Every conclusion had to be supported. Every number had to be backed up. Every report had to tell the truth. That background shaped the way Steven looks at plumbing and sewer line inspections today.

For Steven, a sewer inspection should never feel like a sales pitch. It should be a clear, narrated inspection that shows the customer exactly what is happening inside the line.

That belief became the foundation of The Sewer Inspection Company. From the beginning, Steven built the company around one simple idea: customers deserve to see the truth before they buy, sell, repair, or replace a sewer line.

Many property owners do not know what a sewer line should look like. Most homebuyers never think about the sewer system until a problem appears after closing. By then, the repair can cost thousands of dollars. A failed sewer line under a slab, a collapsed cast iron system, a major belly in the pipe, or root intrusion near the city tap can become one of the most expensive problems on the property.

Steven believes the customer should not have to guess.

That is why The Sewer Inspection Company provides a narrated video inspection, often delivered through a YouTube video, so the customer can watch the condition of the sewer line for themselves. The video shows the line in real time. The narration explains what the camera is seeing. The customer can hear the condition of the pipe, see the evidence, and understand the difference between a serviceable line and a line that may need repair.

It is a simple approach, but one that sets the company apart.

Built from Field Experience and Code Knowledge

Steven’s plumbing background started long before The Sewer Inspection Company.

He grew up in Montana, where his father was both a master mechanic and a master plumber. Steven worked under him and learned the trade from the ground up. His father had the hands-on skill, the field experience, and the ability to solve problems in real time.

Steven became what he calls the “book smarts” kid.

He studied the IPC, the International Plumbing Code, and the UPC, the Uniform Plumbing Code. On jobs, he would quote code to his father, pointing out details about proper installation, slope, fittings, cleanouts, and plumbing standards.

That combination of field experience and code knowledge became a major part of Steven’s inspection philosophy. A sewer line inspection should not be based on guesswork. It should be based on what the camera shows, what the plumbing code requires, and what the system is actually doing.

Why the Video Matters

A good sewer camera inspection can reveal problems that may not be visible during a general home inspection.

The drains may appear to work. The toilets may flush. The sinks may drain. But underground, the sewer line may have standing water, root intrusion, pipe separation, offsets, cracked cast iron, heavy scale, or a belly that holds waste and water.

Those defects matter.

A belly in the line can lead to repeat stoppages. Root intrusion can grow worse over time. A separation can allow soil to enter the pipe. Failed cast iron under a slab can become a major repair. An offset near the city tap can create recurring backups and expensive excavation.

Steven believes the customer should be able to see those issues clearly before making a financial decision. That is why the narrated video is so important.

Instead of simply telling a customer, “You need a repair,” The Sewer Inspection Company shows the customer what the camera found. The narration explains the location, condition, and potential concern. The report supports the findings. The customer is given the facts.

That creates trust.

A Sewer Inspection Should Educate the Customer

One of the biggest problems in the sewer inspection industry is that many customers do not know what they are looking at. A camera may show water, pipe walls, roots, debris, or fittings, but without explanation, the customer may not understand whether what they are seeing is normal or serious.

Steven’s approach is to educate the customer during the inspection.

For Steven, the inspection should answer the most important question: what is really happening underground?

Transparency Before the Sale

The Sewer Inspection Company works with buyers, sellers, realtors, investors, property managers, and homeowners. But the mission is the same on every inspection.

Steven’s auditing background still shows in the way he approaches each inspection. In auditing, the report has to match the evidence. In sewer inspections, he believes the same principle applies.

The video should match the report. The recommendation should match the condition of the line. The customer should never feel pushed into a repair they do not understand.

That is the difference between selling and inspecting.

Know What’s Underground Before You Buy

Buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make. The sewer line is one of the most expensive systems to repair when it fails.

A general home inspection may identify visible plumbing concerns, but it usually does not show the condition of the underground sewer line. That is why a dedicated sewer camera inspection is so important during the option period or before closing.

For Steven, this is not just about plumbing. It is about giving people the information they need before they make a major decision.

That is the standard behind The Sewer Inspection Company.