How much does a sewer scope inspection cost?

Our standalone sewer scope inspection starts at $225. Most pre-purchase customers choose our Buyer Protection Package at $250, which includes the scope plus a clean digital report.

How long does a sewer scope take?

Most inspections take 30 to 60 minutes on site. You'll typically receive your digital report with video and photos the same day or the following business day.

Do I need to be home for the inspection?

No. For real estate transactions, we commonly work with a lockbox or with your agent present. We send the report directly to you, your agent, and anyone else you designate.

What happens if you find a problem?

We document it with video, still images, and a plain-English write-up. Because we don't perform repairs, our findings are unbiased — take the report to any plumber you trust.

Same-day inspections across Macomb & Oakland County · Call (586) 610-7546

Independent · Inspection only

We help buyers, sellers, and agents avoid costly sewer surprises before they become a problem.

Fast scheduling. Clear reporting. Professional documentation.

Call (586) 610-7546 Request an Inspection

Inspection-Only
No Repairs, No Upsells
Same / Next-Day Service
Built for Real Estate

MI Sewer Scopers professional sewer scope camera equipment at a Metro Detroit home inspection

Serving Macomb & Oakland

Why independent inspection matters

We don't fix sewers.
That's the point.

Most sewer scope companies in Metro Detroit also sell the repairs. That's a built-in conflict of interest — they profit when they find problems, whether those problems are real or not.

1
Zero repair upsellWe don't own a jetter, excavator, or replacement crew. We can't sell you a repair — so we have no reason to exaggerate what we find.
2
Your report, your plumberTake our video, photos, and written findings to any contractor you trust. No kickback relationships, ever.
3
Built for real estateFast scheduling, fast reports, clean documentation — designed around the way deals actually close.

Read our story

Professional inspection-only equipment — MI Sewer Scopers scope camera at a Metro Detroit basement cleanout

What we do

Four diagnostic services.
Zero repair work.

Premium inspection equipment. Plain-English reports. Same-day scheduling across Macomb and Oakland counties.

HD sewer camera monitor showing pipe interior

Sewer Scope Inspection

HD camera inspection of your main sewer line. Detect cracks, root intrusion, bellies, offsets, Orangeburg, and collapsed clay.

Starting at $225 Learn more

Technician using a utility locator on a residential front lawn

Line Locating

Identify the exact path of the sewer line and pinpoint where issues exist. We locate the line and mark the approximate location of blockages, root intrusion, or damage to help guide repairs, excavation, or negotiations.

Starting at $75 Learn more

Thermal Imaging

Detect hidden moisture, missing insulation, energy loss, and electrical hot spots with professional infrared imaging.

Starting at $125 Learn more

Non-toxic white fog rising from a plumbing vent stack during a fog test

Fog Testing

Non-toxic fog testing of drain-waste-vent systems. Track down sewer gas smells, hidden cracks, and broken vent stacks. Roof access may be required for certain tests. All roof work is evaluated on-site, and services will only be performed when conditions are safe and appropriate.

Starting at $295 Learn more

Sewer Scope · Additional Conditions & Access

Standard sewer scope pricing includes access from a single readily accessible cleanout. Additional fees may apply for crawl space access, roof vent access, multiple access points, or limited/obstructed access conditions. These factors will be discussed prior to service whenever possible.

See our work

Real footage from real inspections.

This is what we actually see — and what you need to know before you buy, sell, or list.

Sewer scope footage showing root intrusion at 28 feet 8 inches inside a clay tile sewer line — **Root intrusion at 28′8″** Tree root damage in a clay-tile sewer line.

Sewer scope footage showing a longitudinal fracture at 24 feet 10 inches — **Fractured pipe at 24′10″** Longitudinal crack — a $10,000+ finding before it becomes a $25,000 repair.

Sewer scope footage showing debris and buildup at 66 feet 10 inches deep in the line — **Debris & buildup at 66′10″** Deep-line blockage found during a pre-purchase inspection.

Download a Full Sample Report (PDF)

See exactly what your inspection report will look like — video links, annotated photos, and plain-English findings.

Real repair costs

A small inspection now can save you
$5,000–$25,000 later.

Metro Detroit has tens of thousands of homes built before 1980 — many still running on the original, failing sewer line. Here's what we routinely find.

$3,500 – $8,500

Tree root intrusion

Common in any home older than 20 years with mature trees. Roots enter through joint gaps and compound quickly.

$8,000 – $25,000

Collapsed clay tile

Typical in homes built before 1970. Vitrified clay was the standard for decades and is now well past its service life.

$10,000 – $20,000

Orangeburg pipe failure

Heavily used in 1940s–70s Michigan homes. Bitumen-impregnated paper pipe that delaminates and collapses with age.

$5,000 – $15,000

Cast Iron Deterioration

Common in homes built between the 1950s–1980s. Cast iron pipes corrode from the inside out, leading to scaling, restricted flow, and eventual failure.

$2,500 – $7,500

PVC / ABS Issues

More common in newer homes. While durable, these systems can still develop bellies, improper slope, joint separation, or installation defects that lead to backups over time.

$3,000 – $10,000

Offset or Separated Joints

Occurs when sections of pipe shift over time due to settling or poor installation. Even newer systems can develop offsets that catch debris and cause recurring backups.

Varies Widely

Mixed Pipe Systems

Many homes have a combination of clay, cast iron, and newer materials. Transitions between pipe types are common failure points and often require targeted repair.

$5,000+

Aging Infrastructure (General)

Even if no major failure is present today, older sewer systems may be near the end of their service life, creating risk for future buyers and negotiations.

Request Your Inspection

Who we serve

Serving Macomb & Oakland Counties.

Same-day and next-day appointments across 18 primary cities in Southeast Michigan.

See all cities & coverage

Packages

Bundle and save.

Four premium packages designed for the most common inspection scenarios.

Buyer Protection

$250

Full sewer scope inspection
HD video + still images
Plain-English digital report
Designed for pre-purchase diligence

Details

Moisture / Leak

$275

Full thermal imaging scan
Moisture mapping
Insulation gap report
Hidden leak detection

Details

Clear reports. Clean hand-offs.

★★★★★

“Fast scheduling, clear report, and honest answers. Robert walked us through exactly what he found — no scare tactics, no upsell. Saved us from a $12,000 surprise before we closed.”
— Mark, Rochester Hills

★★★★★

“As a listing agent, I use MI Sewer Scopers on every deal that could have a sewer question. My sellers come to the table with facts instead of surprises. Deals close faster and my clients trust me more.”
— Alyssa, Real Estate Agent, Macomb County

★★★★★

“We were selling our 1960s home in Warren and wanted to get ahead of anything. The pre-listing scope showed us exactly where we stood. Priced the home right, no renegotiation drama. Total peace of mind.”
— Dave & Kelly, Warren

★★★★★

“I’ve flipped over a dozen properties and MI Sewer Scopers is the only inspection company I call for sewer work. Straight to the point, no fluff, and the reports are clean enough to hand right to a buyer.”
— Jason, Investor, Sterling Heights

★★★★★

“Booked in the morning, inspected the same afternoon, digital report in my inbox that night. Video walkthrough was clear enough that even I could understand it. Highly recommend.”
— Priya, Homebuyer, Troy

See all reviews on Google → Leave us a Google review →

Book your inspection

Don't buy a $15,000 problem.
Scope it today.

Same-day and next-day appointments across Macomb and Oakland counties. Digital report in hand fast — so you can move the deal forward.

(586) 610-7546

Tap to call — or fill the form and we'll get back to you fast.

Call (586) 610-7546

We help buyers, sellers, and agents avoid costly sewer surprises before they become a problem.

We don't fix sewers.
That's the point.