Sewer line inspections utilize a camera scope to identify otherwise invisible issues in a main sewer line.
In homes 20 years and older, the main sewer line, a lateral line that connects the home to the city water supply or a septic tank, may be made of materials that are prone to breakage with aging. Even in newer homes, the line may be at risk due to potential clogs. While the consequences of a damaged sewer line can be major, a sewer line inspection can be conducted quickly and easily by a qualified home inspector, allowing you to identify and remedy potential risks before they create an unexpected issue. In this type of inspection, the inspector feeds a camera scope through the line to create a video of the pipe itself that can then be analyzed for any issues.
“A sewer line inspection is inexpensive, and it’s great insurance for your home,” said Scott Whitbeck, owner of HomeTeam Inspection Service of Colorado Springs. “It’s also a quick process when performed by a qualified home inspector. Depending on the length of the sewer line (most lines are about 100 feet long) the inspection itself, including camera setup, usually takes about 10-15 minutes.”
Whitbeck explained that less than half of the inspections he completes include a sewer line inspection, and this is often because the homeowner doesn’t realize the importance of the inspection itself and rather views the service as just another charge.
“The reason the sewer line inspection is so important is because it’s the one thing you can’t see,” he said. “During a regular home inspection, you can see the foundation and the electrical panel. You can check for leaks. But you can’t tell the condition of a sewer line until you can actually view it with a camera.”
Unfortunately, there’s really no way to tell if something is wrong with the sewer line until you have an inspection or notice an issue that is impacting fixtures in the home like backed up drains.
Whitbeck shared that, before he opened his HomeTeam business, he was a plumber by trade. During this time, he saw sewer lines that were backed up with a softball, a dead rat, diapers and even ropes. He also came across lines that were broken by the home builders when they carelessly backfilled the area where the pipe was laid. All of these observations came from Whitbeck conducting inspections.
Without an inspection, by the time an issue is noticeable by the homeowner in everyday life, it has likely already done substantial damage. Though a sewer line inspection may not be top of mind, having one done when you purchase a home, or if you haven’t had one since purchasing your current home, can provide reassurance that there are no major surprises on the horizon.
“In my market, minimum sewer repairs are $5,000 or more. A typical sewer scope costs $150 to $200,” said Whitbeck. “If you do it and everything is okay, that’s great — it’s money well spent. But I’ve seen it cost $30,000 to replace a sewer, so if a $200 scope catches a potential problem, it’s money well spent.”
