Sewer Scope Inspections

A sewer scope is a specialized inspection that involves a licensed professional inserting a camera into the home's main sewer line, usually through a cleanout or vent pipe. The high-resolution, waterproof camera is attached to a long, flexible cable, allowing the inspector to navigate the entire length of the pipe from the house to the municipal sewer or septic tank. During this process, the inspector can identify various potential findings, including tree root intrusion, cracks or breaks in the pipes, bellied or sagging sections, clogs or blockages from debris, and collapsed pipes. They record the video feed to provide a detailed report of the line's condition.

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Getting a sewer scope alongside a standard home inspection offers a significant advantage by providing a more complete picture of the property's overall condition. While a traditional inspection covers the visible components of the home, it cannot assess the hidden and critical sewer line. A sewer scope can reveal major, costly issues that are not apparent from a simple visual check. By discovering these problems before closing on the home, a buyer can use the information to negotiate repairs, request a credit, or, in the worst-case scenario, walk away from a deal that could have led to a surprise expense of tens of thousands of dollars after move-in.

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The primary con and risk of not getting a sewer scope is the potential for a massive, unbudgeted expense after the home purchase is complete. Without an inspection, a buyer is accepting all the risk associated with the sewer line. Issues like a cracked pipe or a major blockage from tree roots can lead to sewage backups, property damage, and the need for extensive and costly repairs, including digging up the yard, which can be both financially burdensome and logistically challenging. This lack of due diligence can turn what seemed like a smooth home purchase into a major financial and personal setback.

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Even a new construction home requires a sewer scope inspection because the sewer line is still susceptible to damage during the building process. While the pipes themselves may be new, heavy machinery can crush or crack the lines, and construction debris like rocks, wood, concrete, or even tools can fall into and become lodged in the open pipes, creating an immediate or future blockage. A sewer scope is necessary to ensure the pipe was installed correctly and is free of any defects or debris from the construction site, protecting the new homeowner from unexpected issues as soon as they move in.

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Recently we had to deliver some bad news to a client who waited until after their move in date to finally get the sewer scoped. Turns out they had a dozens of feet of Orangeburg sewer pipe. Orangeburg pipe is a type of bituminous fiber pipe used for drain, waste, and vent lines from the 1860s through the 1970s, though its peak use was following World War II due to material shortages. It is made from layers of wood pulp sealed with coal tar pitch, giving it a consistency similar to thick, rigid cardboard. The primary issue for homeowners is its lack of durability compared to modern materials like PVC or cast iron; over time, the pipe deteriorates, becoming brittle and oval-shaped under the pressure of soil and water. This material failure leads to sagging, blistering, and complete collapse, which causes chronic sewage backups, severe clogs from tree roots easily penetrating the compromised material, and eventually requires complete, expensive replacement of the entire sewer lateral.