Drains & sewer · Memphis
Sewer camera inspection in Memphis, TN
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 Memphis 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 Memphis at a glance
- Urgency
- Usually plannable
- Area
- Memphis, TN
- Who does the work
- An independent, licensed local plumber
- Permit
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.
- Typical steps
- Access → Record → Locate defects → Review
- Availability
- Call now to check plumber availability
Signs you need sewer camera inspection in Memphis
- 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 Memphis: what's different
Mature trees in Midtown and Cooper-Young send roots into older clay laterals, and aging cast iron cracks. A camera inspection shows the damage before repair.
The City of Memphis handles sewers, and the lateral to the main is the owner's responsibility.
Older homes in Midtown and Cooper-Young were often built with clay laterals that have been patched over the decades. A camera inspection shows how much of the line is affected, which decides between cleaning, a spot repair or lining. Scoping before buying an older home is a common step.
- Water and sewer in Memphis
- Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) provides water and gas service; the City of Memphis handles sewers.
- Permits in Memphis
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.
Memphis housing and plumbing
Midtown and Cooper-Young have early 1900s homes with crawl spaces, clay laterals and older supply lines.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Memphis and Shelby County, including Midtown, Cooper-Young, East Memphis, Germantown, Whitehaven, Harbor Town. ZIP codes: 37501 · 37544 · 38101 · 38103 · 38104 · 38105.
Other Memphis conditions that affect plumbing
- Hard freezes: Occasional deep freezes burst crawl-space pipes in homes built for warm weather.
- Tree roots: Mature trees send roots into older laterals.
- Older drains: Aging cast-iron and clay pipe in Midtown cracks and clogs.
- Aquifer water: Memphis draws its water from deep aquifers, giving it a reputation for very clean, soft water, so leaks and old pipe matter more than scale.
How sewer camera inspection works in Memphis
- 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 Memphis
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 Memphis
Should I scope the sewer before buying in Midtown Memphis?
Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?
What is Orangeburg pipe?
How long does a sewer scope take?
Also in Memphis
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 Memphis?
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