standing water. Water sitting in a low spot can hide the bottom of the pipe.
  • Past a full clog or collapse. The camera stops where the pipe is blocked.
  • Very long or deep runs. Some lines need a second access point.
  • Outside the pipe. It shows the inside, not the soil around it.

What you should get afterward

  • A copy of the video
  • Written findings with the distance to each problem
  • Depth at key spots when they are located
  • Photos of the main findings
  • A plain recommendation: monitor, clean or repair

Watch out for the cheapest scope. A very low price can mean no locating, no written report or a low-quality camera. Ask what’s included before you book.

Example of camera inspection findings

A good report turns the video into a simple list. Here’s what one can look like:

Distance

What the camera saw

What it usually means

0 ft

Cleanout, pipe clear

Starting point

22 ft

Fine roots at a joint

Clear the roots, then watch or seal the joint

41 ft

Water standing in the pipe

Possible belly; check again after cleaning

58 ft

Joint shifted out of line

Offset joint; monitor or repair

64 ft

Connection at the City main

End of your service line

This is a sample to show the format. Your report depends on what’s in your line. Most findings fall into three groups: monitor, clean or repair.

Buying a home? Scope before your deadline

A standard home inspection usually doesn’t include the sewer line, so many buyers add a camera check during the inspection period. Book it early so there’s time for a repair quote before your deadline. For Colorado contract deadlines and what to ask the seller for, see our guide to a sewer scope before buying a home in Greeley.

Do I need a sewer scope for a new build?

It’s worth considering. A new line can still have construction debris inside, a low spot from poorly packed soil, or a joint that shifted. A scope before your builder’s warranty ends gives you time to ask the builder to fix it. Check your warranty to see what’s covered and for how long.

How much does a sewer camera inspection cost in Greeley?

These are typical 2026 prices for a video sewer inspection in Greeley and nearby Northern Colorado towns:

Type of inspection

Typical range

Added to a home inspection

$150 to $250

Standalone camera inspection

$175 to $350

No cleanout or hard access

Can cost more; ask first

Ask whether the fee counts toward a repair if you hire the same company, and whether a written report and a copy of the video are included. Our repair cost page covers what fixes usually cost.

After the inspection: what comes next

The footage points to the fix. Here’s how common findings usually line up:

What the camera found

Usual next step

Grease, buildup or a clog

Clearing or jetting the main line

Roots at one or two joints

Clearing, then sealing the entry point

One crack or bad joint

A spot repair at that distance

A low spot holding water

A closer look at the belly

Cracks along much of the line, pipe still round

Pipe lining

Collapse or failing pipe along the line

A new line

Distance matters. If the damage is in one spot, a small repair at that spot may be all you need. And if the pipe is damaged, check your homeowners policy: a service line endorsement may cover the pipe itself. See what insurance covers for sewer lines.

Questions to ask before a camera inspection

  • Is the video mine to keep?
  • Will I get written findings with distances?
  • Will you locate and mark problem spots and depth?
  • What happens if the line is blocked and the camera can’t get through?
  • Does the fee count toward a repair?
  • Is there an extra charge if I have no cleanout?

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Sewer scope, sewer camera inspection, sewer line inspection and video pipe inspection all mean the same thing: a camera on a cable checks the inside of your sewer line.

Most take about 15 minutes to an hour. A line that has to be cleared first, or a home without a cleanout, takes longer.

It shows roots, cracks, breaks, low spots that hold water, offset joints, buildup and collapsed pipe, along with the distance to each problem.

It can be worth it. New lines can have construction debris, a low spot or a shifted joint. A scope before the builder’s warranty ends gives you time to ask for a fix.

There’s no set schedule. Older lines and yards with big trees benefit from a check every few years, and any line that has backed up should be checked.

In the Greeley area it often runs $150 to $250 when added to a home inspection, and $175 to $350 on its own. Hard access can cost more.

Talk to a local pro about a sewer camera inspection in Greeley

Tell them what’s happening, ask what the camera check includes and what it costs, and see the inside of your line before you decide on any repair. One call, any hour, gets you a local sewer pro who handles sewer line inspection in Greeley and nearby towns.