Yes, You need a sewer Scope
One of the Items I Would Never Buy a Home Without is a Sewer Scope
What Is a Sewer Scope?
A sewer scope is a video inspection of the lateral sewer line leading from the house at/near the foundation and connecting to the city or HOA tap or septic tank. A lateral sewer line is the privately-owned pipeline connecting the property to the publicly-owned main sewer line, HOA tap, or septic tank.
Sewer-scoping the line can reveal blockages, damage to the pipe system, and other problems, which are vital for homeowners and home buyers to be aware of. For example, if there is a damp depression in the lawn above the sewer line, or if there is backflow into the home, or if contaminants have been discovered in the potable water supply, a sewer scope inspection can be critical to identifying and confirming these problems, which must be addressed immediately.Our team of professional home inspectors are certified and trained to provide you with a thorough inspection of your home, ensuring that you have all the information necessary to make informed decisions about your property.
Less than $200 can Save you tens of Thousands
Paying the extra for the sewer scope inspection (ranges from $125-300) will save you money in the end. There is no better way to find out that there is damage in areas that you cannot see. Also, if there is damage and you are the home buyer, you can negotiate the price of the home to include the repairs. Imagine if there is damaged cast iron piping underneath a home’s recently remodeled kitchen, that now has to be removed due to damaged drain lines.
Inspections and maintenance for homes are always a good idea. It is not a wasted fee and is an opportunity for you as the buyer/seller to find out the inner workings of the
Even New Construction Homes Have Issues
Recently installed PVC drain lines can also have issues from cracking, settlement, improper install, or blocks. The only way to be able to understand if there is an issue is through a sewer scope.
Many homes built before the 1970s have sewer lines made of cast iron and since that was almost 50 years ago, life expectancy is coming to an end. Newer homes use PVC drain lines, which can still have building errors once installed. When you buy a home, no matter the year it was built, paying for a sewer scope inspection is necessary.
Eyes One The Situation
Sewer Scope Inspection is The Only Way to Check for a Clear Line
A sewer scope takes a video of the sewer line leading from the house to the city tap or septic tank. Even though scoping the sewer line is not included in a standard home inspection, you can purchase it separately. Many homebuyers don’t think about this as being necessary but wouldn’t you want to know that the line is clear? Would you want to know that the piping is not deteriorating or has defects? The last thing you want as a home buyer is to find out that there is a blockage or a repair that will cost you thousands of dollars.
Many Older Homes in Colorado Have Cast Iron Drains
It is impossible to see with the naked eye if the pipes are rotting or have corrosion. A sewer scope inspection is necessary as the wear is in the inside of the drain since cast iron corrodes from the inside out. After many years of rainwater and chemicals flowing through, the drains will deteriorate over time. Soil moves in the ground and roots grow through pipes so cast iron drains can damage. If there are roots growing through the pipes, backups can occur in the homes. Many homes now use PVC pipe or other materials that have a much longer life expectancy.