Quick Answer
A sewer camera inspection is performed at the cost of $1,000 – $10,000 and will only “look” inside the pipe and diagnose the issue, while an excavation may cost $100,000 – $100,000+, and takes a physical approach to replacing the damaged section. In most instances, you will have to use the camera inspection to determine if excavation is even needed or if there’s a more affordable trenchless repair option.
Key Takeaways
- A sewer camera inspection is a diagnostic step, not a repair; it shows the exact location and cause of a problem.
- Excavation is a physical repair method reserved for collapsed pipes, severe bellies, or structural failure.
- Skipping the camera step is the single most common (and most expensive) mistake homeowners make.
- Roughly 80% of Ontario sewer repairs can now be done with trenchless methods instead of full excavation.
- Basement excavation and hydro excavation are separate services with their own cost ranges, covered below.
What Is a Sewer Camera Inspection?
Sewer camera inspection, also known as drain camera inspection or sewer line inspection, involves running a flexible, waterproof camera pipe (also called a plumbing camera or sewer camera) through the sewage lines and taking live, visual footage of the pipe. Technician slips the pipe camera through a cleanout or access point and monitors the camera on a screen as it is inserted.
Many have a sewer camera with a locator – a small transmitter on the camera head allows the technician to mark the exact problem spot at the surface without any guesswork involved – depth and location. Before anyone lifts a shovel to find the crack, the plumber’s able to tell you that it is “6 feet down, 14 feet from the foundation.
What it finds:
- Tree root intrusion
- Cracked, offset, or collapsed pipe joints
- Bellies (sagging sections that trap water)
- Grease buildup or blockages
- Corrosion in old cast iron or clay pipe
- Pipe material and overall condition
In Canada, the average price for a sewer inspection using a camera is $100 – $1,000, and most homeowners in the GTA spend $150 – $500 for a basic house camera sewer inspection. Additional camera equipment, inspectionHD video footage, locator or written inspection report for a home sale will cost $1000 – $10,000 for more complex commercial or long run jobs. A quick search for “sewer inspection camera near me” will yield quotes that will run in that direction for a basic, single-family home.
What Is Excavation?
Excavation – physically removing the earth to locate and repair/replace a sewer or water line. Although the era of camera and trenchless technology has passed, it is still the correct approach for some issues.
When excavation is necessary:
- Fully collapsed pipe sections
- Severe bellies that trenchless lining can’t correct
- Pipe that has separated at multiple joints
- Structural issues under a foundation or footing
Typical Cost: The cost of projects involving full excavation ranges from $10,000 – $100,000 depending on the length and depth of the trench, access to the site, concrete and surface restoration of the driveway or landscaping. The cost of underpinning the basement or a new basement bathroom drainage is $100 to $1,000 per square foot of basement area involved but will be significantly higher for whole basement lowering projects. Due to cost differences, most licensed plumbers will only suggest excavation after they’ve completed a camera inspection and determined it’s necessary.
Camera Inspection vs. Excavation: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Sewer Camera Inspection | Excavation |
| Purpose | Diagnose the problem | Physically repair/replace pipe |
| Cost (CAD) | $100 – $1,000 | $10,000 – $100,000 |
| Time on site | 30–90 minutes | 1–5+ days |
| Property disruption | None to minimal | Significant (lawn, driveway, landscaping) |
| Best for | Any suspected drain/sewer issue | Collapsed pipe, severe structural damage |
| Follow-up work needed | Often based on findings | Restoration of yard/driveway after |
Why You Should Always Start With a Camera Inspection
Why? When someone guesses it is more expensive than looking. A drain camera inspection helps you and your plumber to see what you’re up against, before you proceed with a repair technique.
When symptoms are seen along slow drains, gurgling or repeated back-ups, some contractors will recommend a complete excavation and pipe replacement; this is likely to occur because it is one of many possible causes, where only one of them requires excavation. When you keep a sewer line inspection, you will not have to deal with that kind of unnecessary upselling, as you will have objective video evidence of what’s occurring beneath the ground.
Common scenarios where a camera inspection changes the outcome:
- Recurring clogs that keep returning after snaking often roots or a minor offset joint, not a collapse
- Buying an older home a pre-purchase sewer camera run can flag $10,000+ in hidden repairs before closing
- Slow drains across multiple fixtures usually points to one main-line issue, not several
- Sewage odor in the yard could be a minor crack, not a full collapse
When Excavation Genuinely Can’t Be Avoided
Not all problems can be solved with a trenchless solution. When the camera inspection shows that a pipe is fully collapsed, has a severe belly (accumulation of standing water) or is several joints apart, then the answer is to dig it up, which is the most appropriate and safest solution that no camera, lining, or bursting can provide.
In these instances, many Ontario contractors have replaced a mechanical digger with hydro excavation (hydrocar truck). Hydrovac is a method that is used to unearth pipes and utility lines that is performed using pressurized water and a vacuum suction to open pipes and utility lines while avoiding the hazard of hand or bucket striking gas, hydro or telecom pipes. The price of a hydro excavation will generally range from $100-$1,000 for a small daylighting project and $1,000-$10,000 for a larger project. When looking for hydrovac companies near me, inquire if the property does require hydrocar services near gas mains or fiber lines; it is not always a choice in the Ontario utility-locate process.
As for deep trenches (typically more than 1.2 meters), these will also legally need hydraulic shoring in Ontario to keep the trench from collapsing and to protect workers—this can often be included in the quote but should be specifically requested for each job, as the licensed contractor should never overlook it.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
- Agreeing to excavation before a camera inspection. Always ask for video evidence first.
- Choosing the cheapest camera inspection without a written report. A verbal “looks fine” isn’t useful if problems show up later.
- Assuming excavation is always required for old pipes. Cast iron and clay pipes can often be relined or repaired without digging.
- Skipping utility locates before any dig. Ontario One Call locates are required by law and prevent costly, dangerous strikes.
- Not checking for permits. Sewer and water line work in Ontario requires a municipal permit; unpermitted work can void insurance and complicate resale.
Expert Tips
- When the sewer is being inspected, inquire if the camera can be utilized with a sewer locator because it can save hours of guesswork when repair is necessary.
- Ask for the video or a written report; don’t just get a summary that would be helpful in an insurance claim, home sale or second opinion.
- Don’t hire a contractor that says without a camera there’s no need to dig.
- Before considering trench cut, ask directly if your job can be successfully completed with a trenchless pipe lining or pipe bursting, as it is likely to be quicker and less disruptive to the property.
FAQs
1. What is a sewer camera inspection?
A sewer camera inspection involves using an underwater camera to assess the condition of your drain or sewer line without digging by placing the camera into the pipe and taking a video of the interior of the pipe.
2. Why is a camera inspection cheaper than excavation?
Camera inspection only needs to go through an existing cleanout or fixture, and takes less than 2 hours, while excavation requires heavy equipment, labor, permits, utility locates, and complete property restoration.
3. How much does a sewer camera inspection cost in the GTA?
A typical $100 – $1,000 sewer camera inspection is usually performed on most home properties within the GTA, and a simple single-family home inspection is likely to fall on the lower end of that range.
4. Is excavation always necessary for a damaged sewer line?
Today, about 80% of all sewer repairs in Ontario are now performed without trenching with trenchless techniques, such as pipe lining or pipe bursting. Unless the pipe is completely collapsed or there is serious damage to the structure, excavation is usually not the preferred method.
Conclusion
The short answer: Always have the sewer camera inspection first. It’s less expensive than excavation, requires less than two hours and provides you and your plumber with a piece of concrete evidence to show others that there is a problem that needs to be addressed before excavation begins. While excavation can still be a part of the solution when a pipe has collapsed or is structurally compromised, it must be a result of the plumber’s inspection, rather than a given assumption.
BOS Plumbing and Drains have been servicing the GTA for more than two decades, servicing Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton, Milton, Niagara, Cambridge, Brampton and Etobicoke with their services. Whether it is a routine camera inspection or hydro-jetting, to sewer line excavation or coordinating hydro excavation, our licensed team provides a clear diagnosis with a video before treating you to a repair; so you only pay for what you need.
Disclaimer: This article contains general information and is not specifically related to BOS Plumbing & Drains’ services or prices. Actual costs and recommendations may be different based on the area, property and services needed.