Sewer Scope Services

A sewer scope inspection is a video inspection of the sewer line that runs from your home’s “cleanout” which is generally found near the foundation, and connects to the city sewer line or a septic tank.

Usually, a sewer scope will take about an hour, depending on the length of the pipe and the difficulty of finding suitable entry points. This time will be spent pushing a camera through the line, inch by inch, detailing an extensive diagnosis of your pipe’s current condition.

Repairing an ill-functioning sewer line costs on average between $3000-$5000, and replacement can cost as much as $25,000. As a homeowner, the line between your home and the street is your responsibility. Inspecting the integrity of the sewer line for your home before you buy is something that can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Through examination of the video footage and our technician’s years of expertise, we will identify potential problems such as “bellies'' (low spots that hold water), deformed pipe sections, leaking pipe joints, offset pipe sections, cracks, pitting, scaling, debris (such as gravel and rocks from careless construction techniques), invading tree roots, etc., that can lead to slow drains and blockages resulting in expensive ongoing maintenance or replacement costs.

As home inspectors, we typically run 200 gallons or more of fresh clean water through the plumbing fixtures inside the house during an inspection. However, unless the drains are already slow or blocked, the clear water doesn’t tell us anything. The main reason we run water continuously during a home inspection is to discover leaks from the plumbing fixtures, basins, and the drain piping within the house. In other words, our standard inspection practices usually can’t alert us to drain blockages that are likely to occur in the near future.