Built for San Juan winters
Boilers and radiant heat that run all winter, high-altitude water heaters at 6,512 ft, and frozen lines — we know your climate.
Camera Inspection in Durango
Evidence instead of educated guesses
The pipe that carries waste from your house is buried, and most of what goes wrong with it is invisible from the yard. Around Durango that might be roots slipping into an old clay joint, a cast-iron section rusting from the inside, a belly where frost heave or settling let the line sag, or a wipe snagged at a fitting. Each one calls for a different fix, and some need no digging at all.
A waterproof camera on a flexible cable goes in through a cleanout or other access point and sends live video to a monitor. You watch alongside the technician as we move down the line, note the distance to each problem and, where the equipment allows, mark its location and depth on the surface. From there the answer might be hydro jetting, a spot repair or trenchless replacement. Buying a house? It belongs alongside a plumbing inspection.
- Live Video You see the footage as the camera moves through the line.
- Problems Pinpointed Distance, and often depth, of each defect marked.
- City Main or Tank Inspections for sewer and septic properties alike.
When to Inspect
When a look inside is worth it
Some of these are problems. Others are simply good timing.
-
Buying a Home
A broken lateral is a costly thing to discover after closing.
-
Backups That Keep Returning
Something in the line is catching waste. The camera shows what.
-
Big Trees Near the Line
Cottonwoods and willows send roots toward any joint that leaks.
-
An Older Clay or Cast-Iron Line
Pipe from past decades is prone to cracks, roots and corrosion.
-
Sunken or Soggy Ground
Settling over the line’s path can mean a break below.
-
Before Any Sewer Repair
The video decides between a spot fix, lining or replacement.
What the Camera Shows
What we can find inside the pipe
Each problem calls for a different fix, and the video tells us which.
- Root Intrusion Where roots enter and how much of the pipe they fill.
- Cracks & Breaks Fractured, separated or collapsed sections of line.
- Bellies & Sags Low spots where water and waste settle and build up.
- Blockages & Objects Grease, scale, wipes or foreign objects caught in the line.
- Pipe Material & Condition Clay, cast iron or plastic, and how much life it has left.
- Line Location Route and depth at the problem spots, where the equipment allows.
How It Works
From cleanout to a clear answer
Most inspections are finished in one visit.
-
Find an Access Point
A cleanout, a pulled toilet or a roof vent gets the camera in.
-
Run the Line
We feed the camera toward the main or the tank, noting every defect.
-
Review the Footage
You see what we saw and where along the line it sits.
-
Get Your Options
If work is needed, each option comes with a price.
Durango crews. Mountain‑tough service.
Why Durango homeowners choose Element
Local to Southwest Colorado
A real office on Turner Drive and crews serving Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Hesperus and Pagosa Springs — not a call center.
Licensed in Colorado
Colorado Plumbing Contractor PC.0004697 and Master Plumber MP.03001859, with every job backed by our full service guarantee.
Here 24/7
Burst pipe at 2 a.m. or a cold boiler on a Sunday — a real technician answers the call.
Want proof before anyone digs?
Book a sewer camera inspection with our Durango team. Ask about $50 off any plumbing service.
Maintenance Membership
Ready for San Juan winters.
Seasonal checkups for every system in your home.
Seasonal checkups catch small problems before they become emergencies — and keep your systems running efficiently all year.
- Annual whole-home plumbing inspection
- Water heater flush & safety check
- Seasonal boiler tune-ups
- Priority scheduling for members
- Member savings on repairs
Sewer camera questions from Durango homeowners
Is a sewer scope worth it when buying in Durango?
In most cases, yes, especially for older homes and lots with mature trees. A standard home inspection doesn’t look inside the buried line, and repairs to it can be among the most expensive in a house. Knowing its condition before closing gives you room to negotiate or plan. Booking a plumbing inspection the same week covers the rest of the house.
What if there’s no cleanout?
We can often get in another way, such as pulling a toilet or going through a roof vent, depending on the house. If there’s no practical access, adding a cleanout is a worthwhile upgrade on its own, because it makes every future clearing and inspection easier. We explain the options and prices before doing anything.
Can the camera inspect a septic line?
Yes. The camera can follow the line from the house to the septic tank and show breaks, sags or roots along the way. It won’t tell you everything about the tank or the drain field, which need their own checks. If the trouble turns out to be past the line, our septic repair team picks it up.
Why would you clear the line before inspecting it?
A camera can’t see through standing water or a solid clog. When a line is backed up, we usually clear enough of it to get the camera through, then inspect. The camera may still find what caused the clog, like roots, a sag or a break, and that’s the information that keeps it from coming back. See drain cleaning.
Do I get to see the footage myself?
Yes. You can watch on the monitor as the camera moves through the line, and we point out what each finding means and where it is. If a repair is needed, seeing the footage helps you understand why we recommend one method over another, and you approve the price before any work begins.
*Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to dispatch fees. No cash value. Must present offer at time of service. Call for details.