Missoula Sewer & Drain Camera Inspection
Garden City Plumbing & Heating uses sewer camera inspection to find exactly what’s wrong inside your sewer or drain line — without guessing, without digging, and without unnecessary work. If something’s off with your drains, we put a camera in the line and show you what we find. Call (406) 481-3548 to schedule an inspection.
Locate the Problem Before Anything Gets Opened Up
A camera goes directly into the sewer line and gives us a live view of everything inside — root intrusion, cracks, offset joints, collapsed sections, buildup, or blockages. You see what we see. No guesswork, no assumptions.
This is how we diagnose problems correctly before recommending any repair. It’s also how we confirm a repair was done right after the work is complete.
We inspect and we fix
Most inspection services stop at the report. Garden City Plumbing & Heating inspects and repairs. If the camera finds a problem, we can clear it, repair it, or replace the line — same team, same call.
Call (406) 481-3548 or book your camera inspection online.
Types of camera inspection we perform
Not every camera inspection is the same job. The tool is the same — a waterproof camera on a flexible cable — but where we put it depends on what’s going on in your home.
Sewer camera inspection
The camera goes into the main sewer line — the line running from your house to the city main or septic system. This is where root intrusion, pipe damage, and major blockages usually happen.
Drain camera inspection
When the problem is isolated — a slow kitchen sink, a bathroom drain that keeps backing up — we run the camera into that specific drain line to find whether the issue is local or further down the main.
Septic system inspection
For homes on septic systems, we inspect the tank, components, and drain field to assess condition and identify any developing issues. Common for routine maintenance and essential for real estate transactions on properties with a septic system.
Not sure which type of inspection you need?
Call us at (406) 481-3548 and describe what’s going on — we’ll tell you exactly what makes sense for your situation. Most of the time, one conversation is enough to point us in the right direction before we ever show up at your door.
Missoula’s most established plumbing company
In business since
1985
Google rating
4.8 stars
Google reviews
~1,000
— Locally owned; not a franchise
— Licensed, experienced technicians
— We inspect, diagnose, and repair: start to finish
— Straightforward answers, no unnecessary upsells
Signs you need a camera inspection
— Drains that keep backing up or slowing down throughout the house
— Gurgling sounds coming from toilets or floor drains
— Sewage odors inside or outside the home
— Wet or sunken spots in the yard with no explanation
— Before buying or selling a home
— Older home with original sewer lines that haven’t been inspected
— After a repair, to confirm the line is clear and intact
In Missoula specifically, mature trees in neighborhoods like the University District, Rattlesnake, and Rose Park are a common culprit — roots find their way into older sewer laterals and expand until the line is partially or fully blocked.
Ready for a plumbing inspection? Call (406) 481-3548 or book your service online.
What We Identify With a Camera Inspection
Camera inspections are how we diagnose conditions that can’t be detected from the outside. Common findings include:
Root Intrusion. Tree and shrub roots enter sewer lines through joints and small cracks. Inside the pipe, roots grow and collect debris until flow is restricted or fully blocked. A camera shows exactly where the roots are and how far they’ve spread.
Cracks, Fractures, and Breaks. Pipe material deteriorates over time. A camera inspection reveals cracks, stress fractures, and breaks that indicate structural failure—information that determines whether repair or replacement is the right call.
Offset or Separated Joints. Ground movement, settling, and freeze–thaw cycles can shift pipe sections out of alignment. Offset joints create gaps where waste catches, roots enter, and flow is disrupted. These won’t show up without a camera.
Pipe Corrosion and Deterioration. Older cast iron and clay pipes corrode from the inside. A camera inspection shows the degree of deterioration and whether the pipe wall is still structurally sound.
Bellied or Sagging Pipe. A belly in the line is a low spot where waste settles instead of flowing out. These spots accumulate debris, cause recurring backups, and are only visible through a camera inspection.
Grease and Debris Buildup. Heavy buildup along pipe walls reduces flow and creates conditions for blockages. Camera inspection shows the extent of accumulation so we can recommend the right cleaning method.
Collapsed Sections. A fully or partially collapsed pipe requires replacement—not clearing. A camera confirms this before any other work is attempted.
Foreign Objects. Items flushed or washed into the line—wipes, debris, construction material—can lodge inside and block flow. A camera locates the obstruction and its exact position.
What Happens After the Inspection? Once we know what’s in the line, we recommend the right service based on what we found—nothing more. Heavy buildup is cleared with hydro jetting. Damaged or deteriorated sections are repaired or replaced, with trenchless methods used when the layout allows. For homes on septic, we provide whatever inspection, maintenance, or service the system needs. Whatever the job requires, we do it right.
Ready for repairs? Call (406) 481-3548 or book your service online.
FAQs
What is a sewer camera inspection? A waterproof camera on a flexible cable looks inside your sewer or drain line — roots, cracks, buildup, blockages, collapsed sections — so we know exactly what we’re dealing with before any repair.
What’s the difference between a sewer camera inspection and a drain camera inspection? Same tool, different location. A sewer camera inspection looks at the main line running from your house to the city main or septic. A drain camera inspection targets a specific drain line — like a kitchen sink or bathroom drain — when the problem seems isolated to one area.
How long does it take? Most inspections take under an hour depending on the length and layout of the line.
Do I need an inspection or a drain cleaning? If you have a recurring problem or don’t know what’s causing it, a camera inspection first tells you whether you need a simple cleaning, a targeted repair, or something more. Cleaning a line without knowing what’s in it can miss the actual problem.
What does a sewer lateral inspection cover? The sewer lateral is the pipe that runs from your house to the city sewer main under your yard. It’s your responsibility — not the city’s. A lateral inspection checks its condition and is especially important for older homes or real estate transactions.
Can you repair what you find during the inspection? Yes. If the camera identifies a problem, we can clear it, repair it, or replace the line — one team from inspection through repair.
How often should a sewer line be inspected? Every 3–5 years for most homes. For older properties or homes with large trees nearby, more frequent checks make sense.
Do you do inspections for real estate transactions? Yes. We schedule sewer lateral and main line inspections for buyers and sellers throughout Missoula and Western Montana.
What happens after the inspection? We walk you through what the camera showed, explain what it means, and give you options. If a repair is needed, we can handle it — no need to bring in a separate contractor.
Why do tree roots cause so many sewer problems in Missoula? Older neighborhoods in Missoula have mature trees with root systems that seek out moisture. Older sewer pipes — especially clay or cast iron — have joints that roots can penetrate. Once inside, they expand and block the line over time. A camera inspection shows exactly where and how bad the intrusion is.
What areas do you serve for sewer and drain camera inspections? We perform sewer and drain camera inspections throughout Missoula and the surrounding Western Montana area, including Lolo, Frenchtown, Florence, Stevensville, Bonner, East Missoula, Clinton, and Hamilton. If you’re outside these areas, give us a call and we’ll let you know if we can get out to you.
Other Plumbing Services
Plumbing Services
Whether your home’s plumbing needs to be repaired … or you’d like to make upgrades to what you have, Garden City Plumbing and Heating’s expert plumbers are ready to help. From fixing uncooperative toilets to installing reliable piping, we can do it all for you.
Drain Cleaning
Are your drains stinky? Is gross stuff backing up into your basement, bathroom, or kitchen? Clean drains are critical to your home’s functioning and safety. Our drain cleaning experts will clean your drains and remove those pesky blockages.
Drain Repairs
If your drains are constantly clogging, there may be a bigger problem. Our drain repair experts will use today’s most advanced technology to assess your drains, pinpoint the problem, and recommend the most effective way to fix it.
Drain Opening
When only one drain is clogged, it’s easy to pinpoint the problem. However, if you’re having problems with several drains at the same time, you’re probably dealing with a serious clog in your main drain line. Our team knows the safest and most effective ways to open your drains back up.
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