So you’ve finally found your dream house. It’s a brand new home with the latest and greatest materials and finishes.

After your standard home inspection, you might think you’re in the clear to close on the deal. You probably don’t need to inspect the sewer line because, after all, it is brand new. Right? Well…

Having performed thousands of sewer scope inspections as a company, we have learned that you can never be sure about the condition of a sewer line – even in brand new builds. Factors such as installation error, damaged piping or debris can be present in new sewer lines, which could lead to huge issues and costly repairs down the road.

Why are Sewer Scope Inspections So Important?

How often are we really thinking about our sewer pipes? Residential sewer drainage lines are frequently treated with the common mindset – out of sight, out of mind. Sewer lines are one of the few major components of the home that are usually completely or partially unseen.

If a home has a crawlspace, you can often see a portion of the sewer line. But once the line leaves the foundation, it travels underground and out of sight. The point is that, unlike many other components of the home, you can’t simply look at a sewer line from its exterior to determine its condition.

That’s where a sewer scope inspection comes in! A sewer scope inspection involves using a specialized, high definition camera that is attached to a long line of fiber optic cable.

The camera is run down through the residential sewer piping until it reaches the main city sewer line or septic tank. A sewer scope technician is able to observe the condition of the line in realtime on a monitor as they guide the cam through the line.

For more details on our sewer inspection process, check out our blog: What is a Sewer Scope?

A Scott Home Inspection Sewer Scope Technician performing a sewer scope from a roof top plumbing vent.

Sewer scopes are important because you can never be 100% sure of the sewer’s condition unless you physically look at it.

A homeowner is responsible for their sewer from their house until it meets the main city sewer line. Sewer lines, of course, vary in length from house to house. But in a lot of cases, they are 100 plus feet. When considering a long, plastic pipe that runs underground with outside pressures acting on it (such as rocks, roots soil, other construction features etc.), it’s not hard to imagine the potential issues that can occur.

Sewer repair can be one of the most costly repairs associated with a home. Depending on severity, prices for full line replacements can range from $10,000 to $40,000. When buying that dream home, the last thing you want is to be slapped in the face with an expensive repair bill right from the get go!

That’s why knowing the condition of the sewer line before purchasing a new home is worth its weight in gold.

Sewer Issues in New Builds

Now don’t get it confused – a newly built house will generally have a sewer line that is in great condition. And simply knowing that information has helped countless clients proceed with their purchase with an extra comfort and peace of mind.

But on the contrary, we have discovered many unexpectedly damaged or defective sewer lines in new builds, as well. Take the picture below for instance, which was taken during a scope on a newly built house.

The picture shows two segments of PVC piping that are significantly misaligned, creating what is called an offset. As you can see, the misalignment has already created a low area in the line, which is infringing on the flow of liquid through the line. Our sewer scope technician would call out a defect like this for further evaluation from a plumbing repair specialist.

An offset like this can occur for a number of reasons. Maybe the pipe segments were improperly fitted together. Or maybe the piping was laid on an uneven slope. Soil and rocks could have shifted around at the construction site causing significant pressure on top of this segment. Whatever the reason may be, it is indeed a problem area.

Even if this defect has not caused any detrimental damage thus far, based off its current condition, serious drainage concerns and even pipe damage could occur in the future.

Significant offset present in sewer line.

When technicians send that camera into a sewer line, they never know what they are going to get. We have seen foreign objects and debris of all shapes and sizes. Objects from construction sites such as towels, tools, rocks and even a Modelo beer can (yes we have seen that) have found their way into new drainage lines.

The picture below is especially surprising. It is a full tube of caulking! Notice how it is almost the full diameter of the ABS plastic piping. That has “potential blockage” written all over it.

Upon discovering an object like this in the line, our sewer scope tech will call it out for immediate removal. If this tube can not be cleared out of the line with a high-pressure jetting or root cleaning technique, excavation will be necessary. See how one defect could cost a home owner some serious bucks?

A tube of caulking found in a sewer line.

Sewer Scope Inspections are a Must!

Here at Scott Home Inspection, it is our mission to help Colorado families live in safe, healthy, and comfortable homes. We want to help our clients make the most informed decision possible when purchasing a home. That’s why we believe that a full inspection of all aspects of the home is invaluable.

So if you ask us: Do I really need a sewer scope inspection on a new home? We will surely answer YES. 

If you are under contract or in the market for a new home, we hope that you will consider Scott Home Inspection for all of your home inspection needs, including, of course, sewer scope inspections. To book your services today, click here.

The post Do I Need a Sewer Scope Inspection On a New House? appeared first on Scott Home Inspection.

What your sewer line should look like…

Sewer Inspection Problem #1 – Low Areas (aka) Belly

This is commonly referred to as a sag, low area or belly when debris collects in the low point and interferes with the flow of the system. This can cause a backup or blockage in your sewer line. A belly in your sewer line was likely the result of a poor layout for the sewer, or it has been impacted by some other event like a tree root (discussed below) or shifting soil weather events.

Minor bellies where standing water is present do not always need repair. In fact, a belly is a very common sewer pipe inspection issue. Your sewer scope tech will inform you if a belly is sloped enough to require action.

The camera is fully submerged in water indicating this section of piping has a deep belly. This belly was caused by root pressure from a tree.

There are various ways to have this issue corrected with the help of a knowledgeable team. They can discuss what is happening in your particular line, which will determine their course of action to fix it.

The bottom line, however, is that the system will need to be unearthed to a degree to repair the problem.

Sewer Inspection Problem #2 – Offset Pipes

An offset is where two sections of pipes meet but do not line up correctly. Most of the time, an environmental change is usually at fault for an offset pipe. Settlement in the surrounding earth or root growth can cause the two sections of piping to shift independently. Occasionally the problem is due to poor installation, but this is rare.

If the offset is small, and it does not appear to be blocking the flow of waste, then no action is required. But if the offset is larger and specifically if it is near the bottom edge of the pipe, then repair is likely needed.

This issue can be a pain to deal with, and could cost you more money than you were prepared to take on. The reason for this is that a significant area will need to be dug up, including everything in its path, such as landscaping.

Ask your plumbing specialist about how best to solve the issues. Typically plumbers will look to replace that small section of piping if the rest of the pipe is in good shape.

Also, ask if your situation can be fixed with trenchless technology. This type of repair requires little to no digging. It involves lining the inside of the pipe with a plastic liner material.

Sewer Inspection Problem #3 – Tree Roots

Root intrusion in a cast iron line.

When your sewer system was installed, chances are the vegetation wasn’t mature and no one suspected that your system could be compromised by a tree root. Roots are relentless and powerful and can crush a pipe or offset it, creating all kinds of problems with the flow of your system.

Unfortunately, most people do not think about their sewer line location when planting a tree. Often we see trees planted directly above a sewer line in front yards.

Root intrusion is very common in older clay and cast iron sewer lines. Newer PVC lines have a lower chance of having root issues.

There are several ways to handle this issue, including replacing the old line with a more structurally sound one like plastic. You can treat the line with a poison that will make the roots retreat. You can also rent a power auger which will clean out the line and will need to be done on a routine basis.

There are also hundreds of rooter companies that will come out and run a power auger down your sewer line for a low fee. We recommend that you do this often if you have a clay line.

Looking for a highly rated sewer scope company in the Colorado area? If you are buying a home, or a current homeowner, our sewer scope professionals can help you understand the condition of your sewer line. Learn more about our sewer inspection services.

Sewer Inspection Problem #4 – Grease Build Up

Grease build-up found in a cast iron line.

Because of the use of garbage disposals in modern plumbing, a build-up of grease can occur in the line. Since the oil substances are not water soluble, the grease tends to stick to the sides of the pipe.

The grease can eventually lead to blockages if not cleaned out. Other materials traveling down the pipe can get caught up on these build-ups and inhibit the flow of waste.

Luckily, this is a pretty simple fix. When we find grease build ups we typically recommend a jet cleaning. This involves pushing a high-pressure hose down the pipe to clean off the walls. If there are roots present in the sewer line as well, a rooter may also remove a lot of this grease.

Sewer Inspection Problem #5 – Cracking

Piping cracks in clay and cast iron lines are common to see. Pressure on the pipe can cause hairline cracks around fittings and other areas.

Like most of these issues, if the water is not blocked, no action is needed. Cracks on the top and sides of the pipe typically can be ignored.

However, if the crack is on the bottom side of the pipe, you may consider adding a liner to the pipe to reduce leakage of sewage into your lawn. Leaks outside of the pipe can lead to further settlement of the sewer line.

Sewer Inspection Problem #6 – Pipe Collapse

A pipe collapse is uncommon, but it typically occurs on sewer lines that have been neglected. Pipe collapses are often found as a result of many of the issues we discussed above. Pipes can collapse because of vegetation, an offset, or can be weather related to old lines expanding and contracting.

As the pipe collapses, the opening shrinks and it is likely to cause a blockage. Further, the leakage occurring in the yard from the cracked pipe can exacerbate the situation. In most cases, the line will need to be fully replaced.

If a pipe is fully collapsed, our scope techs typically cannot go any further to inspect the rest of the line. Because of this, replacing just the problem section can be risky as there may be more issues down the line.

Ask your plumbing professional about the easiest remedy for your specific problem.

How We Locate Problem Areas

Once an issue is found in a sewer line, we use a special locator tool that can locate the head of the camera. The sewer scope camera is placed over the defect, and the tech will use the locator tool outside to pinpoint the location.

When the problem is located outside, we mark this area to give the plumber an idea of the issue.  This also gives the home buyer a clue as to how difficult the repair will be. Unfortunately, we do find issues under concrete walkways, driveways, and even garages.

Our scope tech using a locator to find a sewer line problem.

Bonus: An uncommon defect.

This list of 6 common items are things we see and deal with every day. You might think, “I am buying a brand new house, and there is likely nothing wrong with my sewer line.” This is typically the case, but does the cost of a sewer scope inspection outweigh the knowledge of knowing? Recently, one of our sewer technicians, Woodrow, stumbled across an unusual problem in a sewer line…

Yep, that is a piece of rebar that was hammered through the pipe. You can see the bottom of the pipe on the left. The rebar was likely used to brace a footer for a nearby deck. However, the builder was unaware of the presence of the sewer line below and hammered the rebar through the pipe. Not only does this line need to be repaired, but the deck post may need to be moved as well resulting in a costly repair.

This all was present in a nice PVC pipe that had minimal damage otherwise. So as unfortunate as this situation may be, it serves as an example that a simple sewer scope inspection can save you a lot of money and stress from hidden repairs, or give you the peace of mind knowing your sewage is flowing swiftly away from your home.

Conclusion

So now you know all you’ve ever wanted to know about sewer pipe inspections and common sewer line problems. It is very important to understand the condition of a sewer line before buying a home as repairs can be a major cost to the homeowner.

In many cases, a sewer line repair can be one of the most expensive repairs associated with a home. A full sewer line replacement can cost between $10,000-$30,000!

As with most home repairs, many of them can be prevented with maintenance. Sewers are never a fun issue to deal with, so try being proactive and schedule a Sewer Scope Inspection today.

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