Why do i need a sewer scope inspection?
A Sewer Scope Inspection is one of the most Important inspections you should have done when you are purchasing a home. A Sewer Scope Inspection is where a camera is inserted into your main sewer line and pushed the length of the line, inspecting the pipe interior for functionality and pipe integrity. A standard home inspection does not cover the sewer line because it is an underground line that is not visible without specialty camera equipment. Sewer lines can have all sorts of problems and most (if not all) of them are expensive to fix. It is highly recommended that you obtain a Sewer Scope Inspection in addition to your home inspection, regardless of the age of the home. Issues that can be found with in the sewer line can be things such as tree root intrusion, sags/bellies in the line that hold water and can cause backups, breaks/offsets in the line, corrosion and damage inside of cast iron plumbing, and much more.
All plumbing materials can present problems. That is why a Sewer Scope Inspection is recommended on all homes, however, if you are purchasing an older home with older plumbing materials, you absolutely should not skip a Sewer Scope Inspection. Older plumbing materials are often past their life expectancy and need to be inspected often to ensure they are functioning as intended and not in need of any major repairs. Newer materials such as PVC are much more prevalent today, but still have their share of issues. Even brand new construction homes should have a Sewer Scope Inspection done. Things like poor soil compaction that can lead to bellies in the line, construction debris in the sewer line, poor installation that has led to offsets or pipes disconnected at the joints, and even heavy equipment driven through the yard can crush a sewer line. All of these problems can fall on YOU as the homeowner and often times may not present an issue until years down the road. And you can bet your bottom dollar that once you realize you have a sewer problem, the repairs are going to be far worse and more expensive than if it were caught during a Sewer Scope Inspection.
All plumbing materials can present problems. That is why a Sewer Scope Inspection is recommended on all homes, however, if you are purchasing an older home with older plumbing materials, you absolutely should not skip a Sewer Scope Inspection. Older plumbing materials are often past their life expectancy and need to be inspected often to ensure they are functioning as intended and not in need of any major repairs. Newer materials such as PVC are much more prevalent today, but still have their share of issues. Even brand new construction homes should have a Sewer Scope Inspection done. Things like poor soil compaction that can lead to bellies in the line, construction debris in the sewer line, poor installation that has led to offsets or pipes disconnected at the joints, and even heavy equipment driven through the yard can crush a sewer line. All of these problems can fall on YOU as the homeowner and often times may not present an issue until years down the road. And you can bet your bottom dollar that once you realize you have a sewer problem, the repairs are going to be far worse and more expensive than if it were caught during a Sewer Scope Inspection.