Drains & sewer · Denver
Sewer camera inspection in Denver, CO
A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Sewer camera inspection for Denver homes
In most U.S. cities the homeowner owns the sewer service line, often all the way to the main in the street. Many homes built before the 1970s still have clay or Orangeburg pipe, and mature trees send roots into every joint.
For the full guide, including what you can safely do before a plumber arrives, see sewer camera inspection explained.
Sewer camera inspection in Denver at a glance
- Urgency
- Usually plannable
- Area
- Denver, CO
- Who does the work
- An independent, licensed local plumber
- Permit
- Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by Denver Community Planning and Development. Sewer work in the street also needs a right-of-way permit from the city.
- Typical steps
- Access → Record → Locate defects → Review
- Availability
- Call now to check plumber availability
Signs you need sewer camera inspection in Denver
- Repeated main line clogs
- Buying a home built before about 1980
- Large trees between the house and the street
- Soggy spots or sinkholes in the yard along the sewer path
- A basement floor drain that backs up
Local conditions
Sewer camera inspection in Denver: what's different
A sewer camera inspection is one of the most useful checks for a Denver home built before about 1960. Clay laterals and original cast iron are common in Washington Park, Park Hill and Berkeley, and the camera shows roots, cracks, offset joints and sags before they cause a backup.
Denver homeowners own the sewer service line to the main, and street work needs a right-of-way permit on top of the plumbing permit. Knowing exactly where the problem is, and how deep, keeps any repair as small as possible. Buyers of older homes often scope the line before closing.
- Water and sewer in Denver
- Denver Water supplies drinking water. Wastewater is collected by the city and treated by Metro Water Recovery. Homeowners own the sewer service line from the house to the main in the street.
- Permits in Denver
- Plumbing permits and inspections are handled by Denver Community Planning and Development. Sewer work in the street also needs a right-of-way permit from the city.
Denver housing and plumbing
Bungalows and foursquares from the 1900s–1930s often have clay sewer lines and partial galvanized supply lines, sometimes spliced to copper during earlier remodels. Post-war ranches from the 1950s typically have cast-iron drains and copper or galvanized supply. Many have finished basements added decades later, which hide pipes that run along cold foundation walls.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Denver and Denver County, including Capitol Hill, Highland, Washington Park, Park Hill, Baker, Berkeley, Harvey Park, Montclair, Central Park, Green Valley Ranch. ZIP codes: 80202 · 80203 · 80204 · 80205 · 80206 · 80207 · 80209 · 80210 · 80211 · 80212 · 80216 · 80218 · 80219 · 80220 · 80222 · 80223 · 80224 · 80230 · 80231 · 80236 · 80237 · 80238 · 80239 · 80246 · 80247 · 80249.
Other Denver conditions that affect plumbing
- Roots in clay sewer laterals: Mature silver maples, elms and cottonwoods line many older Denver streets, and their roots find every joint in clay sewer pipe. Recurring main line clogs in a pre-1960 home are usually roots.
- Galvanized supply pipe: Low pressure and rusty water in older homes usually trace back to galvanized steel pipe corroding from the inside. Partial repipes are common where only some runs were replaced.
- Lead service line replacement: Denver Water runs a lead service line replacement program for homes with lead pipes from the main. If you get a notice, the utility's program can cover replacement of the service line.
How sewer camera inspection works in Denver
- 1
Access
The camera goes in through a cleanout, a toilet flange or a roof vent.
- 2
Record
The plumber pushes the camera to the main, noting distance and depth with a locator.
- 3
Locate defects
Problem spots can be marked on the ground above for repair planning.
- 4
Review
You get the video and a plain-language summary of what it shows.
What affects sewer camera inspection cost in Denver
Every job is priced by the plumber after they see it. These are the things that move the price most. Ask for the price before work starts.
- Cleanout access
- Line length
- Whether a cleaning is needed first to see the pipe
- Locating and marking defects
Sewer camera inspection questions in Denver
Should I scope the sewer before buying a Denver home?
Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?
What is Orangeburg pipe?
How long does a sewer scope take?
Also in Denver
Related
Related plumbing services
Sewer line repair
A damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement.
Learn more
Drain cleaning
If one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line.
Learn more
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through.
Learn moreGuides
Read before you call
Drains & sewer
Why is my basement floor drain backing up?
When water comes up through the basement floor drain, the main sewer line is usually blocked between the house and the street. Stop using water upstairs, then call a plumber to clear the main line. If it happens more than once, a camera inspection shows the cause.
Drains & sewer
Should you get a sewer scope before buying a home?
For homes built before about 1980, or with large trees in the front yard, a sewer scope is worth it. A standard home inspection doesn't look inside the sewer line, and in most U.S. cities the buyer will own that line, often all the way to the main.
Need sewer camera inspection in Denver?
Tell us what's going on and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with a licensed plumber who serves your area.
Call now to check plumber availability