What Is a Sewer Scope Inspection, and Do You Need One?
A standard home inspection covers what we can see: the roof, structure, electrical, plumbing fixtures, HVAC and more. The main sewer line runs underground, so it is out of sight. A sewer scope changes that.
What a sewer scope is
We feed a waterproof camera into the main sewer line, from the house out to the street or septic tank, and watch the live video as it travels. You get the recorded video plus a written report of what we found.
What the camera can find
Roots growing into joints and cracks in the pipe
Cracks and breaks in the line
Bellies, which are low spots where water and waste collect instead of draining
Offsets, where pipe sections have shifted out of alignment
Blockages and buildup restricting flow
These problems are common in older homes and in properties with mature trees. They can also show up in newer homes if the line was installed or backfilled poorly.
Why it matters when buying
A sewer line problem can be expensive to repair, often running into the thousands of dollars, and it will not show up on a standard inspection. Finding it before closing gives you options: negotiate a repair or credit, ask the seller to fix it, or walk away informed. Finding it after closing means it is your problem.
Signs you may already have a problem
If you own your home, a scope can also be worth it if you notice slow drains in several fixtures, gurgling sounds, recurring backups or sewage odors, or if you have never had the line looked at in an older house.
Scheduling
A sewer scope can be scheduled with or without a home inspection, and is available throughout Northern Nevada. Pairing it with your inspection is the easiest way to get it done inside your buyer's due diligence window.
Home Inspection Associates is veteran-owned and family-run, led by Bob Parmenter, a Nevada Master Inspector of Structures with more than 9,000 inspections since 2007. We serve Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, Fallon, Dayton, Silver Springs, Yerington and nearby areas.
Want to see what is going on under your yard? Visit nvinspectors.com to get in touch.
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