Inspect
We use RIDGID sewer camera equipment to examine the line for blockages, roots, damage, offsets, standing water, and other visible conditions.
St. Louis sewer and drain specialists
Sewer camera inspection and cleaning in St. Louis, MO
Independent camera inspection, diagnostics, locating, and cleaning for properties in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas. We document what the line actually shows, and we do not perform the repair, so the evidence is not a sales tool.
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Independent sewer inspection & second opinions
Before You Approve an Expensive Sewer Repair, Get an Opinion With Nothing to Sell
A sewer backup or major repair recommendation can make a costly decision feel urgent. The Sewer Pros inspects and documents the condition inside your sewer line so you can understand what is actually happening before you approve cleaning, excavation, lining, or replacement.
Because we do not perform sewer repairs or replacements, we do not profit from selling you the work. Our role is to inspect and document visible conditions, explain what we found in plain language, and give you an honest opinion you can use to make the next decision.
Get an Independent Second Opinion
Already received a repair recommendation? Bring us in for an independent second opinion before you sign off on major work.
Document
We inspect and document visible conditions inside the line, so you are not forced to rely only on a verbal repair recommendation.
Decide
Use the findings to determine whether the issue calls for cleaning, monitoring, a repair estimate, or another qualified opinion, without pressure to buy a repair from us.
Do not approve a major sewer repair based only on a sales-driven recommendation. The Sewer Pros does not repair or replace sewer lines, by design, so we have no repair contract to sell. Get a documented second opinion before you approve the expense.
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How we can help
Homeowners
Sewer Camera Inspection
Recurring backups, slow drains, or a line you have never seen. Start with a camera inspection and decide from evidence.
Common starting points
Buying or selling
Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection
Know the condition of the line before closing. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line.
For the transaction
Municipal reporting
Sewer Lateral Inspection & Municipal Reporting
Many St. Louis area municipalities run lateral repair programs that ask for documentation before a claim is considered.
Property solutions
Property Managers
Sewer inspection, cleaning, and hydro jetting for rental homes, multifamily residential properties, and property managers.
Services for property managers
Local sewer inspection experience
St. Louis sewer inspections backed by documented evidence
The Sewer Pros has inspected sewer lines throughout the greater St. Louis area since 2011. Our local work includes residential sewer camera inspections, pre-purchase sewer scopes, recurring sewer backup diagnosis, sewer line locating, sewer cleaning, and documentation for participating municipal sewer lateral programs.
With more than 100,000 sewer camera inspections completed, we understand the conditions commonly found in St. Louis-area sewer lines. A professional camera inspection can document visible root intrusion, grease and scale buildup, offset pipe joints, standing water, cracks, and other conditions that may be contributing to slow drains or recurring backups.
Serving St. Louis Since 2011
Local experience inspecting sewer laterals across older city properties, established suburbs, and growing communities throughout the St. Louis region.
More Than 100,000 Camera Inspections
Extensive inspection experience helps us recognize visible sewer-line conditions and explain the evidence clearly.
Diagnosis Without a Repair Sale
We inspect, document, locate, and clean sewer lines. Because we do not perform sewer repair or replacement, you remain in control of the next decision.
See what is happening before deciding what comes next
A sewer camera inspection gives you visual evidence instead of an opinion based only on symptoms. We record the accessible portions of the sewer line, explain what the footage shows in plain language, and provide findings you can use when deciding whether to clean the line, monitor a condition, or consult a separate sewer repair provider.
You receive:
- Video evidence of visible conditions inside the accessible sewer line
- A clear explanation of the inspection findings
- Documentation you can review or share when seeking another opinion
- Guidance on whether cleaning or continued monitoring may be appropriate
- Information that helps you avoid making a major sewer decision based on guesswork
Experience with St. Louis sewer lateral programs
Sewer lateral program requirements vary by municipality and property location. The Sewer Pros works with participating programs across the St. Louis region where current requirements and credentials permit. We can help document the condition of the line, prepare the required inspection information, and explain what the findings mean for the property owner.
If you are unsure whether your sewer lateral falls under a municipal program or remains your responsibility to maintain, contact us before scheduling. We can help you identify the appropriate next step based on the property location and the inspection you need.
Serving the greater St. Louis region
We provide sewer inspection, cleaning, locating, and diagnostic services throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and surrounding communities. Service availability can vary by location, so contact us to confirm coverage for your property.
What our customers say
4.9 out of 5from 595 Google reviews · as of
Sewer Inspection, Diagnostics & Cleaning Services
The Sewer Pros provides sewer camera inspections, sewer diagnostics, sewer cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line locating, and drain cleaning for residential properties. We document the conditions we observe so property owners, homebuyers, and property managers can understand the issue and consider appropriate next steps.
Sewer Camera Inspection
A camera inspection of the accessible sewer line, documenting what is visible. It can help identify observed conditions and support an informed next-step decision.
Sewer Cleaning
Remove buildup and obstructions from sewer lines when cleaning is appropriate. A camera inspection can help document line conditions before or after cleaning.
Hydro Jetting
Use high-pressure water to clean eligible sewer lines. Whether jetting is appropriate depends on the line’s observed condition.
Sewer Cleaning & Camera Inspection
Combine cleaning with visual documentation of the line. See what was observed and whether cleaning changed the conditions visible by camera.
Sewer Line Locating
Help identify the route of an accessible sewer line and locate a specific area when conditions allow. Useful when planning further evaluation or work.
Drain Cleaning
Address buildup or blockages in drains serving sinks, tubs, and other fixtures. The service focuses on the affected drain and the reported symptoms.
Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection
Get a visual assessment of accessible portions of the sewer line before buying a property. The findings can help inform your due diligence.
Recurring Sewer Backup Diagnosis
Investigate recurring backups and document conditions observed during the inspection. Findings can help clarify what may be contributing to the problem.
Preventative Sewer Maintenance
Arrange sewer inspection or cleaning based on the line’s condition and service needs. Recommendations should be guided by observed evidence.
Who is responsible for the lateral
The sewer lateral runs from the building to the public sewer. Understanding whose problem it is, and what documentation a municipal program asks for, is most of what people come to this page to find out.
MSD maintains the mains, not your lateral
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District states that homeowners are responsible for maintaining the sewer lateral. It does not inspect or repair private lines, so the condition of your own line is not something the utility will establish for you.
Lateral programs ask for documentation
Many municipalities in the area operate sewer lateral repair programs funded by a small annual charge on the real estate tax bill. They generally require documentation from a licensed plumber before a claim is considered, commonly including video of the line.
The terms are not uniform
Fees, caps, coverage boundaries, and exclusions differ between municipalities, and the City of St. Charles runs its own sewer system, outside the area MSD defines as its service area. Whether a program applies to your address, and what it covers, is a question about your specific municipality.
Not sure which sewer lateral program applies to your property?
Program rules, coverage boundaries, documentation requirements, and exclusions vary by municipality. Review the information for your property location or contact The Sewer Pros before scheduling an inspection.
Older lines, older materials
This is era correspondence, not a claim about any particular street or address. What a specific line is made of, and what condition it is in, is what a camera inspection establishes.
Vitrified clay
Common through much of the twentieth century. Clay separates at the joints and admits roots, which is the failure pattern a camera most often finds in older city and inner-suburb lines.
Cast iron
Also common in that period. Cast iron corrodes and scales internally, narrowing the bore over time rather than breaking suddenly.
Orangeburg
Bituminized fibre pipe, installed through the post-war decades until its manufacturer closed in 1974. It deforms under load, and any remaining Orangeburg is now well past its intended service life.
Buying or selling a home in St. Louis? Know what is in the sewer line first
A sewer camera inspection gives home buyers, sellers, and real estate agents documented evidence of a property’s sewer line condition before closing, not just an assumption based on the home’s age. In St. Louis, where much of the housing stock predates modern sewer materials, a pre-purchase sewer inspection can confirm whether a line is sound, needs cleaning, or shows signs that warrant further evaluation, without pressuring anyone toward repair or replacement.
- Document the sewer line before closing
- Identify visible conditions that may affect the purchase
- Keep footage and findings for review or a second opinion
Evidence-first sewer diagnostics
How our sewer inspection process works
Every sewer inspection follows the same process, whether you are a homeowner dealing with a recurring backup, a buyer who wants to know what is in the line before closing, or a property manager scheduling preventative maintenance. We look, we document, we explain, and you decide.
Inspect the sewer line
We run a sewer camera inspection through the accessible line to see its actual condition, root intrusion, blockages, offset joints, bellies, or cracks, on video rather than relying on guesswork from symptoms alone.
Document the visible evidence
The inspection is recorded and the findings are documented as we go, so what we observe in your sewer line is captured on video and in writing, not just described after the fact.
Understand what the footage shows
We walk you through the footage and explain what it actually shows in plain language, what is a maintenance issue a sewer cleaning or hydro jetting can resolve, and what may point toward a structural issue worth a second opinion.
Decide what happens next
You keep the video and the findings. That evidence is yours to use however you choose, to schedule cleaning or preventative maintenance with us, to get a second opinion, or to make an informed decision about a bigger repair with a contractor of your choosing. We do not sell sewer repair or replacement, so the decision about what happens next stays yours.
We are sewer and drain specialists: sewer camera inspection, sewer diagnostics, sewer cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line locating, drain cleaning, and pre-purchase sewer inspection, all built around the same evidence-first process.
Where we serve in the St. Louis area
The Sewer Pros provides sewer camera inspection, sewer cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line locating, and diagnostic services throughout the greater St. Louis region. Start with the counties below, or go straight to a featured community if yours is listed.
Sewer service across the greater St. Louis region
Our St. Louis service area extends across communities in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson County. Contact us with your property location and service need so we can confirm current coverage before scheduling.
St. Louis County, Missouri
Sewer inspection, cleaning, locating, and diagnostic services for residential and managed properties across St. Louis County.
St. Charles County, Missouri
Evidence-first sewer inspection and cleaning services for homes, buyers, and property professionals across St. Charles County.
Jefferson County, Missouri
Professional sewer camera inspection, cleaning, and diagnostic services for properties throughout Jefferson County and surrounding communities.
Featured St. Louis-area service locations
These five communities have their own pages covering who maintains the sewer and how the local lateral program works. They are featured communities, not the limit of where we work.
St. Louis City, MO
MSD runs the public sewer for the whole city, and the lateral from your building to that main is the owner’s to maintain.
ZIP codes: 63101, 63102, 63103, 63104, 63106, 63107, 63108, 63109, 63110, 63111, 63112, 63113, 63115, 63116, 63118, 63120, 63139, 63147
Explore St. Louis City
Ballwin, MO
Ballwin runs its own lateral repair program, which starts at the outside wall of the house. A camera inspection shows where along the line a defect sits.
ZIP codes: 63011, 63021
Explore Ballwin
Florissant, MO
Florissant’s City lateral program stops five feet from the foundation, so where along the line a defect sits matters.
ZIP codes: 63031, 63033
Explore Florissant
Chesterfield, MO
Chesterfield’s City lateral program starts the eligible lateral three to five feet outside the foundation and treats routine root removal as maintenance.
ZIP codes: 63005, 63017
Explore Chesterfield
St. Charles, MO
St. Charles runs its own sewer system through City Public Works, outside the area MSD defines as its service area.
ZIP codes: 63301, 63303
Explore St. Charles
Do not see your community listed?
These featured locations do not represent the full limit of our greater St. Louis service area. Tell us where the property is located and what is happening with the sewer line, and we will confirm whether service is currently available before you schedule.
Planning Your Sewer Service Appointment
Get clear information about estimates, scheduling hours, and appointment availability before you request sewer inspection or cleaning service.
Estimate options
Ask About a Free Estimate
Free estimates may be available before a sewer camera inspection or sewer cleaning. Tell us what is happening, which service you are considering, and where the property is located. We will explain what can be estimated before an appointment is scheduled.
- Available for
- Sewer inspection and cleaning requests
- Next step
- Ask about eligibility before scheduling
Scheduling
Same-Day Appointments When Available
Same-day sewer appointments may be available when the weekday schedule permits. Contact us early with your service and location information so we can check current availability.
- Scheduling hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm
- Availability
- Same-day when scheduling permits
- Service limits
- Not available on weekends. We do not offer 24/7 or emergency service.
Need a quick answer?
Common questions
Does MSD inspect my sewer lateral?
No. MSD maintains the public mains and collection system. It states that homeowners are responsible for maintaining the lateral, and it does not inspect or repair private lines.
Does my municipality have a lateral repair program?
Many in the area do, funded by an annual charge on the real estate tax bill, but terms vary considerably and not every jurisdiction participates. The City of St. Charles runs its own sewer system and sits outside the area MSD defines as its service area. Check with your own municipality for what applies to your address.
Can you get my lateral repair approved?
No, and neither can anyone else. We document what the inspection shows. The municipality decides claims.
What is the difference between a general sewer inspection and a sewer camera inspection?
A general sewer inspection assesses overall sewer line condition and function. A sewer camera inspection uses a video camera fed through the line to visually document specific conditions, such as blockages, root intrusion, cracks, and offsets, giving you recorded evidence instead of an estimate based on symptoms alone.
How much does a sewer inspection cost?
Cost depends on the scope of the inspection and what we find once we are on-site, so we are not able to quote a number without understanding your specific situation first. Because we do not build our business around selling repairs, our focus during the inspection is on giving you accurate information about your sewer line’s condition, not steering you toward a bigger job than you need.
Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a house in St. Louis?
Yes. A pre-purchase sewer camera inspection can reveal visible conditions in the accessible line, giving you documented evidence of the sewer line’s condition before you close. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line, so ask your home inspector what their inspection covers. This matters especially in St. Louis, where much of the housing stock is older and sewer materials and conditions vary widely by property and municipality.
How often should I have my sewer line inspected?
There is no single interval that applies to every property. Older lines, properties with a history of root intrusion or backups, and homes on materials like clay or cast iron generally benefit from more frequent checks than a newer line with no history of problems. If you are not sure where your line falls on that spectrum, a camera inspection is what establishes it. A common starting point homeowners use is checking in every few years, or sooner after any backup, slow drain pattern, or before a major landscaping or construction project near the line.
What can a sewer camera inspection show, and what can it miss?
A camera inspection shows the visible condition of the accessible portion of the line: blockages, root intrusion, cracks, offset joints, bellies, and standing water. It documents what the camera can physically see and reach. It does not diagnose issues in sections the camera cannot access, and it is not a structural engineering assessment. What it does give you is documented, visual evidence of the conditions that are present, which is the basis for deciding what to do next.
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Time varies with the length of the line, how many access points are available, and what the camera finds along the way. A straightforward inspection with clear access generally takes less time than one where multiple sections need to be checked or where cleanup is needed before the camera can proceed. We can give you a better estimate once we know your property’s setup.
What happens if the inspection finds a problem?
You get the video and the documented findings, and you decide what happens next. If the issue is something a cleaning or hydro jetting can resolve, that is on the table as our service. If what is found looks more serious, structural repair or replacement is not something we sell. You are free to get a second opinion, consult a repair contractor of your choosing, or simply monitor the condition. Nothing about the inspection commits you to a specific next step.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer lateral damage?
Coverage for sewer lateral issues varies by policy and by insurer, and some municipalities also offer a separate lateral repair program that is not the same thing as an insurance policy. We are not able to tell you what your specific policy covers. Your insurance provider is the right source for that answer, and a documented camera inspection is often useful to have on hand either way, since insurers and municipal programs alike frequently want to see video evidence before considering a claim.
Can I be present during the sewer camera inspection?
Yes. Being present lets you see the footage in real time and ask questions about what the camera is showing as the inspection happens, rather than only reviewing a report afterward. If you are not able to be there, the inspection is still fully documented on video so you can review it and ask questions afterward.
Evidence before expensive sewer decisions
Schedule a sewer camera inspection in St. Louis
If you are dealing with recurring sewer backups, slow drainage across multiple fixtures, concerns about an older sewer lateral, or questions before purchasing a property, a professional sewer camera inspection can show what is visible inside the accessible line.
The Sewer Pros records the inspection and explains the footage in plain language. A sewer scope may document root intrusion, buildup, blockages, offset pipe joints, standing water, cracks, or other visible conditions that can help determine whether sewer cleaning, continued monitoring, or further evaluation is appropriate.
Because we do not perform sewer repair or replacement, our findings are not tied to selling you a major repair. You receive evidence you can keep, review, and use when deciding what happens next.
What you receive
- Recorded video of accessible portions of the sewer line
- Documented findings explained in clear language
- Information you can use for cleaning, maintenance, a property purchase, or a second opinion
We provide sewer camera inspection, sewer cleaning, hydro jetting, sewer line locating, and diagnostic services throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and surrounding communities. Contact us to confirm availability for your property.
Weekday appointments are available Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm. Same-day appointments may be available when scheduling permits. We do not offer weekend, 24/7, or emergency service.
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