After months of searching online and offline, you have finally found the house of your dreams. Situated in a great neighborhood, the home has all the features you need and is within your budget. You’ve hired a home inspector and they have given the property a clean bill of health. You quickly make the payment and find a tenant for your rental property.
Four months down the line, problems begin to emerge. It starts with a funny odor in the basement, followed by gurgling noises from your drains and slow-running toilets. A few days later, your tenants cannot flush the toilets. You call a plumber who conducts an inspection and discovers that there is a problem with the main sewer line. To fix the problem, you will have to spend $10,000 or more.
This is a horror story that has been told by many homeowners. The good news is that you can prevent it by arranging for a sewer line inspection before buying a property.
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What Is a Sewer Line Inspection?
As the name suggests, this is an inspection that shows you the condition of the underground sewer line. In the past, a sewer line inspection would involve digging up a large area to see which sections were causing problems. Nowadays, however, inspectors use flexible, specialized borescope cameras to see what is going on inside your sewer. The camera is inserted into your home’s drain pipes to check your sewer lines and other underground pipes for imperfections, flaws, or serious problems.
The sewer line inspection procedure usually takes one hour or less. Afterward, the inspector will present a report highlighting the state of the sewer line. A sewer line inspection is recommended for homes that are more than 20 years old.
Problems to Look Out for During a Sewer Line Check
Here are some of the most common problems found in a sewer line inspection:
Offset Pipes
An offset is a situation where two sections of pipes converge but fail to line up properly. Root growth or movement in the surrounding earth could cause each of the sections to shift independently. At times, the problem could be caused by poor installation. If the offset is insignificant and doesn’t appear to hinder the flow of waste, then a repair might not be necessary. However, don’t ignore an offset that is larger or close to the bottom edge of the pipe.
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Low Areas or Belly
As the name suggests, the belly or sag is a low area where debris collects and interferes with the flow of the system. This usually leads to a blockage or backup in your sewer line. A belly could be caused by a poor layout for the sewer, tree roots, or shifting soils. The scope inspection will show if the situation is bad enough to require action.
Tree Roots
Most people don’t consider the location of their sewer line when planting a tree. It is not uncommon to see trees planted directly above sewer lines. However, tree roots are powerful and relentless and can offset a pipe or crush it. Root intrusion is especially common in older cast iron or clay sewer lines. More recent PVC lines have less likely to have root issues.
You can fix this problem by replacing the old line with a better option like plastic. Alternatively, you can use a power auger to clean out your sewer lines on a regular basis. There are numerous rooter companies that can offer this service for a low fee.
Grease Buildup
Since grease is not water-soluble, it tends to stick to the sides of your pipes. If not cleaned out, it could eventually lead to blockages. Other materials flowing down the pipe could also get caught up, thus inhibiting the flow of waste. Grease buildups can be dealt with simply through jet cleaning.
Cracking
Piping cracks in cast iron and clay lines are a very common phenomenon. Pressure on the line results in hairline cracks around fittings and other sections. If the crack is on the top or side of the pipe, it can be ignored. However, cracks on the bottom of pipes should be dealt with immediately to prevent leakage of sewage into your lawn.
Pipe Collapse
Though not very common, pipe collapse happens when sewer lines have been neglected. Pipes can collapse due to many of the reasons listed above. In addition, the collapse could be caused by expansion and contraction due to changing weather. When the pipe collapses, the opening becomes smaller and is thus likely to cause a blockage.
In such a situation, the sewer line will need to be fully replaced. Replacing only the affected section could be risky since there could be further problems down the line.
Sewer Line Repair Options
So, what do you do if a problem is mentioned in the sewer line inspection report?
- Estimate repair cost: Not all sewer line problems are serious. The inspector might identify an issue that can be handled with a very small budget. Consider your options before taking a knee-jerk reaction
- Determine responsibility: Besides revealing the sewer line’s overall condition, your inspector will determine whether the repairs fall within the civic jurisdiction or the home’s property line. If it is the former, you might want to get the authorities involved before proceeding with the deal
- Negotiate repair costs: If the inspection uncovers serious problems with the sewer line, have a meeting with the seller and decide who will incur costs. You could negotiate repair costs as part of the deal
- Walk away: You have the option of walking away when the home has major sewer line issues. This can be a very difficult choice especially if everything else about the house looks perfect
Finding a Sewer Line Inspector
Besides conducting an online search, you could ask your real estate agent to recommend a good local plumbing company. Here are some of the questions to ask before hiring an inspector:
- Are you licensed?
- How long have you been in operation?
- Are you adequately insured?
- What kind of cameras do you use for sewer line inspection?
- Do you clean up after completing the job?
- Will you provide a report that is easy to understand?
When it comes to plumbing inspection costs, cheaper isn’t always better. It would be advisable to pay a higher fee to get a better sewer inspection. Generally, the sewer inspection cost ranges from $250 to $300. The sewer scope cost is a small price to pay, considering that a full sewer line replacement could cost up to $30,000.
Related: The Ultimate Property Inspection Checklist for Real Estate Investors
Conclusion
Most real estate investors are aware of the importance of getting a house inspection before buying property. Home inspectors generally look at things like the roof, overall framing, electrical systems, building envelope, and plumbing systems. The inspection report will highlight existing and potential problems that need to be addressed. However, many inspectors fail to check the sewer lines, which could turn out to be a costly and critical mistake. Getting a sewer line inspection will help avoid major problems down the line.
If you are buying an older home, you might want to add a sewer cleanout to your home’s plumbing system. Sewer cleanout installation costs could be anything from $1,850 – $3,500. The sewer cleanout cost will vary depending on the work involved in accessing the sewer line.
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