If you are someone who is looking to buy a house, you want to make sure the house is in good condition. A home inspection can definitely help you access the condition of the home in a better way, but you should not ignore sewer inspection. A sewer inspection service is typically not offered along with home inspection services, but it is recommended before you buy a home.
Damage to sewer lines can be very harmful to a property as it can cause both structural damage and health issues. However, sewer scope inspection can help you detect the issues. You can consult certified and experienced inspectors who can help you with specialized equipment. The sewer scope inspection can also detect the damage to the pipes and blockages.
The inspector inserts a camera with a light in your home’s drainpipe to the city sewer connection. The camera is run through the home’s drainpipe to find out any flaws and imperfections in the sewer lines. Sewer scoping can reveal the blockages and other damages to the pipe system which are vital to take note of. This whole process of inspection can usually be done in an hour probably. After this, the inspector will provide a detailed report on their findings and give it to you and the home seller.
Sewage exposure can cause serious health-related issues, It contains biological hazards that can cause lung and other infections. Along with health-related issues, it can also cause structural damages as well. The flooring and basement are at high risk and the damage can be expensive if not recognized in the initial stages. Sewer lines can flood your home, saturate the soil beneath, and can even lead to foundation problems and mold development. So, it is recommended to get the sewer inspection done before you buy a home because once you discover it later, it would be an expensive repair.
How Much Does a Sewer Inspection Cost?
The sewer scope inspection cost varies depending on various factors like geographical location and age of the home. The typical cost for sewer inspection is around $200 to $300. You are lucky if you could find a home inspector who offers sewer inspections services along with other traditional home inspection services as the whole inspection cost would cost you less. If the inspection services are solely for the sewer, then it might cost a bit more.
The cost to repair a damaged sewer line would cost something close to $300 per foot of repaired line. Repairing the entire sewer line with major structural damages would cost you some thousands of dollars. So, a sewer inspection is a great option to detect the issues in the initial stages.
What You Should Know About Sewer Scope Inspections
A sewer scope inspection is usually done by using a camera for the video recording of the lateral sewer line in a home that leads directly from the basement of the house to the main sewer line. This video recording will display if at all there are any potential problems with the pipeline.
The sewer line could have problems due to so many reasons. The major reason would be tree roots. The roots soak up the water that pipes carry and thereby find a small crack to push through. Because of this, it will create a blockage in the sewer line and lead to plumbing issues. To find these plumbing issues, you should vary a few indications. Bad smell from the drain, wet lawn in the house, all these problems indicate that your house needs a sewer scope inspection.
Sewer inspection costs around $200 to $250 and takes less than an hour to finish. This price is way lesser than what you would spend if your lateral sewer line has some issue or damage. So, it’s always a good option to get the inspection done.
Factors that affect the price of a sewer camera inspection
There are multiple factors that influence the price of a sewer camera inspection. The first one is the severity of the damage. It is obvious that if the damage is more, the repair needed will also be more. Tree root damage or a burst pipe will cost you more money. However, if the damage is minor leaks, you don’t need to spend much.
The other factor that influences is the depth of the pipes. If the depth of the pipes is big, it will be hard to reach them. So, if the depth of your pipes is more, you should make up your mind for a costly deal.
The area of the pipes is the last factor that influences the price of a sewer camera inspection. Along with these, local rates, the type of technology used and the location will also play a key role.
Find Your Sewer Scope Certified Inspector
You can find the most experienced and skilled inspectors online. Once you visit the website of that company, find out the certifications done by their inspectors, their previous work, and years of experience are the main things you need to see while hiring a sewer scope inspector.
The other way to check the credibility of a sewer inspection company is by checking their reviews. Customers’ reviews speak a lot about the quality of the service provided by the company. You can also ask for a free quote which helps you find out what they offer, which equipment they use, and much more.
