A sewer line failure ranges from a root intrusion that responds to clearing, to a collapsed pipe section that requires physical repair or lining. The difference between those two scenarios β and their costs β is determined by a CCTV camera scope, not a guess. Masters Plumbing Service's sewer techs in Tujunga, CA run the camera first, show you exactly what's there, and recommend the repair method that actually resolves the specific failure.
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Sewer line repair is expensive enough that you need to be absolutely certain what you're repairing and why before any ground is disturbed. Our CCTV-first approach protects you from misdiagnosis and unnecessary excavation costs.
We push a CCTV camera through your sewer line before recommending anything. The footage shows blockage type, joint conditions, pipe material, depth, and any structural defects β precisely located by distance from the cleanout. You see what we see.
For sewer lines with root intrusion, cracked joints, or minor pipe deformation that haven't fully collapsed, CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) lining installs a structural epoxy sleeve inside the existing pipe without excavation. The liner bonds to the host pipe, seals every joint, and produces a smooth interior surface that resists future root infiltration.
Fully collapsed pipe sections, severe pipe belly (negative grade), and pipe offset severe enough to block flow require physical excavation to repair. We locate the defect precisely on camera, mark the dig site, call for utility locates, excavate cleanly, replace the failed section, and backfill and restore the surface.
Sewer line repair in most CA jurisdictions requires a permit and inspection. We pull the permit, coordinate the inspection, and provide you with camera footage, repair documentation, and inspection sign-off as a complete job record.
Sewer line problems fall into distinct categories β each with its own repair approach. Here's how we handle each one.
Root cutting is a temporary measure if the joints remain open. After cutting, we assess whether pipe lining to seal the entry points is warranted, or whether the joints are tight enough that regular maintenance clearing is the right long-term plan.
Cured-in-place pipe lining installs a flexible epoxy-saturated felt liner inside the existing pipe. The liner is inverted or pulled into position, inflated against the host pipe, and cured with hot water or steam. The result is a new, jointless pipe inside the old one β rated for 50+ years of service life.
New pipe β typically SDR-35 PVC or Schedule 40 at code-specified depth and grade β is installed with proper joint couplings, backfilled in lifts, and surface-restored. Post-repair camera confirms grade and joint integrity.
Camera inspections are commonly requested by real estate buyers evaluating older homes in Tujunga where sewer line condition is a known concern. Our written scope report is accepted by attorneys, insurers, and buyers' agents.
Active sewage backup into a structure is an emergency requiring immediate response. We dispatch on an emergency basis, clear the blockage to restore drain function, contain and document the affected area, and schedule the camera scope to assess underlying cause β either same-day or at the earliest opportunity.
A written maintenance record documenting each cleaning and camera finding is useful evidence for insurance claims and demonstrates proactive maintenance if a catastrophic failure occurs.
Here's how a Masters Plumbing Service sewer line call plays out β from your first call to a repaired, flowing sewer.
Tell our dispatcher what you're experiencing β backed up fixtures, gurgling drains, sewage smell in the yard, slow drainage across multiple fixtures β so we arrive prepared.
You watch the footage with the technician. We point out each observation and explain what it means for repair options before presenting any quote.
For trenchless vs. excavation decisions, we lay out the cost difference, the disruption difference, and the long-term outcome expectation for each option so you can make an informed choice.
Approved repairs proceed. After completion, we run the camera again to document the repaired state. For lining jobs, the post-cure scope confirms liner adhesion and full internal diameter. For excavation repairs, the scope confirms grade and joint quality.

Had a sewer problem that two other companies cleared without scoping. It backed up again within 8 weeks both times. Masters Plumbing Service scoped before doing anything and found a significant pipe belly at 34 feet holding standing water β that's why clearing kept failing. They excavated precisely, replaced a 4-foot section, confirmed grade on camera after backfill. No recurrence.
Pre-purchase scope done through Masters Plumbing Service. Tech ran the camera, gave clear narration on the footage, and identified that the main cast iron line had interior corrosion narrowing the pipe to about 60% of its original diameter. We used that report to request the sellers replace the line β and they did.
Commercial building with a 6-inch main sewer line that had two prior clearing companies tell us we needed full excavation β a $28,000 estimate. Masters Plumbing Service scoped it, found root intrusion and some joint cracking but no pipe collapse or belly, and quoted trenchless lining as an option at roughly a third of that cost. Lining completed in two days. Post-cure scope confirmed excellent adhesion. That camera diagnosis saved us a lot of money.

Our sewer technicians are familiar with the pipe ages, materials, and infrastructure conditions common in Tujunga neighborhoods, which speeds up diagnosis and repair planning.

Don't pay for a clearing that won't hold, or an excavation quote based on guesswork. Masters Plumbing Service scopes first in Tujunga, CA so you know exactly what you're repairing before you spend anything.
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