A home inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of a house. And while home inspectors have many tools to help beyond just eyeballs, the fact remains home inspectors can not see behind walls or inside of pipes.
The main drain pipes going from the home to the city sewer line, in particular, can not be examined on a standard home due to such pipes being located underground, they can only be viewed with special equipment.
Why a Sewer Pipe Inspection?
Sewer drain pipes can be troublesome due to different materials that have been used over the years.
Clay pipes have been widely used for decades, and can in fact, still be purchased today. Tree roots can bore through clay and cause blockages. Natural shifting of the soil below ground can cause clay pipes to shift and no longer line up straight. And even then, they are expected to have a life expectancy of approximately 50 to 60 years.
Cast Iron pipe is also very common. Cast Iron pipes tend to corrode from the inside out so that even a visual inspection of the outside of the pipe will not reveal potential issues on the inside, which can include anything from the water wearing through the bottom of the pipe to mineral build up causing blockages.
Orangeburg pipe was a very popular material used on homes built in the 1950’s and 1960’s, although the material was used well before then and remained in production up until 1972. Orangeburg is made from wood fibers and water-resistant adhesives. These older Orangeburg pipes can be easily penetrated by roots, and over time, may cease to be fully round.
Even modern pipe materials can become crushed, damaged, or blocked up.
Why Use IM Home Inspections for Your Sewer inspection?
- Self Leveling Camera – no need to crank your neck awkwardly as the camera spins down the pipe, or having to view videos upside down. IM Home Inspections uses a camera that keeps the video level.
- A small but powerful camera allows IM Home Inspections to use smaller clean outs. Many cameras need a 3″ or 4″ clean out for access, which is not always present in a home. IM Home Inspections can go down to 2″ access point. *
- No bias. As IM Home Inspections is a home inspector, not a plumber hoping to sell you repair work, you can be assured your inspection is completely unbiased.
- Unlike many plumbers who handwrite their reports, the sewer inspection report will be part of the computer generated home inspection report. Problems will be clearly identified, along with a link to the full video.
- IM Home Inspections is certified by InterNACHI, the International Association of Certifed Home Inspectors in sewer inspections.
Inspecting a sewer pipe
Order Your Sewer Scope Inspection
A sewer scope can be added to any home inspection. Due to the cost of the special equipment needed, this is an additional service at an additional fee.
Call 818-298-3405 to book your home inspection with a sewer inspection.
*Note: An access point or cleanout must be present. Inspector can NOT pull toilets to access the sewer line.