More often than not, sewer inspections are an after thought for most home buyers. They don’t realize that they are responsible for the sewer line because this test is not part of a standard home inspection. Any sewer line breakage, collapse or root intrusion can cause sewage to back up into the house and cause extensive damage. Having a sewer line inspection prior to purchasing a home is something we suggest. It will ensure your protection against future damage that could cost you anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000 to get fixed depending on the type of problem and location of the sewer. The sewer line inspection could cost anywhere from $85 to $300, but compared to the cost to replace or repair a sewer line, it will be money well spent.
You will want to hire a qualified plumber for a sewer line inspection. The plumber will feed a cable with a camera into the sewer lateral to examine signs of possible damage, like breaks in the line or collapsed pipes and root intrusion as mentioned above. They will also evaluate the health of the sewer system to see what could be causing issues or what could cause future issues. This camera scoping procedure typically takes about 30 minutes to complete.
The time to conduct a sewer inspection is before you buy a home. You don’t want to be stuck with the responsibility of unexpectedly needing to replace an entire sewer system after you have just purchased a new home. Many times buyers will decline to conduct a sewer inspection thinking disaster won’t happen to them, but problems still occur more often than we would like it to. If you need suggestions on which plumber to use, our real estate agents can refer you to plumbers that they trust and have used personally.
Although most professionals suggest getting a sewer inspection on homes constructed more than 20 years ago, it’s still a good idea to have a scope conducted regardless of the age of the home. It may seem unnecessary on newer homes, but having a sewer or septic line inspection conducted before purchasing your home is a proactive way to catch problems before they become catastrophes. Taking this approach can save you a lot of time, worry and money that may be spent in the future if you neglect a sewer inspection.
