(408) 978-3093

Indoor and Under-Slab Drain Video Inspection in San Jose, CA

See inside the drains in your walls, floors and slab. A compact inspection camera shows why a kitchen line keeps clogging, where a shower drain is leaking, or whether a drain under the slab has cracked, so the fix is targeted instead of guessed.

  • Google 4.9130+ reviews
  • Licensed C-36 · C-20 · ACSLB License #1101278
  • 1-year labor warranty24/7 service since 1986
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Opened ceiling showing drain and water pipes during a repair

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Drain Camera Inspection Services

Smaller cameras than our sewer cameras, made to pass through 1-1/2 to 3-inch drain lines and tight bends.

  • Kitchen drain lines

    Find the grease buildup, sag or broken fitting that keeps a kitchen line clogging after snaking.

  • Shower, tub and sink drains

    Check for cracked drain bodies, failed joints and hair or scale buildup in bathroom lines.

  • Under-slab drain lines

    Inspect cast-iron and ABS drains under a slab for cracks, corrosion and bellies before breaking concrete.

  • Drain leak tracing

    Locate a leaking drain behind a wall or ceiling so we open only what's needed.

  • Line locating

    A transmitter in the camera head marks the exact spot and depth of a problem on the floor or wall.

  • After cleaning or repair

    Confirm a drain is clear after cleaning, or that a repair is sound before walls are closed.

When a Drain Camera Inspection Helps

Most clogs don't need a camera. These do.

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  • A drain that keeps clogging

    If the same line clogs again within weeks of cleaning, something in the pipe is catching debris.

  • Water stains below a bathroom or kitchen

    A stained ceiling or damp wall below a drain can be a leaking drain line rather than a water line.

  • Sewer smell indoors

    Odors can come from a cracked drain or a failed joint inside a wall.

  • Slow drains on a slab home

    Bellies and cracked cast iron under the slab cause slow drains and repeat clogs.

  • Before a remodel

    Check old drain lines before new floors, cabinets and tile go in over them.

  • Buying an older home

    Pair a drain inspection with a sewer inspection for a full picture of the waste system.

This page covers drain lines inside your walls, floors and slab. For the sewer lateral from the house to the street, or a sewer check before you buy a home, see sewer video inspection.

What a Drain Camera Shows

A drain inspection camera is a miniature waterproof camera with LED lights on a flexible push cable, small enough to pass through the bends of a kitchen or bathroom drain. As it travels, the monitor shows the inside of the pipe in real time: grease and scale buildup, hair mats, objects, roots in a floor drain, cracks, holes, separated joints and bellies, the low spots where a pipe has sagged and water and debris collect.

A locator transmitter in the camera head lets us find the exact spot from the room above or the floor below. That turns “somewhere under the kitchen” into a mark on the floor, so we open the smallest area possible.

Drain Problems We Find Most Often

  • Grease buildup in kitchen lines, the main reason a kitchen sink clogs again after snaking. The fix is usually hydro jetting.
  • Cracked or corroded cast iron under slabs and in walls of older homes.
  • Bellies in drain lines, where settling has created a low spot. Minor ones are monitored; bad ones are repaired.
  • Failed joints and fittings, especially where newer ABS meets old cast iron or galvanized pipe.
  • Objects, from toys to bottle caps, that a cable can’t grab blindly.

After the Inspection

You’ll know exactly what’s in the line and where. Many problems are solved with drain cleaning or jetting. A cracked or leaking drain may need a section replaced, rerouted or lined; we’ll give you a written price for each option before any work starts.

Sources

Checked October 2026.

How Much Does a Drain Camera Inspection Cost in San Jose?

Camera inspections in San Jose typically cost $300 to $600. When a line is blocked, it's cleaned first so the camera can pass.

Typical drain video inspection prices in San Jose, installed, in US dollars. Checked October 2026.
ServiceTypical San Jose price (USD)
Camera inspection$300–$600
Drain cleaning before the camera$250–$600
Whole-home plumbing inspection with camera$450–$900
Inspection feeWaived for service plan members$59

What affects the price

  • Access. A cleanout or removable trap keeps it quick; a toilet pull or roof access adds time.
  • Blockages. A blocked line has to be cleared first.
  • Number of lines. Inspecting several drains in one visit costs less per line.
  • Locating. Marking a problem for repair is part of most diagnostic inspections.

Most repairs are quoted as a fixed price before we start. Ranges are typical for San Jose and the South Bay and don't include current specials.

Read the sewer inspection cost guide →

How a Drain Video Inspection Works

  1. Choose the access point

    We go in through a cleanout, a trap or a fixture, whichever reaches the problem best.

  2. Run the camera

    The camera travels through the line while we watch on a monitor, noting distance as we go.

  3. Locate the problem

    We pinpoint clogs, cracks, leaks and bellies, and mark their location on the floor or wall.

  4. Explain and price

    We show you what we found and give you a written price for cleaning or repair.

Drain Lines in San Jose Homes

Drain problems follow the age and construction of South Bay homes.

  • Slab-on-grade ranch homes

    Many San Jose homes from the 1950s to the 1970s sit on slabs with cast-iron drains underneath, which crack and corrode with age.

  • Galvanized drain arms

    Older homes often have galvanized steel drain arms in the walls that rust shut over time.

  • Hard water

    Moderately hard South Bay water leaves mineral scale that narrows drains and catches hair and grease.

  • Remodeled homes

    Additions and remodels sometimes tie new ABS pipe into old cast iron; the transitions are a common trouble spot.

Neighborhoods we serve: Downtown San Jose · Willow Glen · East San Jose · South San Jose · Evergreen · Cambrian Park · West San Jose · Berryessa · North San Jose · Blossom Valley

Current Specials

Save on your visit. Mention the offer when you book.

What Our Customers Say

Google 4.9 from 130+ reviews: read more →See photos of our work →

  • Luis came to my house to look at a toilet that had been frequently backing up. He was very thorough in his diagnosis, taking out the toilet and using the outdoor cleanouts to capture videos of the pipes. He found and removed the blockage, and the toilet has been flushing great since. Thanks CPI for a job well done

    Brian W.Google review

  • Antonio from CPI Service did an amazing job fixing a serious plumbing issue at my house. My kitchen drain pipe was broken, and whenever we used the kitchen sink, water leaked down and flooded the garage. Antonio quickly identified the problem, opened the wall, replaced the broken drain pipe, and made sure everything was working properly. This was a large job, but he finished it all in a half day. He was professional, efficient, and very careful with the work area. After the repair, he cleaned everything up and left the space in great condition.

    I really appreciate Antonio’s hard work and attention to detail. I would highly recommend him and CPI Service to anyone who needs reliable plumbing work done.

    Tianyang Z.Google review

  • We had a leak from the ceiling inside our condo. CPI was recommended by our HOA management company because they successfully completed several other jobs in our complex. Scheduling the appointment was easy and we were able to get a same-day appointment. Danny from Consolidated came out to do a leak investigation and was able to replace a leaking fitting during the same appointment. We had a very good experience with CPI and are glad our HOA recommended them.

    Ernesto M.Yelp review

Drain Video Inspection FAQs

What's the difference between a drain and a sewer video inspection?

A drain inspection looks at the smaller drain lines inside and under the house. A sewer video inspection looks at the main lateral from the house to the street. Each uses a camera sized for the pipe.

Can a camera find a leak in a drain?

Often, yes. It shows cracks, holes and separated joints. Some leaks only show when water runs, so we may combine the camera with a flow or dye test.

Do you have to break the floor to inspect a drain under a slab?

No. The camera goes in through an existing cleanout, trap or toilet flange. If a repair is needed, the locator shows exactly where to open the floor.

How much does a drain camera inspection cost?

Typically $300 to $600 in San Jose, plus cleaning if the line is blocked.

Will I get to see the video?

We show you the footage on our monitor during the inspection and explain what it shows.

Helpful Guides

Serving San Jose and the South Bay

Our shop is at 2880 Aiello Dr in San Jose. We provide drain video inspection across the city and nearby South Bay and Peninsula communities. See our full service area.

Content and prices reviewed October 2026.

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