What is Sewer Inspection?

While most first time home-buyers realize it's important to have their new home inspected, many of them forget that sewer inspection is just as important. It may be because they believe sewer inspection is included in the standard home inspection, but that's certainly not the case. Sewer inspection is totally separate from a standard home inspection. Although sewer inspection is not something usually on the minds of home-buyers, it definitely should be, especially if the home is a little older. Having the sewer inspected before you move in or make an offer is recommended because it can save you from having to spend a small fortune on repairs down to road when it's least expected. Also, a newer sewer system can add great value to a property and make your decision to buy a little easier. To give you a better idea of why it's just so important, here's everything you need to know about sewer inspections.

 Reasons To Inspect Sewer Lines

Tree Roots – Tree roots growing into the sewer lines is one of the most common issues homeowners experience with their sewer system. They can crawl into the lines through tiny openings and cause debris such as grease or paper to back up. While tree roots are usually fairly easy to kill with chemicals from a home improvement store, they can reappear and damage pipes once again. If this occurs, it's best to have them excavated all together.

Cesspools – Before cities transitioned to public septic systems, most homes relied on cesspools. While the home may use the city's modernized public system, your sewer line could still be partially connected to the cesspool. To avoid further complications, it's best to inspect the lines before you make an offer on the home so the appropriate measures to disconnect it can be taken by either you or the seller.

Aged Materials – Another valid reason to inspect sewer lines before purchasing a new home is simply because the lines may be made with low quality and outdated materials. In fact, most homes constructed during the 1950's feature sewer lines that are made from a tar paper often referred to as Orangeburg pipes. These older pipes disintegrate over time and eventually collapse, so it's a good idea to have them replaced with newer and more durable pipes before you move in.

 How To Inspect Sewer Lines

To have the sewer lines on a particular piece of property inspected, you'll want to call on a local plumber that specializes in inspections. Most plumbers insert a snake with a small camera attached to the end of it into the lines to adequately inspect them. You and the trained professional can then watch the video feed on a monitor to spot out any weaknesses or problem areas. The plumber should also provide you with a detailed inspection report about the condition of the pipes and what material they are made out of. While the cost of having a plumber come out to inspect the lines generally range from $100 to a couple of hundred, it's undoubtedly worth it as repairs can cost a great deal more in the long run.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of why it's just so important to conduct a sewer inspection before buying a new home. If you're in the process of buying a home, call your local plumber to set up an appointment as soon as possible.