Why a Sewer Scope Inspection is a Smart Addition to Your Home Inspection
Sewer Scope Inspection isn’t included in standard home inspections, but they’re a smart addition. A faulty sewer line can have serious consequences, and a professional home inspector knows how to look for them.
During a sewer scope, your home inspector will flush water from an access point and push a camera into the main, or lateral, sewer line. Your inspector will be looking for the following:
A root problem in a sewer line is often difficult to fix without replacing the entire line. This is because the roots are constantly growing, and if they reach an area where there is a crack or break in the line, they can easily cause it to completely break apart. To keep roots from damaging your sewer lines, you need to remove them as soon as you notice them growing in. This means regularly getting your lines inspected and cutting away any that are too close. You also need to use chemicals to kill any that are still growing, so they cannot continue to damage your lines.
Sewer scope inspections can reveal any potential problems with your sewage line, so you can have them addressed before they become a serious issue that requires costly repair work. While a home inspector can tell you the general condition of your sewer line, it is important to have a specialist perform a thorough inspection using a camera that can see inside the pipes. A professional sewer scope inspection is usually less expensive than the cost of repairing a damaged or clogged line and can be done quickly and efficiently.
When you have a sewer scope inspection performed, the contractor will run a camera on a long cable through your sewer lines to check for any issues. Depending on the company, they may start from an access point in your basement or from a vent stack on the roof of the house. Before they begin the inspection, they will flush running water through all locations where they will be entering and exiting. This will help to lubricate the camera, reduce its risk of catching on debris, and float it so that it can be pushed through the pipes more easily.
A thorough sewer scope inspection is a smart investment for any homeowner, especially those thinking about buying an older home. Since the maintenance and repair of a sewer line is often the responsibility of the current owner, having a professional inspect it before you purchase can save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Unseen Damage
The clogged drains and sewage backups that many homeowners experience are typically caused by tree roots and ground shifts, not broken pipes. During a sewer scope inspection, a home inspector can spot signs of these problems in the lateral sewer line, which leads from the house to the city tap or septic tank.
To perform a sewer scope inspection, a home inspection professional flushes water through the drain lines and then inserts a small, handheld camera with a light attached to it. The video is sent back to the inspector’s monitor, where he or she can see the condition of the lines and check for obstructions.
The inspection process allows for a quick and non-invasive assessment of the condition of the lines, which can save homeowners money on repairs in the future. In addition, a thorough inspection can identify and alert the property owner to any potential hazards that may need to be addressed before they turn into serious problems or costly repairs.
While a thorough home inspection should be on every homeowner’s checklist, it is especially important for those who are thinking of buying a new home. As a homebuyer, you’ll want to make sure that the sewage is flowing properly and not leaking into the home’s structure or yard.
Sewer line issues that go unnoticed for too long can lead to major problems and a massive expense for the homebuyer. For example, a sewer line that is cracked or crushed can easily cause a leak into the foundation of the home and result in a structural issue that needs to be fixed immediately.
If you’re an inspector looking for a way to add more value to your services, consider offering sewer scope inspections as an add-on to your standard home inspection. While there are some start-up costs, including a camera system and additional training, adding this service to your portfolio could yield great returns.
For more information on how to become a licensed home inspector and start offering sewer scope inspections, contact us at Pillar to Post Home Inspectors. We are an InterNACHI-accredited home inspection company with extensive industry experience and a wide range of specializations, including environmental and radon testing.
Cracks
Sewer lines can have a lot of cracks that may go unnoticed for years. It’s important to get them inspected as soon as possible because they can lead to leaks and backups that can be costly. A home inspector will look for any signs of cracking during a sewer scope inspection and recommend having them repaired as soon as possible.
Another common issue with sewer pipes is that they can have collapsed sections. This can be due to an offset or damage that has caused the pipes to shift over time. While a collapsed section may not be immediately dangerous, it will need to be replaced as soon as possible. A home inspector can usually tell when a pipe has collapsed because the camera will be unable to travel further down the line.
A third common problem that home buyers should be aware of is the presence of rodents or pests in the sewer system. Rodents and pests are often attracted to clogged or damaged pipes, which can cause them to chew through the lines. Home inspectors can check for these unwanted guests by running the camera down the pipes and looking for any visible entry points.
Getting a sewer scope inspection is one of the most important things that home buyers can do before making a final decision on a new property. A good home inspector will be able to catch any issues before they become serious and save the buyer from buying a property with costly problems down the road. Home buyers can usually find inspectors who offer a sewer scope along with their regular home inspection services, which helps to keep costs down for both parties. The cost of a sewer scope is often far less than the price of repairing or replacing a sewer line. To learn more about a sewer scope inspection or to schedule one for your property, contact AmeriSpec today.
Pipe Collapse
Your sewer line is the largest drain in your home, and it’s also one of the most dangerous. It’s full of waste, and a collapsed pipe can cause massive clogs, structural damage to your house, and even a health hazard. Luckily, you can avoid these problems by having a professional sewer scope inspection.
A home inspector will use a camera attached to a long cable to see inside your drain lines. They usually enter the home through a vent stack on the roof or, for larger homes, may have to dig down to the sewer line. Once the inspection is complete, your home inspector will create a detailed report that includes the condition of the pipes, any potential problems, and recommendations for future maintenance.
Depending on the location and severity of the problem, your home inspector may recommend a repair contractor or a plumber. They’ll work with you to determine the best way to fix your sewer line, and they’ll give you an estimate for the cost of any needed repairs.
Most people don’t think about their sewer lines until they start having problems, but regular maintenance can help keep your lines in good shape and prevent problems down the road. A professional sewer scope inspection can help identify issues before they become major problems, and it’s a great investment for any homeowner.
Older homes with Orangeburg or cast iron drain lines are especially susceptible to damage, and a professional sewer scope inspection can help you decide whether the home is worth buying based on the current condition of the sewer line.
In addition to aging, there are other reasons that your drain lines can collapse. Tree roots are a common culprit, and they can cause cracks or breaks in the pipes by growing into them. They’re also attracted to the moisture in wastewater, and they can eat away at the pipes as they grow.
When a pipe collapses, it can release wastewater into the yard or basement of your home. This wastewater is teeming with bacteria and other harmful pollutants, and it can cause health problems for you and your family. A damaged sewer line can also lead to serious structural damage to your home, and repairing it can be very expensive. A sewer scope inspection can identify these issues before they become major problems and save you money in the long run.
