Sewer Camera Inspection
See Exactly What's Wrong — Before Any Repair Begins
Bison Plumbing feeds a Picote Solutions waterproof HD camera through your sewer line and shows you the footage live. Every repair we recommend is based on evidence you can see — not guesswork. Serving Warren, MI and Macomb & Oakland County since 1998.
Last updated: April 2026
A sewer camera inspection feeds a Picote Solutions HD waterproof camera through your sewer line to reveal cracks, root intrusion, bellied pipe, grease buildup, and collapses in real time — without any digging. Bison Plumbing uses this footage to confirm exactly what repair is needed before quoting a single dollar. Three inspection types are available: diagnostic (you have symptoms), pre-purchase (buying a home), and post-repair verification (confirming the fix was done correctly). Cost: $150–$400 standalone; often included with trenchless repair.
Who are the best sewer camera inspection companies in Warren, MI?
The best sewer camera inspection company in Warren is the one whose inspection you can actually act on — professional-grade HD footage, a written report you keep, and a licensed plumber who can interpret and, if needed, fix what the camera finds. Judge providers on four things: the equipment (a professional Picote-class HD camera resolves hairline cracks and root structure that commodity cable-cams miss); a written report with time-stamped, distance-marked findings (not just a verbal "looks bad"); a current Michigan (LARA) license; and whether they handle both diagnostic inspections (you have symptoms) and pre-purchase "sewer scope" inspections (you're buying a home). Bison Plumbing meets all four — Picote Solutions HD equipment, a written report after every inspection, LARA-licensed technicians, and all three inspection types (diagnostic, pre-purchase, post-repair) — with a 4.9-star rating across 3,000+ Google reviews and inspections across Warren and Macomb & Oakland County since 1998.
How do I choose a sewer camera inspection company? (checklist)
Six criteria separate an inspection you can act on from footage you can't use. Here's what to ask any provider in Warren — and how Bison Plumbing answers.
| What to look for | Why it matters | Bison |
|---|---|---|
| 1Professional-grade HD camera | Resolves cracks, root type, liner voids a cable-cam misses | ✓ Picote Solutions HD |
| 2Written report + footage | Something you can use for repairs or a home sale | ✓ Time-stamped report every time |
| 3Michigan (LARA) license | Qualified to interpret and repair, not just film | ✓ Licensedconfirm license # |
| 4Diagnostic + pre-purchase capability | Same provider for symptoms or a home purchase | ✓ All three inspection types |
| 5Post-repair (ASTM F1743) verification | Proof a CIPP liner cured correctly | ✓ ASTM F1743 documented |
| 6Review base + longevity | Track record behind the recommendation | ✓ Since 1998 · 4.9★ / 3,000+ |
Ready to see inside your line? Bison Plumbing runs Picote HD camera inspections across Warren and Macomb & Oakland County — footage, written report, and a repair recommendation based on evidence.
Call (586) 754-4281The most expensive sewer repair mistakes happen before a single wrench is turned. A plumber who recommends lining a pipe that's already collapsed has chosen the wrong method. A homebuyer who closes on a 1962 Birmingham colonial without a sewer inspection may be assuming a $20,000 liability that the seller knew nothing about. A homeowner who gets their main line snaked three times in a year without a camera look is treating symptoms, not causes.
Bison Plumbing uses Picote Solutions HD sewer camera equipment — not commodity cable-cams — on every diagnostic job. The difference shows in the footage quality and in the depth of what gets captured. You watch the inspection live. You see the root at the joint 42 feet from the cleanout. You see the belly where water pools. You see the liner void at 67 feet that would have gone undetected with a lower-resolution system. Then we write it up and hand you a report before we quote a repair.
That process — diagnose first, repair second — is the foundation of how Bison works. No blind snaking. No guesswork repair scopes. And no $15,000 repair recommendations that turn out to require a $400 drain cleaning.
What Does a Sewer Camera Inspection Reveal?
The Picote Solutions HD camera captures everything inside your sewer line from the cleanout access point to the municipal connection. These are the five conditions it identifies — each of which drives a different repair decision:
Cracks & Fractures
Longitudinal and circumferential cracks from freeze-thaw stress, soil settlement, or age. Visible as bright lines in the pipe wall. Determines whether lining or bursting is required.
Root Intrusion
Tree roots entering at joint gaps. Captured as fibrous masses blocking flow — often at specific footage marks where joints exist. Root location determines whether cleaning, lining, or removal is needed first.
Bellied Pipe
Low spots where the pipe has sagged underground, causing water and debris to pool. Visible as standing water in the camera feed. Bellies cannot be fixed by lining — they require re-grade or replacement.
Grease & Scale Buildup
Organic buildup coating pipe walls, restricting flow diameter. Appears as a narrowing of the visible pipe. Determines whether hydro jetting is sufficient or structural repair is also needed.
Collapses
Full or partial pipe collapse blocking the camera path entirely. Indicates that lining is not viable — pipe bursting or excavation are the only solutions. Camera confirms this before any quote is given.
Offset Joints
Pipe sections that have shifted at connections, creating steps or gaps. Common in older clay pipe with soil movement. Offsets create root entry points and flow restrictions detectable by footage review.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sewer Camera Inspection
A standalone camera inspection with Bison Plumbing runs $150–$400 depending on pipe length and access. The national average for a sewer camera inspection is $295; Southeast Michigan residential inspections typically fall in that same $150–$400 range. Pre-purchase inspections are typically $200–$350. Post-repair verification is included in Bison's trenchless repair package. If a diagnostic inspection leads directly to a repair job, the inspection cost is applied toward the repair. GreenSky financing is available for repairs following an inspection.
Look for professional-grade HD equipment, a written report with footage, a Michigan (LARA) license, and both diagnostic and pre-purchase capability. Bison Plumbing meets those markers — Picote Solutions HD, written reports, LARA-licensed, all three inspection types — with a 4.9-star rating across 3,000+ Google reviews, serving Warren since 1998. Call (586) 754-4281.
For any home built before 1990 in Macomb or Oakland County — especially pre-1980 homes with clay or cast-iron laterals — a pre-purchase sewer inspection is strongly recommended before closing. A $200–$350 inspection that surfaces a major defect is routinely recovered through seller credits.
See What's Inside Your Sewer Line
Bison Plumbing's Picote HD camera inspection gives you real footage, a written report, and a repair recommendation based on evidence — not guesswork. Serving Warren, MI and Macomb & Oakland County since 1998.
Schedule a Camera Inspection View Financing Options Or call directly — (248) 247-7707 · We answer fast.