Plumbing inspection cost: $100 to $500 (Angi 2026 data)

National figures. A visual walk-through and a sewer camera are different jobs; most quotes are one or the other.

How much does a plumbing inspection cost?

A plumbing inspection costs $100 to $500 in Angi's July 2026 data, with a $300 average; HomeGuide's December 2025 guide prices a visual inspection at $100 to $200, a camera inspection at $300 to $1,100 and the two combined at $400 to $1,300.

• Visual only: $100 to $200 in both guides; Angi says a small house can be around $100.
• Camera: $300 to $1,100 (HomeGuide) or $250 to $1,175 (Angi). This is the sewer line, not the supply pipes.
• Both: $400 to $1,300 (HomeGuide); $350 to $1,375 or more for a large home (Angi).
• Where you live: Angi lists $530 in New York, NY and $350 in Billings, MT.
• After hours: $100 to $500 extra (HomeGuide); a $150 to $300 emergency trip fee (Angi).
• Hourly: plumbers charge $45 to $200 an hour (Angi), and HomeAdvisor's 2026 table lists a plumbing inspection at $100 to $500.

What a plumbing inspection covers

A visual plumbing inspection covers every visible fixture, pipe and valve, and both guides publish the same checklist.

• Toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers, faucets; pipes and fittings; supply lines, drains and vents; water-using appliances; the water heater; cleanouts; the main shut-off valve; sump pumps; outdoor hose bibs (Angi and HomeGuide).
• The plumber looks for leaks, damage, corrosion and improper installation. Some also check water pressure and water quality (both guides). Pressure checks you can do yourself are on low water pressure.
• A camera inspection checks the sewer line for clogs, damage or rust (Angi); it does not look at the supply side.
• Not covered unless you ask: pipes inside walls and under slabs, which take leak detection equipment. See leak detection.

Sewer scope inspection cost

A sewer scope inspection costs $125 to $500 in HomeGuide's camera guide, with a $280 average and $100 to $250 when added to a home inspection; Angi's September 2026 data runs $271 to $1,725 with a $995 average.

• HomeGuide's plumbing inspection guide says the sewer camera typically covers only the sewer line and cleanout, and a home without a cleanout costs $175 to $750 because the plumber pulls a toilet.
• Angi prices by length and pipe: under 50 feet $175 to $250, 50 to 100 feet $250 to $400, over 100 feet $400 to $800; cast iron $250 to $400, clay $300 to $500, Orangeburg $400 to $800.
• What the camera finds, what the video should include and renting a camera yourself: sewer camera inspection.

Plumbing inspection before buying a house

A standard home inspection costs $250 to $500 or more in HomeGuide's guide and does not include an extensive plumbing evaluation; Angi puts a general home inspection at $280 to $400 and says it may miss sewer line issues.

• Order the plumbing inspection and the sewer scope inside your inspection window, so a finding can go back to the seller.
• Ask the plumber to note the supply pipe material. Galvanized, polybutylene or lead is a repiping conversation before closing; see repiping cost.
• Cast iron or Orangeburg on the camera is the same conversation for the drains; see cast iron pipe replacement.
• Well and septic are priced separately: well $250 to $550, septic $150 to $450, both $400 to $650 (HomeGuide).

How long a plumbing inspection takes, and how often to get one

A typical plumbing inspection takes about two hours in Angi's guide, two to three for a one or two story home and a full day for a large, historic or rental property.

• How often: Angi says every two years, and annually once a home is 40 years or older; HomeGuide says every one to two years, or before buying or selling.
• Sooner if: water temperature keeps changing, pipes make new noises, or drains smell (both guides). Banging pipes have their own page: water hammer.
• Sewer line: Angi's camera guide suggests one every one to two years for most homes.

What the repairs cost if the inspection finds something

The common finds run from a $200 clogged drain to a $3,000 sewer line replacement in Angi's averages, and the inspection report should price each one.

Angi (Jul 2026) averages and HomeGuide (Dec 2025) ranges, shown separately.

Neither guide says whether the inspection fee is credited toward repairs; ask. Deeper pages: drain cleaning, sewer line repair, water heater repair and toilet repair cost.

Plumbing inspection near me: what to ask

• Visual, camera or both? And is the sewer line in the price.
• Is there a written report with photos? Angi's camera guide says to confirm the fee covers a report, the recording and a consultation.
• Will you note the pipe material and the water pressure reading?
• Is the fee credited if I book the repairs?
• License number and proof of insurance. Ask for the plumber's license number and proof of insurance yourself; the plumbing license table shows who licenses plumbers in six states.

More plumbing prices: how much a plumber costs, emergency plumber and home repair costs. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job; hours vary. How calls work.