If you are purchasing a home, whether it’s an older home or a new one, we recommend that you get a sewer inspection of the plumbing system in addition to the home inspection.
Many home inspectors may go over an older home inside and out but they rarely do an in-depth examination with a sewer camera which would tell you if there are any problems with the sewer pipes.
Newer homes shouldn’t have any problems but there have been instances where the builders accidentally hammered rebarb wire or other items through a pipe (unknowingly).
The best way to capture these issues before you sign on the dotted line for your new home is to ask for a sewer inspection.
What Can A Sewer Camera Inspection Do?
A sewer camera inspection can detect the following:
- Broken pipes
- Cracked pipes
- Collapsed pipes
- Buried backflow devices and buried cleanouts
- Foreign objects in pipes
- Off grade pipe (no slope or a “belly in the pipe”)
- Leaking joints and offset joints
- Root obstruction and Infiltration
- Blockages and Corrosion
- Sewer taps
How Much Does It Cost To Inspect A Sewer Line?
Starting costs for sewer inspections are generally around $300.00 – the price can vary depending on the amount of area that needs to be inspected.
What Do Sewer Inspections Look For?
The issues that the plumber will look for in a typical sewer inspection can include…
- Root intrusion (this is a very common problem with sewer pipes here in Georgia)
- Grease build up on pipes
- Corroded, cracked or broken pipes
- Sloped pipes which may have settled through the years (this could end up causing a blockage)
- Disconnected pipes (where two pipes were at one time joined are now disconnected)
It may seem costly to add a sewer inspection on top of a home inspection when purchasing a home but you are essentially looking to avoid any possible problems that may spring up (and may cost you more) later on.
If you have any questions about sewer inspections, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.