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California Service · Detection

Sewer & Drain Leak Detection in California

Camera-based inspection finds sewer line breaks, root intrusion, and drain leaks.

Quick answer: Sewer and drain leak detection for California properties. Camera inspection locates broken, cracked, or root-intruded sewer lines without blind digging.
Already know where the leak is? See our Sewer Line Repair (Trenchless & Traditional) page for how the fix works.
Sewer & Drain Leak Detection illustration
Customer Success Story · Sewer & Drain Leak Detection

Trevor B., a Willard, Santa Ana homeowner, had been living with backups in the lowest drain in the house (often a shower or floor drain) for weeks before calling us. Camera inspection lets us show you exactly what's happening inside the line on screen, with the defect's distance from the access point logged, so any excavation or trenchless repair is targeted to that section only. The leak was marked in that same visit, and the repair crew only had to open a small section instead of the whole area.

— Trevor B., Willard, Santa Ana

What is sewer & drain leak detection?

Sewer line problems tend to show up gradually: slow drains, gurgling, or a damp patch in the yard that never quite dries out. Using push and drain-camera inspection equipment, we run a real-time video line down the sewer lateral to identify cracks, offset joints, root intrusion, or full breaks, and mark the exact distance and location from the cleanout.

Camera inspection lets us show you exactly what's happening inside the line on screen, with the defect's distance from the access point logged, so any excavation or trenchless repair is targeted to that section only.

Signs you may need sewer & drain leak detection

  • Slow or gurgling drains throughout the house, not just one fixture
  • A patch of unusually green or soggy grass over the sewer line's path
  • Sewage odor in the yard or near the cleanout
  • Sinkholes or soft, sinking ground along the line's path
  • Backups in the lowest drain in the house (often a shower or floor drain)
  • Multiple slow drains after tree work or root growth nearby

How sewer & drain leak detection works

  1. Schedule your inspection

    Call or request an appointment online. Same-day slots are available across California for active leaks.

  2. On-site diagnostic

    A technician arrives with acoustic listening equipment, thermal imaging, and pressure or camera tools matched to your specific leak type.

  3. Pinpoint & confirm

    The leak's exact location is marked and explained to you in plain terms, so nothing gets opened up on a guess.

  4. Clear next steps

    You receive a written diagnostic report you can hand to your plumber, restoration team, or insurance company, with repair or fix options discussed on the spot.

Sewer & Drain Leak Detection across California

We provide sewer & drain leak detection for homeowners, property managers, and businesses throughout the state, including these service areas:

Los Angeles, CASan Diego, CASan Francisco, CASan Jose, CAFresno, CASacramento, CALong Beach, CAOakland, CABakersfield, CAAnaheim, CASanta Ana, CARiverside, CAStockton, CAIrvine, CAChula Vista, CAFremont, CASan Bernardino, CAModesto, CAFontana, CAOxnard, CAMoreno Valley, CAHuntington Beach, CAGlendale, CASanta Clarita, CAGarden Grove, CARancho Cucamonga, CASanta Rosa, CAOntario, CALancaster, CAElk Grove, CACorona, CAPalmdale, CASalinas, CAPomona, CAHayward, CAEscondido, CATorrance, CASunnyvale, CAOrange, CAFullerton, CAVictorville, CAPasadena, CASanta Clara, CAClovis, CASimi Valley, CAVallejo, CAConcord, CAFairfield, CAThousand Oaks, CABerkeley, CAAntioch, CATemecula, CARichmond, CAMurrieta, CACarlsbad, CACosta Mesa, CADowney, CARialto, CAWest Covina, CAEl Monte, CAOceanside, CARoseville, CAVisalia, CAMenifee, CASanta Maria, CASan Buenaventura (Ventura), CAJurupa Valley, CAChico, CAVacaville, CASan Mateo, CABurbank, CAHesperia, CATracy, CAEl Cajon, CAInglewood, CADaly City, CAMerced, CAVista, CANorwalk, CAChino, CAManteca, CASan Marcos, CAIndio, CARedding, CAHemet, CAFolsom, CACarson, CACompton, CAMission Viejo, CASanta Monica, CAWestminster, CARancho Cordova, CASanta Barbara, CACitrus Heights, CALake Forest, CASan Ramon, CAWhittier, CAMountain View, CASan Leandro, CATurlock, CAUnion City, CAYorba Linda, CAWalnut Creek, CAApple Valley, CARedwood City, CANewport Beach, CADiamond Bar, CASan Clemente, CAPleasanton, CAMilpitas, CALodi, CACamarillo, CAAlhambra, CALivermore, CABuena Park, CAUpland, CAPerris, CANapa, CAPalm Desert, CACathedral City, CAYucaipa, CALynwood, CARedondo Beach, CAPittsburg, CANovato, CAChino Hills, CACerritos, CAMonterey Park, CARosemead, CABaldwin Park, CAMontebello, CABellflower, CAPico Rivera, CALa Habra, CAPlacentia, CACypress, CAEncinitas, CAPoway, CAImperial Beach, CALa Mesa, CACoronado, CANational City, CAMonrovia, CAAzusa, CAGlendora, CAClaremont, CALa Verne, CASan Dimas, CAWalnut, CAMontclair, CARedlands, CAColton, CALoma Linda, CAAlameda, CADublin, CAEmeryville, CANewark, CAPiedmont, CAOroville, CAParadise, CABrentwood, CAClayton, CAEl Cerrito, CAHercules, CAMartinez, CAOrinda, CAPinole, CAPleasant Hill, CASan Pablo, CACoalinga, CAFowler, CAKerman, CAReedley, CASanger, CASelma, CAHanford, CADelano, CARidgecrest, CATehachapi, CALemoore, CABrea, CADana Point, CALaguna Beach, CASantee, CASolana Beach, CAVernon, CASignal Hill, CACulver City, CAMenlo Park, CAFoster City, CATustin, CAAliso Viejo, CANorco, CAEastvale, CALos Gatos, CAGilroy, CASaratoga, CACampbell, CAHawthorne, CAGardena, CAHermosa Beach, CAManhattan Beach, CAEl Segundo, CACudahy, CAMaywood, CATemple City, CADuarte, CAPalos Verdes Estates, CARolling Hills Estates, CARolling Hills, CALomita, CABradbury, CAIndustry, CALa Puente, CAHawaiian Gardens, CAAtherton, CABelmont, CAHalf Moon Bay, CAMillbrae, CABrisbane, CABurlingame, CASeal Beach, CALos Alamitos, CA
4.8
Based on 6+ verified customer reviews across California

What California homeowners say about sewer & drain leak detection

★★★★★

“The floor in our hallway had a warm spot for weeks. They found the slab leak in under an hour with the listening equipment and marked a tiny area instead of tearing up the whole hallway. Huge relief.”

MTMarcus T. · Los Angeles, CA
★★★★★

“Our water bill jumped for two months straight and we couldn't find why. Turned out it was a slow leak behind the water heater. Professional, on time, and explained everything on the spot.”

PRPriya R. · Los Angeles, CA
★★★★★

“Salt air had corroded a fitting outside near the meter box. They traced it with the acoustic equipment without digging up my whole side yard first. Appreciated the straightforward report.”

DKDaniel K. · San Diego, CA
★★★★☆

“Good experience overall, technician was knowledgeable and thorough. Took a little longer than expected but they were clearly being careful about pinpointing the exact spot before marking it.”

AMAngela M. · San Diego, CA
★★★★★

“Old Victorian with plaster walls everywhere, so I was dreading this. They used thermal imaging and found the leak behind one wall panel instead of opening up the whole room. Saved us a big repair bill.”

CBChris B. · San Francisco, CA
★★★★★

“Ground near our garage had been soft for a while. Turned out to be the main line. They marked the exact dig spot and our plumber only had to open a two-foot section instead of the whole path.”

WLWei L. · San Francisco, CA

Sewer & Drain Leak Detection FAQs

How does a sewer camera inspection work?Toggle answer
A flexible camera on a push-rod or cable is fed into the sewer line through a cleanout or drain access point, sending a live video feed back to a monitor. We record the footage and note the exact distance to any cracks, breaks, or blockages found.
Do tree roots really cause sewer leaks?Toggle answer
Yes, roots are drawn to the moisture and nutrients in a sewer line and can enter through small existing cracks or joints, gradually widening them and eventually causing blockages or breaks. Root intrusion is one of the most common issues we find on camera inspections.
Will you need to dig up my whole yard to fix a broken sewer line?Toggle answer
Not necessarily. Once camera inspection identifies the exact defect location, targeted excavation or trenchless repair methods such as pipe lining or pipe bursting may be options, which your repair contractor can evaluate based on the footage and findings.

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Spot repair, reroute, or slab access — matched to your home once the leak is pinpointed.

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Fixture, fitting, and in-wall pipe repairs once the leak's exact location is confirmed.

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Targeted excavation, trenchless pipe pulling, or full replacement of a confirmed main line leak.

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Need sewer & drain leak detection in California?

Same-day appointments available. Call now or request an inspection online.

Call (844) 581-0720 Request Inspection