A sewer camera inspection is a visit where a plumber feeds a small waterproof camera on a flexible rod into your sewer line and watches the pipe on a screen. In Dedham, MA, it is the fastest way to find out whether a line is sound, rooted, cracked or sagging, without digging.
Call (617) 752-0573 to schedule a visit, and ask whether the plumber brings a camera and records the footage for you.
Buying a house in Dedham? Scope the sewer line first.
A standard home inspection looks at what is visible. The sewer line is buried, so a general inspector cannot see it, and a failing line can turn into a major bill soon after closing. A camera inspection before you buy costs a small fraction of a repair, and it gives you evidence to negotiate.
About 74 percent of Dedham homes were built before 1978, per the town's Master Plan. That means a buyer in most neighborhoods is likely looking at a house with older underground pipe. Ask your agent to include the sewer scope as a contingency, then give the footage to the plumber of your choice for a second opinion.
Other times a camera is worth it.
Three situations account for most inspection calls, apart from a purchase. The first is repeated backups. If the same drain has been cleaned twice in a year, the camera tells you why.
The second is before lining or repair, because a plumber cannot choose between lining, spot repair or replacement without seeing the pipe. The third is after a major renovation or tree work near the line, when roots or shifting soil can change the pipe. See sewer line repair for the options a camera feeds into.
Planning a purchase or chasing a repeat backup? Call to book a sewer camera visit.
Call (617) 752-0573How a sewer camera inspection works.
- The plumber finds the cleanout, or removes a toilet if there is none, to reach the line..
- A camera head with its own light is pushed down the pipe on a flexible rod..
- You watch the screen and the plumber narrates what the pipe looks like..
- A locator can mark the camera position and depth above ground, so you know where a problem sits..
- The plumber records the run so you can keep the footage for a repair, a purchase negotiation or the Town..
Ask for a copy of the video and a written note on what was found and how far along the pipe it sits.
What the camera can show, and what it cannot.
A camera can show roots, cracks, offset joints, scale, grease, sags where water sits, collapsed sections and where the pipe changes material. It cannot show everything. A very dirty pipe may need cleaning before the picture is clear, and a camera cannot see through water, so a full pipe tells you only that it is full.
It also reaches only as far as the rod allows. If the plumber hits a blockage or a break, the report should say where the view ended. A good report states the limits, so be wary of one that claims the whole line is perfect when the run was short.
Reading the findings.
| What you see | What it usually means | Next step. |
|---|---|---|
| Clear pipe, smooth walls | Sound line | No action, repeat in a few years. |
| Grease or scale buildup | Narrowed pipe | Cleaning or hydro jetting. |
| Roots at joints | Openings in the pipe | Cleaning now, repair later. |
| Offset or separated joint | Movement or failure | Spot repair. |
| Sag or belly with standing water | Settled pipe | Repair or replacement. |
| Collapsed section | Pipe has failed | Excavate and replace. |
Older neighborhoods and what they tend to show.
The Master Plan describes the Oakdale area as mostly 1950s capes, split-levels and ranches, and the Mother Brook mill-worker neighborhoods as historic housing. Houses of mixed ages commonly have copper, galvanized steel, cast iron and plastic piping, though only a camera and a licensed plumber can tell you what your line is.
If your inspection shows more than one material, ask where the transitions are, since joints between old and new pipe are common failure points.
Sewer inspection and the Town sewer.
The Town of Dedham maintains the sanitary sewer, which flows to the MWRA system. Your camera run can show whether a problem sits on your side or at the connection to the town main. Ask the plumber to note the distance to the property edge, then take the footage to the Dedham Engineering Department if the issue appears to be in the street.
The Town has also inspected homes in Manor, Oakdale and Greenlodge for sump pumps and roof drains tied to the sanitary sewer, since clean rain or groundwater must not enter it. If your camera finds a side connection near a sump or downspout line, mention it to the Dedham Building Department.
Inspections before cleaning: when to call first.
If you are cleaning because of an active backup, our sewer line cleaning page covers that. If the line is only slow and you want answers, a scheduled inspection fits better. Plumbers often combine the two, clearing the line first so the camera can see.
What a sewer camera inspection costs and what changes it.
Pricing is simple compared with repair work, and a few things change it:
- Access: an outside cleanout is easier than pulling a toilet.
- Length of the run to the property edge or the street.
- Cleaning needed first to give the camera a clear view.
- Locating and marking depth, which adds time.
- Written report or recorded footage, which you should ask for up front.
Homeowner policies generally cover sudden and accidental damage rather than wear and tear, and an inspection fee is typically yours to pay. If you are filing a claim for sudden damage, ask your insurer about footage. Want your real number? Call (617) 752-0573.
Before the plumber arrives.
Make the visit smoother with a few simple steps:
- Locate the cleanout, usually a capped pipe near the foundation or in the basement.
- Clear the area around it so the plumber can work.
- Note any history: past backups, root treatments or lining.
- Skip running water in the hour before so the pipe is not full.
- Tell the plumber if you are buying, since the report may need a clear summary.
Nearby buyers in Westwood can call the same line and see our Westwood emergency plumbing page for coverage, and Norwood buyers can check the Norwood page.
Frequently asked questions.
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It depends on the length of the run and how clean the pipe is, but most visits are a short appointment. The plumber needs access and a clear pipe, and a heavily grease-coated line takes longer if it needs cleaning first.
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No. It shows what the lens can see along the run, and it cannot see through water or past a blockage. A good report states the limits and recommends follow-up where needed.
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It is a smart step for most buyers, especially in a house built before 1978. Ask your agent about adding it as a contingency, then keep the footage to negotiate or plan repairs.
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No. Inspecting a line is not plumbing installation or replacement. If the findings lead to replacing piping, that work needs a permit, and permits go only to licensed plumbers.
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A licensed plumber who will explain the footage and give you a copy. You can check a license on the Mass.gov lookup. Ask whether the plumber brings a camera and a locator.
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It shows where roots entered and how heavy they are, which hints at how fast they will come back. A repair is what stops them, as covered on our drain cleaning and repair pages.
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It is a good idea before repeated backups become tenant complaints. Call with the address and access details, and we can coordinate scheduling with tenants.
Codes, standards and sources.
Plumbing work in Massachusetts is governed by 248 CMR 10.00, the Uniform State Plumbing Code, and plumbers are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. You can read the state's consumer fact sheet on plumbers and gas fitters before you hire anyone.
Local facts on this page come from the Dedham-Westwood Water District, the Town of Dedham, the other towns named and Mass.gov, and were checked in October 2026. Where a fact could not be confirmed, the page says to ask the utility or the town.