Professional Drain Inspections in Seattle, WA, and Surrounding Areas

Fast answers. Clear diagnostics. No guesswork.

If you’re noticing foul odors, recurring backups, or slow-moving sinks and showers, a professional drain inspection is the quickest way to understand what’s happening inside your pipes — before a small issue becomes a costly repair.

At Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter, our licensed technicians use high-resolution drain cameras to pinpoint the exact cause of your plumbing symptoms. With over 30 years of experience serving the Greater Seattle area, we deliver accurate diagnostics, upfront guidance, and long-lasting solutions you can trust.

Why Drain Inspections Matter

Plumbing issues often start small and out of sight. A drain inspection:

• Reveals hidden clogs, cracks, corrosion, and root intrusion

• Confirms whether simple cleaning will resolve the problem

• Helps prevent future backups or water damage

• Gives you clear footage and recommendations — no guesswork

Before we clean or repair any line, we inspect it first. That’s how we ensure the right fix the first time, every time.

How Our Drain Inspection Process Works

1. Locate the Problem

Using a waterproof, high-definition camera, our technicians inspect your drains from the nearest cleanout or P-trap. This allows us to see:

• Grease buildup or scale

• Tree roots invading the line

• Misaligned joints or bellies

• Cracked, corroded, or collapsed sections

We can also pinpoint the depth and exact location of any issue using locator tools.

2. Clean the Line (If Needed)

If we find a blockage or buildup, we’ll clear the line using either:

• Professional snaking — effective for most household clogs

• Hydro jetting — high-pressure water cleaning that restores full pipe diameter

Every cleaning is followed by a second camera inspection to verify that the line is fully clear.

3. Recommend Repairs (When Necessary)

If camera footage reveals cracks or structural damage, our team may recommend a trenchless repair solution such as CIPP lining.

This no-dig method installs a new epoxy-coated liner inside the existing pipe, creating a smooth, durable interior surface with minimal disruption to your home.

Our technicians arrive in fully equipped Bob Oates service vehicles to handle sewer, drain, and plumbing issues.

When to Schedule a Drain Inspection

A quick camera check can save you time and money if you notice:

• Slow or standing water in sinks, showers, or tubs

• Persistent gurgling sounds

• Sewage odors in bathrooms, basements, or yards

• Evidence of past backups

• Older plumbing or previous root issues

• A new home purchase — especially in Seattle’s older neighborhoods

If you’re unsure, call us — we’re happy to give honest guidance over the phone.

Why Seattle Homeowners Choose Bob Oates

• Local, in-house technicians — never subcontractors

• Fast response times across King, Snohomish & Pierce counties

• Modern diagnostic technology for precise results

• Upfront pricing & transparent recommendations

• Home of the second opinion — we’ll review other estimates for free and offer a competitive bid of our own

We believe in doing things the right way: people helping people, with integrity and professionalism on every call.

Related Services

• Plumbing
• Sewer Repair
• Drain Cleaning Services
• Trenchless Sewer Repair
• Trenchless Pipe Repair
• Water Heater Repair
• Water Main Repair

Schedule an Drain Inspection Today

If something doesn’t smell right — or flow right — we can help.

Call now or fill out our online form to schedule a drain inspection with a licensed Bob Oates technician. We proudly serve homeowners and businesses throughout:

• Ballard
• Bellevue
• Federal Way
• Fremont
• Greenwood
• Kent
• Lynnwood
• Queen Anne
• Renton
• Seattle
• Shoreline
• Tacoma
• West Seattle