Plumbing Inspection Services
What you cannot see can cost you the most. Pipes hide in walls, under slabs, and underground. A plumbing inspection finds their condition before they fail. The Deston refers you to independent local plumbers who inspect whole systems and sewer lines with cameras and test equipment, serving homeowners across all 50 states. Call (888) 418-3086 and we will connect you with a pro near you.
Plumbing Inspection: Know Before You Buy, Sell, or Dig
We are a referral service, not a plumbing company. We do not run cameras or write inspection reports ourselves. We match you with a local plumber who does inspections every day. The referral is free. You pay the plumber for the inspection.
People order inspections at three key moments: before buying a home, before selling one, and when something feels wrong but the cause is hidden. A written report with video or photos gives you facts to negotiate with, plan around, or act on.
Video evidence is the real value. Watching roots fill your sewer line on a screen settles every debate about whether replacement is needed. A strong report goes further than footage: it names each defect, notes its location by footage mark, and ranks repairs by urgency. That turns a scary video into a clear to-do list. Keep the report file with your home records. The next buyer, the next plumber, and your insurance company will all take it seriously.
Signs You Need a Plumbing Inspection
Some inspections are scheduled by choice. Others are driven by warning signs you should not ignore.
You are buying a home
You want the plumbing checked beyond the general home inspection, with cameras and pressure tests.
You are selling a home
You want to fix or disclose issues before the buyer finds them, on your own terms.
Multiple drains clog or gurgle at once
That pattern points to the main sewer line, not to one fixture.
The yard has a soggy patch or sunken spot
A soggy patch, a sunken spot, or grass that grows much faster in one area all point underground.
Your home is over 25 years old
If the sewer line has never been camera inspected, its condition is unknown, and age makes failure likely.
You hear water running when nothing is on
Or the meter spins with all fixtures off: a hidden leak is feeding somewhere you cannot see.
How Plumbing Inspection Works
Call, match, schedule, inspect, report with video and pricing.
- 1
Call (888) 418-3086
Tell us why you want an inspection: buying, selling, or troubleshooting.
- 2
We refer you to a local pro
We refer you to an independent local plumber who performs inspections in your area.
- 3
The plumber schedules the visit
The plumber schedules the visit and explains what the inspection will cover.
- 4
They run the inspection
Cameras, pressure tests, and a fixture-by-fixture review of the whole system.
- 5
You get a written report
Findings, photos or video, and repair recommendations with pricing. You pay the plumber for the inspection.
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You act on facts
Negotiate, plan, or repair with documented costs, not guesses.
Timing Matters for Buyers and Sellers
Timing matters for buyers. Schedule the inspection early in your contingency window so you have time to get repair quotes and negotiate. A report showing a failing sewer line or a dying water heater gives you documented repair costs to bring to the negotiating table. That is one of the main reasons buyers order inspections.
Sellers benefit from inspecting before listing, because finding problems first lets you price or fix on your own terms instead of under deadline pressure. A pre-listing report also lets you disclose honestly, which keeps deals from falling apart at the buyer inspection stage.
A previous repair failed and you want a second opinion with video proof: that is another strong moment to inspect. A remodel is the third: if you are planning one, you need to know the condition of lines you will tie into before walls close again. Regular buyers often pair an inspection with a plumbing maintenance plan for the first year in the new home.
If the inspection finds damage, sewer line repair pros can fix it. Hidden leaks move to leak detection for pinpoint location. The report ranks repairs by urgency, so you can split the work into now, soon, and later instead of facing one giant bill.
Plumbing Inspection Types and Options
Each type answers a different question.
Whole-home plumbing inspection
Reviews everything visible and testable: fixtures, supply lines, drain lines, vents, the water heater, shutoff valves, and water pressure. The plumber notes age, condition, and remaining life of major components.
Sewer camera inspection
The most requested specialty service. The pro feeds a camera through a cleanout and records the inside of your sewer line, finding cracks, roots, bellies, and blockages. Usually 30 to 60 minutes on site, plus report time.
Pre-purchase and leak investigation inspections
A pre-purchase inspection combines both whole-home and camera work and is timed to fit your offer contingency window. A leak investigation inspection uses acoustic gear, moisture meters, and pressure testing to locate hidden leaks without tearing open walls at random.
What Plumbing Inspection Costs
Figures below are United States national averages for reference only. The plumber should give you upfront pricing before the visit.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Whole-home plumbing inspection | $150 to $400 |
| Sewer camera inspection alone, video included | $200 to $500 |
| Combined pre-purchase inspection | $300 to $600 in most markets |
| Leak investigation inspection | $200 to $500 depending on equipment used |
| Written report with video files | Confirm included, some inspectors charge extra |
Before and After: Plumbing Inspection
Worry without facts becomes a clear plan with video proof.
Before
AfterThe photos above are illustrations that show the kind of change this work brings. They are not photos of a real job.
Preparing for a Plumbing Inspection
A little prep keeps the visit fast and the report complete.
Say buying, selling, or troubleshooting. The scope follows your reason, and the timing follows your contingency window.
Clear the sewer cleanout. A clear cleanout costs less to camera than a pulled toilet.
Note every symptom. Gurgling drains, spinning meters, and soggy patches all guide the pro.
Ask what the report includes. Video file to keep, footage marks, and ranked repairs should all be named.
Ask who performs the inspection. Working plumbers who repair what they find beat sales scripts.
Keep the report with your home records. The next buyer, plumber, and insurer will all take it seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a plumbing inspection different from a general home inspection?
Yes. General inspectors check that fixtures work but rarely camera sewer lines or pressure-test systems. A plumbing inspection goes deeper, with specialty equipment and a plumber eye. Buyers of older homes benefit most from ordering both.
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes on site, plus report time. The camera run itself is quick. Locating the line, recording, and marking problem spots takes the rest of the visit.
Will the inspection damage anything?
No. Camera inspections, pressure tests, and moisture readings are non-invasive. The pro uses existing cleanouts and fixtures. Nothing gets cut open during a standard inspection.
What do tree roots in a sewer line mean?
Roots enter through tiny cracks or joints and grow into a mass that blocks flow. Small root intrusions can be cut out and managed. Heavy intrusion with broken pipe usually means repair or replacement. The video shows which one you have.
Can I use the report to negotiate a home price?
Yes. That is one of the main reasons buyers order inspections. A report showing a failing sewer line or a dying water heater gives you documented repair costs to bring to the negotiating table.
How often should sewer lines be inspected?
Every two to three years for homes with older clay or cast iron lines, or large trees nearby. Newer PVC lines can go longer. After any major backup, inspect before assuming the line is fine.
Does The Deston charge for the referral?
No. Our matching service is free to you. You pay the local plumber for the inspection only.
What does a strong report include?
Each defect named, its location by footage mark, repairs ranked by urgency, photos or video, and repair recommendations with pricing. That turns a scary video into a clear to-do list.
What if the home has no sewer cleanout?
Access matters: a home with a clear sewer cleanout costs less to camera than one where the pro must pull a toilet. Ask the pro about access before the visit so the quote matches the job.
Can an inspection find hidden leaks?
Yes, with acoustic gear, moisture meters, and pressure testing. A leak investigation inspection locates hidden leaks without tearing open walls at random, and the findings move to leak detection for pinpoint location.
Should sellers inspect before listing?
Yes. Finding problems first lets you price or fix on your own terms instead of under deadline pressure, and honest disclosure keeps deals from falling apart at the buyer inspection stage.
Are free inspections trustworthy?
Free inspections offered by companies that only sell replacements deserve skepticism. A paid, independent inspection report is more trustworthy because the inspector has no incentive to invent problems.
What happens after the inspection finds damage?
Sewer line repair pros can fix it, and hidden leaks move to leak detection for pinpoint location. The report ranks repairs by urgency, so you can split the work into now, soon, and later.
If trouble is already visible, what then?
If trouble is already visible, 24 hour plumber service is available day and night. An inspection still helps, since it documents the full system before repairs start.
What should I do with the video file after the inspection?
Keep it with your home records alongside the written report. The next buyer, the next plumber, and your insurance company will all take it seriously, and it settles debates about whether a repair is really needed. If you sell, hand the buyer both the report and the video: documented history beats a verbal claim every time.
Can an inspection cover the water heater too?
Yes, a whole-home inspection reviews the water heater along with fixtures, supply lines, drain lines, vents, shutoff valves, and water pressure. The plumber notes age, condition, and remaining life of major components, so a dying water heater shows up in the report with a repair price before it fails on its own.
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Know Before You Buy, Sell, or Dig.
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(888) 418-3086 Call NowThe Deston is a referral service that connects homeowners with independent local plumbers. We are not a plumbing company.