Camera inspections: Same drain backing up again? See inside the pipe
A drain that keeps backing up is telling you something is wrong inside the pipe, and from above ground you can only guess at what. We feed a camera down the line and look. You watch the same screen we do, so the next decision is based on what's in the pipe.
- Open 24/7
- Free estimates
- Average arrival about 60 minutes
- Open 24/7 Call or text any time
- Average arrival about 60 minutes Across our service area
- Free estimates You know the cost before work starts
- Licensed & insured For homes and businesses
- 8+ years of experience Local to the Lower Mainland
In short
DrainX Plumbing Ltd. is a 24/7 plumber in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, out to Langley. A camera down the drain or sewer line shows what's causing the trouble before you commit to a repair. Call or text 778-794-1234. Average arrival is about 60 minutes, and estimates are free.
Last updated
What to watch for
Signs it’s time to call
- The same drain or sewer line has backed up more than once
- You're buying a house and want to know the state of the sewer line
- You've been told the line needs repair and want to see why
- Drains are slow through the whole house with no obvious clog
- Large trees grow near the path of the sewer line
What we do
How we handle it
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Step 1: Find a way in
We go in through a cleanout where there is one. If there isn't, we can often get in by lifting a toilet or through another opening in the drain.
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Step 2: Run the camera down the line
The camera sits on the end of a flexible cable and sends a live picture to a screen. We push it along the pipe and watch for anything that would catch debris or hold water.
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Step 3: Show you what's there
You can watch the screen with us while we explain what you're looking at. Roots, cracks, sagging sections and heavy build-up are the usual finds.
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Step 4: Talk through what to do next
Sometimes the line only needs cleaning, and sometimes a section needs repair. We tell you which and why, and the choice is yours.
Our work
Photos from our jobs
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Inspection camera monitor showing roots inside a drain pipe -
Close view of an inspection camera screen with fine roots growing into a pipe -
Gloved hand holding a clump of tree roots, with an inspection camera lying on the wet concrete floor -
Pipe camera view of a dark mass blocking a pipe, with the distance counter reading 39.5 feet
What it costs
There’s no price list, because every job is different. Some jobs are a flat rate and others are quoted after we take a look. Estimates are free, and we explain the cost before any work starts.
Our work is covered by warranty. Coverage depends on the service, and we go over it with you when you book.
Offers on now
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$50 off your first service
Conditions apply. Call for details.
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5% off for seniors
Conditions apply. Call for details.
Mention the offer when you call: 778-794-1234
Before we get there
- If you know where your cleanout is, clear the area around it. Outside, it’s often a capped pipe near the foundation. Inside, it’s usually in the basement floor.
- Jot down when the line has backed up before and which drains were affected. That history tells us where to look hardest.
- If the line is backed up right now, stop running water until we’ve cleared it.
- For a house you’re buying, ask your realtor to arrange access with the seller before we come out.
Camera inspections: common questions
When is a camera inspection worth doing?
When a line has backed up more than once, it's worth looking before you pay to clear it again. The same goes for a house you're about to buy, or a repair you've been quoted but can't see the reason for. For a single clog that clears and stays clear, you probably don't need one.
Should I have the sewer line checked before buying a house?
It's a sensible check, especially on an older house or one with big trees out front. The sewer line is buried, so a regular home inspection usually doesn't look inside it. You'll need the seller's permission, which your realtor can arrange.
Does the line have to be cleared before you can camera it?
Often, yes. A camera can't see through standing water or a pipe packed with grease, so a blocked line usually gets cleared first. Once water is moving, the picture is clear enough to show the condition of the pipe.
What if the problem is past my property line?
Usually the homeowner looks after the pipe on their own property and the municipality looks after the connection under the street. The details differ from one municipality to the next. If what we see points past your property line, your municipality is who to call next.
Guides on camera inspections
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Sewer camera inspection before buying a house in BC
Why a sewer scope is worth booking before you buy, what the camera finds, which houses need it most and what a good inspection report includes.
Updated
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Sewer connection grants in Burnaby and Coquitlam
What Burnaby's grant for upgrading a combined sewer connection and Coquitlam's sanitary connection pilot pay, who qualifies and how to apply.
Updated
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Surrey sewer blockage: the inspection chamber and who pays
How Surrey splits the sewer line between owner and City, what the inspection chamber is, who pays to clear a blockage and what proof the City asks for.
Updated
Google reviews
What customers say
5.0 out of 5 on Google
From 23 reviews, as of November 2026
What reviewers mention
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Fair prices
Reviewers often say the price was reasonable. A couple say it came in well under what other plumbers had quoted.
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Quick to come out
Several mention the plumbers arriving when they said they would. Others describe a same-evening visit, and a call-out at short notice on a holiday.
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Careful, clear work
The work is described as thorough, tidy and professional. Reviewers mention clear explanations, upfront pricing and no pressure to buy more.
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Fixed what others couldn't
Two reviewers say DrainX solved a problem other trades had not. Several say they would hire DrainX again, and one already has.
A summary, in our own words, of the reviews on our Google profile as of November 1, 2026. The reviews themselves are on Google.
Reviews shown as written on Google.
Service area
Where we do this work
Need a plumber? Call or text us.
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll take it from there.
Open 24/7 · Free estimates · Average arrival about 60 minutes