What the price includes
A sewer inspection price covers the technician's time, the camera equipment and the travel. A basic visit runs the camera from the cleanout to the main and shows you the video on a monitor. A fuller visit adds a recording, a written description and a locator to mark defects at the surface.
Ask what you receive at the end. A price that includes the video file is more useful than a lower price that ends when the monitor goes dark, particularly if you are buying a house and need to show the video to others.
What changes the price
These are the five factors we see most.
| Factor | Lower cost | Higher cost |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Exterior cleanout, clear path | No cleanout, toilet must be pulled |
| Line length | Short run to the street | Long run or multiple branches |
| Condition | Clean pipe | Heavy roots or grease that need cleaning first |
| Report | Live view only | Recording and written summary |
| Timing | Weekday appointment | Same-day or weekend slot |
A line that needs cleaning before the camera can pass is two jobs. Ask for both prices up front.
Local note: who owns what in South St. Paul
The City of South St. Paul maintains the sewer main. The line from your building to the main is the owner's. The city asks residents to contact its Utilities Division before hiring a drain cleaner and to notify the city after a private line is cleaned. Public Works answers at 651-554-3225 on weekdays and 911 after hours.
The city also runs a Time of Sale program at 651-554-3220. The city pages we reviewed do not publish a sewer-lateral inspection rule, so call the city before you list. Source type: city utility and Time of Sale pages. If you are comparing to West St. Paul, West St. Paul has a published point-of-sale inspection with a free city CCTV inspection.
How to compare two quotes
Use this checklist when two companies give you different numbers.
Ask what is included
Video file, written report and locator should be listed.
Ask about cleaning
Find out whether cleaning is included if the pipe is blocked.
Ask about travel and hours
Confirm any after-hours rate.
Ask what happens next
A good company explains what the findings mean without pushing a repair.
When an inspection pays for itself
Older homes benefit most. The city's 2040 planning documents say about 74 percent of homes were built before 1970, and clay or cast iron lines from that period can crack, offset or fill with roots. A camera tells a buyer whether the line is a small repair or a large one before closing.
It also helps after a repeat clog. If the same drain has backed up twice in a year, a camera shows if the line is sagging or cracked. Then sewer line repair can be planned on your schedule, instead of at midnight. Mendota Heights homeowners have the same questions about owner-responsible laterals.
Red flags in a quote
Be careful with quotes that offer a camera at a very low price and then push expensive repair over the phone. Be wary of a company that will not send the video. A low price does not tell you what the technician will do about a blocked line.
Insurance rarely covers inspections. If you find damage from a sudden event, keep the video for your claim. Ask your carrier before you start repairs.
What a camera cannot tell you
A camera shows the inside of the pipe on the day of the visit. It cannot see a crack that is closed tight, it cannot see outside the pipe and it cannot promise how long the line will last. A technician who tells you otherwise is guessing.
It also does not tell you who owns each part of the line. A defect past your property line belongs to the city's main, and a defect inside it is yours. Ask the technician to note the distance of each defect from the cleanout and to flag where the street main begins when it can be seen.
Questions to ask the company before you book
Five questions that prevent surprises on the day.
- Do you give me the video file and a written note of what you found?
- What happens if the line is blocked and the camera cannot pass?
- Is there a separate charge for locating a defect from above?
- Is there an after-hours rate if I need a weekend slot?
- Will you tell me what you would do next, without pressure?
Sources for this page
Ownership, notification and Time of Sale details come from the City of South St. Paul's published pages. The housing-age figures come from its 2040 planning documents. The West St. Paul process comes from that city's published rules. Repairs follow the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted in Minnesota.
Questions about this topic
Pricing depends on access, length and what you want in the report. We quote after we hear the details, and we do not publish numbers we cannot back with a source.
No. The city maintains the main, and the owner is responsible for the private line.
The city pages we reviewed do not list a sewer-lateral rule. The city runs a Time of Sale program at 651-554-3220, so ask before you list.
Most homes take an hour or two.
If the home is older than 1970, yes. It costs a small fraction of a line replacement.