Sewer Camera Inspection in Petaluma, CA | Northern Sewer & Drain

A sewer camera inspection (also called a sewer scope, video pipe inspection, or CCTV sewer line inspection) is pretty much what it sounds like. A licensed technician feeds a flexible cable with a high-definition camera on the end into your sewer line or drain. The camera transmits real-time footage to a screen so we can see every inch of the pipe — live, as it happens.

We use a self-leveling HD camera head mounted on a reel and cable drum system. A built-in sonde transmitter lets us pinpoint the exact location and depth of any problem from the surface — so if something needs repair, we know precisely where to go.

You get a copy of the recorded footage and a written sewer scope report you can actually use — whether that’s for a real estate negotiation, a contractor, or just peace of mind.

Our NASSCO-certified technicians follow PACP (Pipeline Assessment Certification Program) rating standards during every sewer camera inspection. That means we’re not just taking a peek — we’re doing a proper pipe condition assessment and documenting what we find.

Here’s what we check for:

• Root intrusion — tree roots pushing through pipe joints or cracks
• Bellied pipe — sections of pipe that have sagged and collect standing water and debris
• Offset joints — pipe sections that have shifted out of alignment
• Crack and fracture detection — visible breaks in the pipe wall
• Corrosion assessment — heavy rust or scaling inside cast iron lines
• Grease buildup — thick deposits reducing flow in kitchen drain lines
• Defect mapping — logging the location and depth of every issue we find

When we’re done, you’ll know exactly what’s in your pipes, where the problems are, and what the realistic options look like for fixing them.

When Should You Get a Sewer Camera Inspection?

Most people call us for one of a few reasons. See if any of these sound familiar:

You’re buying a home in Petaluma. A pre-purchase sewer scope is one of the smartest things you can do before closing. A standard home inspection doesn’t include the sewer line — your inspector walks the house, not the underground pipes. If those pipes have a bellied section, root damage, or cracked clay, you won’t know until after you own it. A sewer scope before you close gives you negotiating power and protects you from inheriting a problem that can cost $5,000 to $20,000 or more to fix.

You have slow or recurring drain problems. One slow sink might just be a hair clog. But if multiple drains in your home are sluggish, or the same drain backs up repeatedly, something deeper is going on. A drain camera inspection finds the actual cause — not just treats the symptom.

Your toilets gurgle when you run water elsewhere. That gurgling sound is your sewer line telling you it’s struggling. It usually means a partial blockage or venting issue somewhere in the main line.

You smell sewer gas. Persistent odors inside or outside the home can mean cracked pipes are letting gas escape into the soil or structure. That’s worth checking promptly.

It’s been more than a few years since your last inspection. If your home is over 20 years old and you’ve never had the sewer line looked at, there’s no reason to wait for something to go wrong. Regular sewer lateral inspections are preventive maintenance — like checking your car’s oil before the engine seizes.

You’re doing a major renovation near the sewer line. Landscaping, adding a bathroom, or any construction near your sewer lateral is a good reason to know the pipe’s condition before you start.

What Happens During Your Inspection

The whole process is straightforward and non-invasive. Here’s what to expect:

We access the sewer line through a cleanout port if your home has one. If not, we can access through a toilet or a rooftop vent stack. We’ll let you know what we find when we arrive.

We feed the camera into the line using our push camera system and reel. The self-leveling camera head keeps the image upright as it moves through the pipe.

We watch the footage live on a monitor and narrate what we’re seeing. You’re welcome to watch with us — most people find it pretty interesting, honestly.

We use the pipe locator (a sonde transmitter in the camera head) to mark the exact location and depth of any problems we find on the surface.

We record everything and put together a written report with the video footage. You leave with documentation you can share with a real estate agent, another contractor, or keep on file.

Most residential inspections take about an hour. Longer sewer laterals or lines with obstructions may take a bit more time.

Sewer Camera Inspection Cost in Petaluma, CA

People often ask about cost before they call, which is fair. Sewer camera inspection prices in the Petaluma and Sonoma County area typically range from $150 to $500 for a standard residential inspection, depending on pipe length, access, and complexity.

A few things that can affect the price:

• Whether your home has an accessible cleanout port (no cleanout usually means more labor)
• The length of your sewer lateral — most residential lines run 50 to 100 feet
• Whether the pipe has a heavy blockage that needs clearing before the camera can get through

We don’t charge hidden fees, and we don’t quote low to get in the door and surprise you on the invoice. Before any work starts, you know exactly what you’re paying.

We also offer same-day and next-day availability for most inspections in Petaluma and the surrounding areas, including Rohnert Park, Cotati, Novato, and Santa Rosa.

What Happens If We Find a Problem?

Finding something during a camera inspection isn’t bad news — it’s good information. Here’s the honest answer: most sewer issues we find in Petaluma homes are fixable, and the earlier you catch them, the cheaper the fix.

Depending on what we find, common next steps include:

• Hydro jetting — high-pressure water cleaning for grease buildup or soft root intrusion
• Root intrusion removal — clearing roots that have entered the pipe
• Trenchless pipe repair — fixing cracks or joint offsets without digging up your yard
• Pipe relining — a cured-in-place liner that restores the inside of a damaged pipe
• Sewer line repair or replacement — for more significant damage where the pipe needs to be addressed directly

We’ll give you an honest assessment of what the footage shows and what we’d recommend. We’re not going to push you toward the most expensive option if a simpler fix makes sense.

Who We Are

Northern Sewer & Drain is a locally owned and operated sewer and drain company based in Petaluma, CA. We hold a California C-42 Sanitation Systems License through the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and we carry full liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage.

Our technicians are NASSCO-certified and trained to follow PACP pipe condition rating standards — the same standards used by municipalities and professional inspectors nationwide.

We serve homeowners and commercial property owners throughout Petaluma — from East Petaluma and West Petaluma to the Adobe Road area, McNear Peninsula, and beyond — as well as communities across Sonoma County including Rohnert Park, Cotati, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, and Marin County.

We don’t do corporate upselling. We show you what’s in your pipes, explain what it means in plain language, and let you decide what to do next.

Ready to Schedule Your Sewer Camera Inspection in Petaluma?

Don’t wait for a backed-up sewer to tell you something’s wrong. A sewer camera inspection from Northern Sewer & Drain gives you a clear picture of your pipes’ condition — no guessing, no digging, no surprises.

We offer same-day and next-day scheduling, a written inspection report with recorded video, and honest pricing with no hidden fees.

Call us to book your inspection today.

We’re your local Petaluma sewer and drain experts — and we’ll treat your home like our own.