A sewer camera inspection on a house usually takes 30 to 60 minutes on site when there is an open cleanout and the line is clear enough for the camera to pass. Plan on longer if there is no cleanout, or if roots, standing water or a clog stop the camera partway.
Access is the biggest variable. The camera normally goes in through the cleanout, a capped pipe near the foundation. A buried cleanout has to be found and dug out first. If you don’t have a sewer cleanout, the camera goes in through a roof vent or a pulled toilet, which adds setup time. See how to find your sewer cleanout for the usual spots.
A backed-up line is really two jobs. If the camera cannot get past a clog, the line is cleared first and then filmed, so the visit runs longer than a routine check. Long runs, bends, roots and standing water also slow the camera.
Ask for the video file before the technician leaves. One honest limit: the camera shows only what is visible inside the pipe on the day it is filmed. Debris or standing water can also hide part of the pipe wall.
Texas home buyers usually book it inside the option period, whose length is set in each contract. Book early so there is time to read the findings and negotiate.