Drains & sewer
Should you get a sewer scope before buying a home?
Updated
Short answer
For homes built before about 1980, or with large trees in the front yard, a sewer scope is worth it. A standard home inspection doesn't look inside the sewer line, and in Colorado the buyer will own that line all the way to the main.
What a scope shows
A plumber runs a camera from a cleanout to the main and records the trip. The video shows the pipe material and condition.
- Roots growing through joints
- Cracks, breaks and collapsed sections
- Sags (bellies) where water and waste sit
- Offset joints from soil movement
- Orangeburg or other failing pipe types
Why it matters on the Front Range
Many older neighborhoods have clay sewer pipe, and expansive clay soils shift lines over time. Sewer replacement can be expensive, so finding a problem during the inspection period gives you time to negotiate or walk away.
Reading the results
Ask for the video and a written summary that includes distances to any defect. A minor root intrusion may just need cleaning; a broken or bellied section needs a repair quote.
If the scope finds a problem
Get the video, the distance and depth of each defect, and a written repair estimate within your inspection period. A cracked joint near the house may be a small spot repair; a bellied or broken line under the street is much larger.
Many buyers ask the seller to repair, credit the cost at closing or reduce the price. Keep the video for your records either way.
- Ask for distance and depth of defects
- Get a written repair estimate
- Negotiate before the inspection deadline
When to call a plumber
Call if the problem keeps coming back, if water is reaching walls, ceilings or electrical areas, or if any step above involves gas, a torch or opening a sewer line. A licensed plumber handles sewer camera inspection and will explain the cause before starting.
Questions
Is a sewer scope part of a home inspection?
How long does a sewer scope take?
This guide is general information for Colorado homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site diagnosis. Local codes vary; your plumber and building department have the final word.