Sewer scope is like a colonoscopy for your sewer pipes. If accessible, we will inspect your roof vent/stack vent and soil stack, as well as horizontal branch lines with accessible clean-outs. We will also inspect your main drain line to the municipal sewer system line if you have an accessible clean-out available. We will scope up to 100-feet for each entry point.
It’s not always possible to check every linear foot of plumbing lines, but we will do our best.
Things that can be found in a sewer scope:
1. Root intrusion – tree roots can enter pipe, usually through a joint, or just busting through the pipe.
2. Misaligned pipe – this is where the pipes do not come together in alignment.
3. Collapsed pipe – this can be caused from tree roots, heavy vehicles running over the yard, foreign objects.
4. Bellys – a low spot in the pipe where sewage can collect and pool up. Bellys can also be created by soil settlements and/or tree roots pushing the pipe down.
5. Wrong grade – the pipe is not sloped to drain properly and is on a negative slope.
6. Identify old pipe – if this is an older home, this helps identify if the older pipe has been repaired or replaced with modern piping.
Whether it’s a newer or older home, trees or no trees, there can be issues with your sewer line. And, knowing ahead of time will help you make better purchasing decisions.
The sewer scope inspection is a valuable investment and is quite affordable in most cases, in comparison to the cost of replacing sewer lines which can run upwards of $300 per foot of repaired line.
When having sewer pipes repaired, the average homeowner pays $2500, but can pay upwards of $25,000 for a complete replacement of sewer pipes.
WHY HAVE YOUR SEWER LINES INSPECTED?
No matter the type of piping in the home, things can go wrong. Tree roots, clogged lines, broken, collapsed, settling issues, or misaligned pipes can wreak havok, and the price of repairing or replacing can break the bank.
Getting the sewer lines inspected will give you peace of mind before purchasing your new home.
FOUR BASIC TYPES OF PIPING
- Clay pipes – this type of pipe was used from the early part of the 1900s through the 1970s and have a 50-60 year life span.
- Orangeburg pipes – this type of piping was common from 1930s the 1950s and lasts between 30-50 years.
- Cast iron pipes – Used from the 1900s to 1980s and are currently used today but are mostly in commercial buildings. This this type of piping was used in homes from the 1970s to the 1980s. It usually lasts between 50-100 years. Cast iron pipes can begin to deteriorate after 25 years.
- PVC pipe – This was used beginning in the 1980s through the current time. The pipe is created to last up to 100 years if protected from the elements/UV rays.
