Waywest Mechanical provides pipeline camera and video inspection of drains and sewer lines in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island. A waterproof camera is fed through the pipe to show roots, cracks, sags, grease buildup and collapsed sections on a screen, while a locator pinpoints the problem's position and depth from the surface. It is used for repeat blockages, pre-purchase home checks and planning repairs.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
When a camera inspection makes sense
- Drains that keep blocking after being cleared
- Sewer backups into a basement floor drain or lowest fixture
- Buying an older home, particularly with mature trees near the sewer route
- Before a renovation that adds bathrooms or relocates plumbing
- Planning a sewer repair, so excavation happens in the right place
- After a repair, to confirm the new work is clear and correctly sloped
- Commercial properties with recurring grease or drain issues
You get the footage. Ask and we will send you the video file from your inspection, so you have a record of the condition of the line — useful for insurance, for a strata council, or for getting a second opinion.
What the camera finds
Roots. Fine roots through joints look like hair in the pipe; established intrusions can fill the pipe completely.
Cracks and fractures. Visible as lines or breaks in the pipe wall, often with soil or water entering.
Offset joints. Sections of pipe that have shifted so they no longer line up, forming a ledge that catches waste.
Bellies. Low spots where the camera travels through standing water, showing where the ground has settled.
Scale and corrosion. Rough, narrowed interior surfaces in cast-iron drains.
Grease buildup. Heavy deposits in kitchen lines, especially in restaurants.
Collapsed or crushed pipe. Where the camera cannot pass and the pipe shape is distorted.
Wrong connections. Occasionally, downspouts or perimeter drains connected into the sanitary sewer, which many municipalities do not allow.
How it works
- Access. We run the camera in through a cleanout, a removed toilet, or a roof vent, depending on what is available.
- Inspection. A push-rod camera travels the line while we watch the live image and note distances.
- Locating. A transmitter in the camera head lets us mark the surface directly above a problem and read its depth.
- Review. We show you what we found and explain the options: cleaning, spot repair or replacement.
The whole visit usually takes an hour or two for a typical residential lateral.
Why this saves money
Without a camera, a sewer repair quote is a guess about where the problem is and how much pipe is affected. That guess either overshoots — replacing sound pipe — or undershoots, leaving the real problem in place.
A camera inspection turns that into a specific answer: this section, this depth, this cause. It also tells you when a line is in good condition and only needed cleaning, which is a real saving in itself.
What happens after
If the line is sound, you are done. If the camera shows damage, see sewer line repair and replacement. If the line is simply dirty or has light root growth, drain cleaning may be all it needs for now.
Service area
Camera and video inspection is available in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Ladysmith, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Duncan and across Waywest's Vancouver Island service area, for both residential and commercial properties.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
What does a sewer camera inspection show?
It shows the inside of the drain or sewer line in real time: pipe material and condition, roots, cracks, offset joints, sags that hold water, grease and scale buildup, collapsed sections and foreign objects. A locator also shows where each problem is on the property and how deep it sits.
Should I get a sewer camera inspection before buying a house?
For older homes, homes with large trees near the sewer route, or homes with a history of drain problems, it is well worth it. Standard home inspections do not look inside the sewer lateral, and a failed lateral can be an expensive surprise after closing.
Do you give me a copy of the inspection video?
Waywest can provide the recorded footage along with notes on what was found and where, which is useful for planning repairs, negotiating a home purchase or supporting an insurance claim.
Can a camera inspection be done on a blocked line?
The camera needs a path to travel, so a fully blocked line is usually cleared first. Clearing the line and then running the camera straight after is common, and it shows what caused the blockage.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.