A good sewer inspection report includes the complete, unedited video; the address, date and entry point; a footage counter visible on screen; a list of every observation with its distance from the entry point; surface locates and estimated depths for significant defects; a simple line map; the pipe material and diameter; and a plain statement of anything that could not be inspected.
- The video is the primary evidence; the written report is an index to it, not a replacement.
- Every observation needs a distance, and the distance needs a stated zero point.
- Surface locates with estimated depth turn a video into something a repair crew can price.
- Formal NASSCO codes are useful but optional in residential work; clear plain-language descriptions are the minimum.
- A report that mixes findings with a sales quote is not wrong, but the two should be separate so you can get a second opinion.
01 /What is the minimum a sewer inspection report should contain?
At minimum, a sewer inspection report should let someone who was not there understand where the camera went, what it saw and where each finding is. Use this checklist when the report arrives, and ask for anything missing while the job is fresh.
| Item | Why it matters | Red flag if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Full video file or download link | The primary evidence; lets others review it | Only still photos or a summary |
| Address, date, operator name, company | Ties the video to your property and time | Generic video with no identifying details |
| Entry point and counter zero | Makes distances meaningful | Distances with no reference |
| On-screen distance counter | Links each frame to a location | Counter hidden or not recording |
| Pipe material(s) and diameter | Drives repair options and lining feasibility | Material 'unknown' on a clear video |
| Observation list with distances | An index to the video | A single verdict like 'needs replacement' |
| Surface locates and depth estimates | Tells a crew where and how deep to dig | No locate on a defect that needs repair |
| Line sketch or map | Shows route, bends and ownership boundary | No idea where the pipe runs |
| Where the camera stopped and why | Distinguishes 'clean to main' from 'unknown past 9 m' | Report implies full coverage it did not achieve |
| Conditions at time of inspection | Cleaned or not, water running or not | No mention of pre-cleaning |
02 /Why is the video more important than the written summary?
The video is more important because it is the only part of the report that another professional can independently check. A written summary reflects one operator's judgement; the video lets a second company, an insurer or a lawyer see the same pipe. Always keep an unedited copy.
- Ask for a standard file format that plays on an ordinary computer, not a proprietary viewer only.
- Check that the recording runs continuously from entry to the end of the run; jumps in the counter mean footage is missing.
- Confirm the audio or text notes, if any, match the observation list.
- Store it with the house records. It becomes a baseline for the next inspection, and future buyers may ask for it.
03 /How should observations be described in a report?
Each observation should be described with its distance, its position around the pipe (clock position), what it is and how big it is. For example: 'Joint offset, medium, at 8.4 m from basement cleanout, drop at 6 o'clock.' That sentence is useful to anyone; 'bad joint near front' is not.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Roots in line | Fine roots at joint, 4.1 m; medium roots at joint, 6.5 m, about 20 per cent of cross-section |
| Belly | Water level rises to about 30 per cent of diameter from 10.2 m to 13.0 m; camera partly submerged |
| Crack | Longitudinal crack at 12 o'clock from 5.3 m to 5.9 m, no visible soil |
| Pipe is bad | Fracture with missing piece at 7.8 m, soil visible at 3 o'clock |
| Old repair | Transition from clay to PVC with rubber coupling at 9.6 m; slight offset at coupling |
The clock-position convention treats the pipe like a clock face seen looking downstream: 12 o'clock is the top (crown), 6 o'clock the bottom (invert). It tells a repair crew and a liner installer where the damage sits. Terms like crown, invert and spring line are defined in the glossary.
04 /Do residential reports use NASSCO PACP codes?
Some do, many do not. NASSCO's Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) is the North American standard coding system for sewer condition, and the related Lateral Assessment Certification Program (LACP) applies it to service laterals. Municipal mainline inspections are commonly coded to PACP, but most residential scopes are written in plain language because homeowners and buyers need a decision, not a database record.
A coded report is not automatically better, and a plain-language report is not automatically worse. What matters is precision: distance, clock position, size and a clear description. If your report does use codes such as RMJ, JOM or FL, the inspection report decoder translates them, and the defects guide explains what each means physically. If a company advertises certified operators, certification and training explains what that credential covers.
05 /What should the locate and map section show?
The locate and map section should show the route of the line from the house to the main, the position of each significant defect on the ground and an estimated depth at each mark. A hand sketch on a site plan is fine if it is labelled and measured from fixed features like the foundation wall or the curb.
- Distance of each mark from a fixed point on the house (for example, '3.2 m from the northeast corner of the front wall').
- Estimated depth at each mark, with the locator used and a note that depth is an estimate.
- Where the line crosses the property line, if it could be located.
- Trees, driveways, retaining walls or utilities near the defect that affect repair cost.
- Photos of the paint marks, since marks fade and lawns get mowed.
See locating and depth for how sonde depth readings work and why they are estimates. If your report has an observation list but no map, you can make a simple one yourself: the Lateral Defect Map plots each finding by its distance from the access point and colours it by concern.
06 /How should recommendations be presented?
Recommendations should be separated from findings and tied to specific observations. 'Spot repair recommended at the fracture at 7.8 m' is reviewable. 'Full replacement recommended' with no reasoning is not. A report may reasonably offer options: clean and monitor, lining, spot repair, or replacement, with the reason each might fit.
| Recommendation | What to check | Second-opinion question |
|---|---|---|
| Clean and monitor | Are the defects maintenance-type (roots, grease) not structural? | How often, and when to reinspect? |
| Descale or clean then reinspect | Was the pipe wall hidden by buildup? | Could cleaning damage thin cast iron? |
| Spot repair | Is the defect isolated with sound pipe either side? | Are there other joints likely to follow? |
| Lining (CIPP) | Is the host pipe round enough and not collapsed? | Are sags or offsets too large to line? |
| Full replacement | Multiple structural defects, collapse, or failing material throughout? | Would trenchless bursting or lining work here? |
Once you have a recommendation, compare at least two quotes. SewerQuotes.com explains what a fair repair quote contains. Our guide to what to do after an inspection lays out the decision in detail.
07 /What should a report say about its own limits?
A report should state what it did not cover in plain words: sections underwater, branches not entered, the point where the camera stopped, and that the inspection describes the pipe's interior condition on that date only. This is not a disclaimer to ignore; it tells you exactly how much of the pipe you actually know about.
If a report you have already received is missing key items, you can usually ask the company to add distances, locates or a map. If you need a new inspection, request a quote and name the checklist items you expect.
FAQQuestions people ask
Should I get the sewer inspection video?
Yes. The video is the primary evidence and the only part another professional can review. Ask for a standard file or download link before the technician leaves.
What does 'clock position' mean in a sewer report?
It describes where a defect sits around the pipe as if looking downstream at a clock face: 12 o'clock is the top, 6 o'clock the bottom, 3 and 9 the sides.
Is a sewer report with no codes less reliable?
Not necessarily. Residential reports often use plain language. Reliability comes from full video, precise distances, clear descriptions and honest limits, not from codes alone.
Can I use a sewer inspection report from the seller?
You can use it as history, but check the date, whether it reaches the main, whether the line had just been cleaned, and whether the address is identifiable. An independent scope is the safer basis for a purchase decision.
How long is a sewer inspection report valid?
There is no expiry, but it describes one day. Roots grow seasonally and ground moves, so a report more than a year old is history rather than current condition.
Why does my report say the camera could not reach the main?
Common reasons are a blockage, a sag full of water, a collapsed section, tight fittings, or reaching the end of the cable. The report should say which and at what distance.
NETWORKGo deeper across the HAUSE Sewer network
Sewer camera inspection cost, and what the fee should include
Sewer camera inspection cost in Canada for 2026: standalone, pre-purchase and add-on scope prices in CAD, what a proper report includes and when the fee is wasted.
SewerRoots.caRoots found in the sewer line during a home inspection: what to do next
Roots found in the sewer line at a home inspection or sewer scope? How to read the finding, get repair quotes before conditions expire, and negotiate.
SewerCleaners.caHow to hire a sewer cleaner: the checklist, the questions and the paperwork
How to hire a sewer cleaner in Canada: questions to ask, insurance and WCB coverage in Alberta, a written scope template, red flags, and how to compare quotes.