Sewer Scope Inspections Can Prevent a Nightmare
Imagine the nightmare of moving into your dream home, only to discover foul odors, slow drainage, or worse – a sewage backups that floods your house with toxic sewage. These types of issues can quickly turn your dream into a nightmare, and the culprit is often a malfunctioning or deteriorating underground drain line. While a typical home inspection will cover visible parts of the home, the main drain line remains hidden, making it easy to ignore during a home purchase. The time to discover potential problems with a drain line is during the inspection process, not after you move into the home. A “sewer scope inspection” is typically an add on service offered by many inspection companies and can be ordered along with the home inspection.
Here are the types of problems we find when performing a sewer scope:
Roots that have infiltrated the drain line and clogged it.
Disconnected drain line under the driveway.
Deteriorated cast iron drain line.
Badly damaged line with root filtration.
PVC drain line has been crushed underground.
New construction – damaged line under the front yard.
New construction – line not properly connected under front yard
New construction – line full of rocks and debris
New construction – damaged line being replaced after our drain line inspection.
frequently asked questions about sewer scopes and drain line inspections:
What is a sewer scope / drain line inspection?
A drain line inspection involves running a special camera down the main drain line out to the sewer main or the septic tank. The goal is to identify any problems and prevent a sewage back up into the house or leaks in the yard.
What types of houses most need a drain line inspection?
Any house can have a hidden break, partial clog, or variety of other problems with the drain line. If there are trees or bushes in the yard, they can infiltrate the drain line. However, we most frequently find problems on drain lines in new construction homes (yes, I promise that is not a typo). Over 50% of new homes that we inspect have defects or code violations with the underground drain lines. Over the years we have found chunks of lumber, tile grout, and all sorts of other construction debris in sewer lines on new construction homes.
Are drain line inspections only for houses on sewer? What about septic systems?
A main drain line can have the same problems whether it is leading to a sewer main or a septic tank. If the septic tank is 10′ feet from the house then there is not as much room for issues. However, we have inspected houses where the septic tank was over 150′ away from the house… that’s a lot of drain line with potential problems.
What is the cost for a sewer scope / drain line inspection?
When done with a home inspection the cost for a sewer scope / drain line inspection is typically around $250. When performed as a stand alone service by a plumbing company, the cost can range upwards of $500.
How much does it cost to repair an underground drain line?
The cost to repair a damaged drain line can range from $1500-$12,000, depending on how much of the line has to be excavated in order to make the repairs.
If you have additional questions about drain line inspections, please do not hesitate to call our office.