Yes. Without a cleanout, a plumber can usually feed the camera in through a roof vent stack or by pulling a toilet, and in larger buildings through other openings on the drain system. Those routes are tighter, may not let the camera reach as far, and can add time. Installing a cleanout is the lasting fix.
How does a plumber get a camera in without a cleanout?
Two routes are named in InterNACHI's sewer scope standard: the inspector scopes the line "from a proper cleanout or roof vent stack." The same standard also mentions pulling toilets to reach the line, and InterNACHI's article on the practice describes a pre-scope notice that says whether the inspector "will/will not pull toilets." Wikipedia describes the usual entry as an access point on the property "such as a drain cover or cleanout."
In a home, that means:
- A toilet. The toilet comes off its flange, the camera goes down through the toilet drain into the building drain, and the toilet goes back on afterward. A new wax ring is part of the reset.
- A roof vent stack. The camera goes down the vent pipe, which connects to the drain below. It means a trip onto the roof, which is a safety call for whoever does it.
- A different opening. A commercial system may have more choices. The City of Mesa's video inspection specification lists "manholes, cleanouts, or other well-defined points" as acceptable start and end points for public sewers. A large building may have several openings, and a plumber who knows the system will find them.
All of them beat cutting into a wall or digging up a yard to find the pipe.
Why do some inspectors say they cannot scope the line?
Because the rules of their job let them stop. InterNACHI's sewer scope standard for home inspectors says the inspector will inspect and video-record the lateral "from a proper cleanout or roof vent stack," and "if a cleanout is not visible or accessible, the inspector will note that in the report." It also says the inspector is not required to "remove or pull toilets to access the main or lateral sewer line" or to "climb a roof to access a sewer vent pipe if deemed unsafe by the inspector."
So a report that says "no access" often means the inspector's scope ended, not that the line cannot be scoped. A plumber whose job is to work on the line will usually go further. If you are buying and your inspector could not scope the sewer, ask a plumber to do it. Our page on sewer scopes when buying a home explains why it is worth the trouble.
What are the limits of going in without a cleanout?
There are three, and you should ask about each.
- Reach. A vent stack or a toilet drain can be a tighter and more awkward route than a cleanout, so the camera may not travel as far or turn as easily. InterNACHI's article cautions "Do not force the camera through any obstruction." If the camera stops, the pipe beyond it goes unseen.
- The camera gets less of the story. From a poor entry point, the plumber may not see how the line runs to the street or where the lateral meets the city main. Ask that the report say what was not inspected, and why, the way InterNACHI's standard requires: the report "will outline and define the portions of the sewer line that were inspected and indicate any areas that were not inspected, the reason they were not inspected."
- Time and disruption. Pulling and resetting a toilet, or climbing to a vent, takes longer than opening a cap. Ask up front whether that is part of the visit.
Anything other than a cleanout is a workaround.
If cleaning is also proposed, review hydro-jetter access without an accessible cleanout separately from the camera route. The opening and equipment setup need their own assessment.
What is the best fix if you do not have a cleanout?
Install one. A plumber can add a capped riser on the building sewer at an accessible spot, so every future inspection, snake or hydro jet starts at the cap instead of through a toilet. Our page on what a sewer cleanout is shows what it looks like and where it belongs, and cleanout code requirements covers where current codes call for them. A two-way cleanout lets a plumber work the line in both directions from one opening.
Ask your city whether the work needs a permit before it starts. A licensed installer should know the local rule.
If your building has no cleanout, or you cannot find it, HQ can locate the line, add a cleanout, and camera the run. We are licensed and insured, run 24/7 emergency service, and give free estimates and upfront pricing. See sewer repair.
For the current inspection service, see HQ’s sewer camera inspections.