Plumbing Inspection in Houston, TX
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A systematic, top-to-bottom inspection by a licensed master plumber, with a written photo-and-video report you can hand to a realtor, insurer, or contractor. Free quotes, no trip charge, same-day appointments available.
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Whole Home | Sewer Camera | Hydrostatic | Pre-Purchase
What a Whole-Home Plumbing Inspection Covers
A real plumbing inspection is not a plumber glancing under your sinks. It's a systematic, top-to-bottom evaluation of every part of your plumbing system.
Fixtures
Every toilet, sink, tub, and shower checked for leaks, slow drainage, loose seals, and running or rocking toilets.
Supply Lines & Pipe Material
We identify copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized, or polybutylene and inspect visible runs for corrosion, kinks, and failing braided connectors.
Drains
Drainage speed at every fixture, plus gurgling and cross-fixture backups that signal a main-line problem or a needed drain cleaning.
Water Heater
Age, T&P valve, sediment, corrosion, venting, and drain pan, with an honest read on remaining life and repair options.
Gas Lines
Accessible gas piping, connections, and shutoff valves, with leak checks and correct appliance connectors.
Sewer & Drain Cleanouts
We locate your cleanouts, confirm they're capped, and check the yard for soft spots and odors that signal a leaking sewer line.
Water Pressure & Flow
A gauge on the system; Houston homes should run 40 to 80 PSI, and we check whether your pressure-reducing valve is doing its job.
Shutoff Valves
The main and every fixture stop tested, so a small leak never becomes a flood. The most neglected item we find since the 2021 freeze.
Appliance Connections
Washing machine, dishwasher, and icemaker hoses, valves, and standpipes, frequent silent leakers.
Outdoor Plumbing
Hose bibs, vacuum breakers, and visible irrigation connections, checked for leaks and freeze damage.
You get a written report with photos, a prioritized list of findings, and straight answers about what needs attention now, what can wait, and what's fine.
When Should You Get a Plumbing Inspection?
A plumbing inspection earns its keep in any of these situations.
Before buying a home, during your option period, not after closing.
Before selling, so surprises don't blow up your deal at the buyer's inspection.
Any home over 20 years old that's never had one.
After foundation repair or noticeable foundation movement.
After any freeze event where pipes may have iced.
Recurring clogs, slow drains, gurgling, or sewage odors, often a drain cleaning or main-line issue.
Unexplained increases in your water bill.
Before and after major remodels.
Annually, as preventive maintenance on older homes.
Sewer Camera Inspection: Seeing Inside Your Pipes
The sewer line is the one part of your plumbing you can't inspect visually. It's buried under your yard and, in most Houston homes, under the slab itself. A sewer camera inspection is the only way to know its true condition without digging.
We run a RIDGID SeeSnake camera system through your drain and sewer lines from a cleanout or pulled toilet. The self-leveling camera head sends live color video to a monitor as it travels through the pipe, and a built-in 512 Hz transmitter (sonde) lets us locate the exact position and depth of any problem from above ground, so if a repair is needed, we can mark the spot instead of guessing.
What the camera finds
Root intrusion
Tree roots follow moisture into tiny gaps at pipe joints, then grow into root balls that snag paper and waste. Houston's mature oaks and clay soil make this one of the most common findings in older neighborhoods.
Bellies (sags)
Houston's expansive clay swells when wet and shrinks in drought, so sewer lines routinely settle out of grade. A bellied section holds standing water and solids, causing recurring clogs no amount of cabling will permanently fix.
Breaks and collapses
Cracked, sheared, or collapsed pipe, often where the line exits the slab, which takes the most stress from foundation movement. This is where a camera turns a guess into a targeted sewer line replacement.
Offsets and separated joints
Sections that have shifted so the pipe ends no longer align, catching debris and leaking wastewater into the soil.
Cast iron deterioration
In pre-1980 homes we regularly find channeling (the bottom of the pipe rusted away), heavy scale narrowing the pipe, and holes. Cast iron drain lines typically last 50 to 75 years, putting most of Houston's original installations at or beyond the limit.
Grease, scale, and foreign objects
The camera shows exactly what's blocking the line and where, so you pay for the right fix the first time, whether that's cleaning or trenchless sewer repair.
When you need a camera inspection: before buying any home more than 20 years old; after repeated backups or slow drains in multiple fixtures; before foundation repair (and after, since leveling a house can break sewer lines); before a major remodel that adds bathrooms; when you smell sewage or see soggy spots in the yard; or when you want to verify a repair another contractor recommended before spending thousands.
Hydrostatic Testing: Does the System Hold Water?
A camera shows you what the inside of the pipe looks like. A hydrostatic test tells you whether the drain system actually holds water, including under the slab where a camera can't fully evaluate. We plug the main sewer cleanout with an inflatable test ball, fill the drain system to slab level, and watch the water line. If it holds, the system is watertight; if it drops, wastewater is leaking under your foundation, and by isolating sections we can narrow down where.
This matters enormously in Houston because nearly everything sits on a slab-on-grade foundation, with no basement where a leak would announce itself. It's standard practice among informed buyers in Meyerland, Bellaire, and the Heights, and foundation companies often require a post-leveling test.
One honest caveat: on severely deteriorated cast iron, a hydrostatic test can reveal (not cause) failures that were already imminent, so we assess by camera first. See our full hydrostatic testing in Houston page for how it works, pricing, and when it's the right call.
Camera vs. Hydrostatic: Which One Do You Need?
They answer two different questions, and on a pre-purchase inspection you usually want both. The camera shows you the problem; the hydrostatic test proves whether the system leaks.
| Sewer Camera | Hydrostatic Test | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Live video of the inside of the line | Fills the drain system and watches whether the water level holds |
| What it finds | Roots, bellies, breaks, offsets, scale, blockages, and the exact location | Whether the system leaks under the slab, even where the camera can't see |
| Best for | Seeing and locating a specific defect so the repair is targeted | A pass or fail answer on under-slab leakage before you buy |
| Limit | A pipe can look rough and still hold water, or look fine and leak | Tells you the system leaks, not exactly where, until sections are isolated |
For a home purchase we pair them: the camera locates and documents, and the hydrostatic test confirms the system is watertight. Together they turn "the pipes look old" into a number you can negotiate with.
What Does a Plumbing Inspection Cost in Houston?
National guides (Angi, HomeGuide) put visual inspections at $100 to $200 and camera inspections anywhere from $250 to over $1,100. Angi's Houston-specific data shows sewer camera inspections averaging $847, with a range of $222 to $1,472, a wide spread driven by pipe length, material, and access. Here's realistic Houston pricing:
| Service | Typical Houston Price |
|---|---|
| Whole-home plumbing inspection | $150 to $300 |
| Sewer camera inspection | $250 to $500 |
| Hydrostatic test | $250 to $450 |
| Pre-purchase bundle (inspection + camera + hydrostatic) | $500 to $900 |
| Annual maintenance inspection plan | $150 to $250 per year |
Repipe Solutions Inc quotes every inspection free, with no trip charge, so you know the exact price before we start. And if the inspection leads to repair or repipe work, our repipes carry a lifetime warranty.
Pre-Purchase Plumbing Inspections: Use Your Option Period
In Texas, the standard TREC residential contract gives buyers an option period, typically 7 to 10 negotiated days with the unrestricted right to terminate. This is your one window to find plumbing problems while you can still walk away or renegotiate. Miss it, and every problem in the ground becomes yours at closing.
A general home inspection is not enough, and here's why:
Inspectors are generalists, not licensed plumbers
A Texas home inspector runs water, flushes toilets, and looks at visible pipes. They do not camera the sewer, do not perform hydrostatic tests, do not pull toilets, and typically cannot legally perform the invasive testing that finds under-slab problems. Their own reports usually recommend "further evaluation by a licensed plumber." That's us.
The expensive problems are invisible
Polybutylene supply lines behind walls, cast iron rotting under the slab, a bellied sewer line under the driveway, a water heater one year from failure, none of these show up on a visual walkthrough.
The math is lopsided
A camera-plus-hydrostatic inspection during your option period costs a few hundred dollars. The problems it finds, sewer replacement, whole-home repipe, slab leak repair, routinely cost $5,000 to $20,000 or more. Sellers regularly credit or fix documented defects; undocumented ones become your bill.
For pre-purchase work we recommend the full package: whole-home inspection, sewer camera, and hydrostatic test, with a written photo-and-video report you can hand directly to your realtor for the negotiation.
What Your Home's Age Tells You About Its Plumbing
In Houston, the decade a home was built is the single best predictor of what's behind its walls and under its slab. Match your era to the material and you know what to look for, and what to budget for.
| Material | Typical era in Houston | Expected life | Known failure mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel (supply) | Pre-1965 | 40 to 60 years | Internal rust, low pressure, leaks |
| Cast iron (drains) | Pre-1980 | 50 to 75 years | Channeling, scale, collapse |
| Polybutylene / Qest (supply) | 1978 to 1995 | Unpredictable | Sudden chlorine-related failure |
| Copper (supply) | 1960s to 2000s | 50+ years | Pinhole leaks, slab leaks, freeze splits |
| PEX (supply) | Mid-1990s to today | 40 to 50 years expected | Fitting issues, UV damage if exposed |
Galvanized steel
Corrodes shut from the inside over 40 to 60 years, causing low pressure, rusty water, and leaks. If the home still has galvanized, budget for a whole-house repipe.
Cast iron drains
50 to 75 year lifespan; Houston's original installations are aging out now. A camera inspection is essential, and a bad line often means sewer line replacement.
Polybutylene / Qest ("Quest")
Gray plastic supply pipe that degrades from chlorine in municipal water and fails without warning. It was the subject of Cox v. Shell, a class-action settlement approved in 1995 at roughly $950 million, and those funds are long gone. Polybutylene's failure history means some carriers treat it as a risk factor during underwriting; worth asking your agent before you close. If we find it, plan on repiping.
Copper
Excellent material with 50+ year life, but vulnerable to pinhole leaks and under-slab failures, and it was the material most damaged by the 2021 freeze.
For Buyers' Agents
We work with buyers' agents across Greater Houston. Order a pre-purchase inspection during your client's option period and we deliver a written photo-and-video report they can hand straight into the negotiation, documenting exactly what needs attention and what it's likely to cost. Free quotes, no trip charge, and same-day scheduling when the option clock is running. Call (832) 662-4288 and we'll fit your closing timeline.
The 2021 Freeze: Latent Damage Is Still Surfacing
Winter Storm Uri burst pipes in an enormous number of Texas homes, but not every freeze-damaged pipe burst outright. Ice expansion can stress and micro-crack copper and CPVC without immediate failure. Years later, those weakened sections fail under normal pressure or leak so slowly the first sign is a stained ceiling, a spike in the water bill, or mold in a wall cavity.
If your home lost water or froze during Uri and has never had a full inspection since, that inspection is overdue, especially attic-run pipes, which took the worst of it in Houston's minimally insulated attics. Depending on what we find, the fix ranges from a targeted pipe repair to a full whole-house repipe.
Annual Maintenance Inspections
Plumbing fails on a schedule; most homeowners just don't know the schedule. An annual inspection catches wear before it becomes water damage: a $15 supply connector before it floods the kitchen, a corroding water heater before it lets go, creeping water pressure before it wrecks your appliances.
Annual inspections make the most sense for homes over 20 years old, homes with known aging materials (cast iron, galvanized, polybutylene), rental properties, and homes in flood-prone areas like Meyerland, where owners have already rebuilt once and can't afford a preventable interior flood. For newer homes, every two years is a reasonable rhythm. We'll set you up on a recurring schedule so you never have to think about it.
Equipment & Systems We Inspect
Camera equipment
We use RIDGID SeeSnake inspection camera systems, the industry standard among professional plumbers. Self-leveling color camera heads keep the image upright in the pipe, flexible push cables navigate bends in residential drain lines, and the integrated 512 Hz sonde allows precise above-ground locating of defects with a receiver, including depth.
Water heaters
We inspect all major brands, most commonly Rheem, A.O. Smith, and Bradford White in Houston. A conventional tank heater typically lasts 8 to 12 years; standard residential models generally carry 6-year tank warranties, longer on premium lines. We decode the serial number for the true manufacture date (often older than sellers think), test the T&P relief valve, and check the anode rod. If yours is near the end, we can quote water heater repair or replacement on the spot.
Serving Houston homeowners since 2021 — licensed, insured, and backed by a same-day service guarantee.
Our Inspection Process
Schedule
Call (832) 662-4288 or request a free quote online. Same-day appointments are available across Greater Houston.
Walk-through and interview
We start by asking what you've noticed, bills, odors, pressure, past repairs, because symptoms guide the inspection.
Systematic inspection
Fixtures, supply, drains, water heater, gas lines, pressure, shutoffs, the full checklist above, performed in order so nothing gets skipped.
Camera and hydrostatic testing
When included or indicated. You're welcome to watch the monitor live; we show you exactly what we see and record the footage.
Written report
Photos, video, findings ranked by urgency, and locating marks for any underground defects.
Straight recommendations and free quote
If something needs repair, you get a firm price and honest options, repair vs. replace, now vs. monitor. No pressure, no commission-driven upselling.
What Your Report Contains
The report is the product. You keep it whether or not you hire us for any repair, and it's built to hand straight to a realtor, an insurer, or the next contractor:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a plumbing inspection?
In Houston, a whole-home visual inspection typically runs $150 to $300. Adding a sewer camera brings the total to roughly $400 to $800 depending on line length and access. Repipe Solutions Inc provides free quotes with no trip charge, so you’ll know your exact price before booking.
What does a plumbing inspection consist of?
A licensed plumber checks every fixture, visible supply line and drain, the water heater, gas lines, water pressure, sewer cleanouts, and every shutoff valve, then documents findings in a written report. Optional add-ons, sewer camera and hydrostatic testing, evaluate the buried lines you can’t see.
How long does a plumbing inspection take?
Plan on 1 to 2 hours for a whole-home visual inspection of an average Houston house. Adding a sewer camera or hydrostatic test typically adds 45 minutes to an hour each. Larger homes or homes with multiple problems take longer.
How often should plumbing be inspected?
Every two years for newer homes, and annually for homes over 20 years old or any home with cast iron, galvanized, or polybutylene piping. Always inspect before buying or selling.
Does a home inspection cover plumbing?
Only superficially. A general home inspector runs faucets, flushes toilets, and notes visible issues, but doesn’t camera the sewer line, perform hydrostatic testing, or open anything up. Home inspection reports routinely defer to “a licensed plumber for further evaluation,” which is exactly what a dedicated plumbing inspection provides.
How much is a plumbing camera inspection?
Most Houston sewer camera inspections cost $250 to $500 as a standalone service; Angi’s Houston data averages higher ($847) because long runs, difficult access, and specialty cameras push some jobs past $1,000. We quote your exact price free before any work begins.
Is a sewer camera inspection worth it?
Yes, whenever real money is on the line, buying a home, repeated backups, or a contractor quoting a big repair. A few hundred dollars of video either rules out problems or documents a defect worth thousands in negotiation or targeted repair.
Can a sewer camera find a leak under the slab?
A camera shows breaks, offsets, and deterioration, but a pipe can look rough and still hold water, or look passable and leak. That’s why we pair the camera with a hydrostatic test, which definitively confirms whether the drain system holds water under the slab.
Do I need a plumbing inspection on a new-construction home?
It’s smart, yes. New homes get municipal code inspections during construction, but rushed builds still leave debris in lines, unsupported pipes, and defective fittings. A pre-closing camera inspection of the sewer line is cheap insurance against construction debris and bellied lines under a brand-new slab.
Will you try to sell me repairs I don't need?
No. Our inspectors work under a licensed master plumber, document everything on video and in photos, and rank findings honestly, including the ones that can safely wait. You keep the report either way, and every quote is free.
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Schedule Your Houston Plumbing Inspection Today
Whether you're buying a home in Meyerland, maintaining a 1960s ranch in Bellaire, or chasing a mystery water bill in Katy, we give you a straight answer about the condition of your plumbing, backed by a licensed Responsible Master Plumber (Steven Shriver, M-44251).
Proudly serving Greater Houston from our Houston, Pasadena, and New Caney offices: Katy, Pearland, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Cypress, Kingwood, Baytown, League City, Missouri City, and Tomball.
Call (832) 662-4288 Free quotes · No trip charge · Same-day service available · Lifetime warranty on repipes