What the camera shows you
A waterproof camera on a flexible rod goes in through a cleanout or a pulled toilet. It sends live video to a screen and records it, with a transmitter on the camera head that lets us find its position above ground. We follow the pipe from the house to the public main.
Water and paper flow past the lens, so you also see how the line drains. A pipe that holds water is sagging, and the video proves it. The recording is yours to keep for your records, for a seller or for a second opinion.
| What the camera finds | What it means | Usual next step |
|---|---|---|
| Fine roots at a joint | A small opening where the pipe sections meet | Cleaning now, lining or repair if it recurs |
| Belly or sag holding water | A low spot where solids settle | Monitor or repair, depending on depth |
| Offset or separated joint | Pipe sections no longer line up | Spot repair of the joint |
| Cracks or a collapse | Broken wall or lost pipe shape | Repair or replacement |
| Heavy scale or rust | An old cast iron or steel line | Cleaning or replacement planning |
| Clean, round pipe | No defects found | No repair, keep the video as a baseline |
Buying a home with an older sewer
A standard home inspection does not look inside the buried sewer. If the house has mature trees, an older neighborhood or a history of backups, a camera inspection before closing can find a failing lateral while you can still negotiate.
Ask the seller for the cleanout location before the visit. Bring the video to your agent, and use it to ask for a repair credit or a lower price when it shows a defect. A clean video is worth having too, because it gives you a baseline for later.
Book a camera inspection today. Call and a plumber will find a time, with same-day appointments when available.
Call (855) 575-2890Finding the lateral and the cleanout
Many owners do not know where their sewer line runs. The camera's transmitter shows the pipe's depth and path, so we can mark it on the ground with paint or flags. That matters before you plant a tree, build a deck or call anyone to dig.
- Find the access. A cleanout in the basement, crawl space or yard is the best entry, and a pulled toilet is the fallback.
- Run the camera to the main. We move at a steady pace and stop at anything unusual.
- Trace the path above ground. The locator reads the transmitter, so depth and direction are marked on the surface.
- Review the video with you. We pause on each defect, explain it in plain words and note the distance from the cleanout.
If no cleanout exists, we say so. Adding one is often the first recommendation, since it gives every later service a clean entry point. See sewer line cleaning for what that access makes possible.
What a sewer inspection costs in Hazelwood
National cost guides put a sewer camera inspection at $125 to $500. That is a national range, not a local quote, and we give a clear price before work starts.
A camera inspection is a diagnostic. If it finds damage, repair is a separate job and we price it before starting.
Hazelwood sewers and what the video means for ownership
MSD maintains the public sewers, and the private lateral from the house to the public main is generally the owner's responsibility. If the video shows a defect between the house and the main, ask MSD at 314-768-6260 where your responsibility ends before you plan a repair.
Repairs are done by licensed plumbers, and plumbing permits run through St. Louis County by way of the city. Call 811 before any digging that follows an inspection, so the utilities get marked.
Pipeline defects are often graded with NASSCO's Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) coding, which is how municipalities classify cracks, roots and offsets. Residential inspections do not always use it, so ask whether you will get a coded report or just the video.
Questions the video can answer
Use the inspection to settle specific questions. Is the pipe clay, cast iron or PVC? Is there a belly, and how deep? Are roots coming in at one joint or many? Each answer changes the plan.
If the line needs clearing before the camera can pass, hydro jetting may be the tool. Buyers in nearby Bridgeton can find local notes on our Bridgeton plumbing page. A clear camera pass often ends the search for the cause of a slow main.
Frequently asked questions
Most of the visit is the camera run and the review of the video with you. A short, clear lateral goes quickly, while a long run with a packed line takes more time. We tell you what to expect when you book.
If the house is older, has mature trees or has had backups, yes. A standard home inspection does not look inside the buried sewer, so the camera is the only way to see the lateral before closing.
Yes. A transmitter on the camera head lets us locate its path and depth above ground and mark it. That helps before digging or planting.
Yes. The inspection is recorded, so you can share it with your agent, the seller, a contractor or MSD.
We explain what the video shows and the repair options, including spot repair, pipe bursting or lining. The repair is priced separately and we give a clear price before work starts.
The private lateral is generally the owner's responsibility, and MSD maintains the public sewer. Confirm your situation with MSD at 314-768-6260.
Questions about your situation? A licensed plumber is on the line any hour.
Call (855) 575-2890