So, your offer on your dream home was just accepted! BUT...before you celebrate, you are gearing up for your home inspections.
While you may be prepared for carefully poring over every square inch of the house - and the roof! - our team also recommends taking a peek at the sewer pipes that run under your property (assuming your home doesn't have a septic system).
As with any other home inspection, a sewer scope inspection allows you to get a better idea of a house’s overall condition. Without a sewer inspection, you may be at risk to a handful of problems down the road including:
- Structural Risks
- Flooding in the home or backyard
- Shifting or cracking in the home’s foundation
- Mold growth
- If a sewage line backs up or breaks, it’ll likely affect the home’s entire plumbing system.
- Health Risks
- Pests including rodents and bugs can enter damaged pipes and invade the home
- Mold spores
- Harmful gases like carbon dioxide, methane, chlorine, nitrous oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide can seep into the house
- Water from a broken sewage pipe can contain bacteria
A sewer inspection should take no more than an hour from start to finish. The sewer camera inspection itself should only take about 5-10 minutes. The sewer inspector will first flush running water through the lines to clear any small debris and lubricate the pipes to keep the plumbing camera from catching on anything. The inspector will then locate your home’s sewer access point, insert the camera, and begin the inspection. Once the process is complete, the inspector will follow up with their findings and talk about the next steps if necessary.
The cost of a sewer inspection is negligent compared to the damage a broken sewer pipe or system can cause -averaging around $300.
One other important point - many homeowner's insurance policies (read: most) do NOT cover damage to homes cause by sewer issues.
While sewer scope inspections are much more commonplace today than even a few years back, don't fret! If you purchased your home a few years ago, you can get a sewer line inspection at any time. And we've got some great recommendations if you need!