Sewer Scope Inspection
A sewer scope Inspection is a video inspection of the lateral sewer line from the house at/near the foundation to the city / main tap or septic tank.
The purpose of a sewer scope is to discover and report defects that were visible in the lateral sewer line; the scope will typically also identify the material used as the lateral sewer line.
The lateral sewer line is the privately owned line / pipe connecting a property to the publicly-owned main sewer line, main tap or septic tank
Plumbing codes typically identify the lateral sewer line as the building sewer and is typically the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and repair the lateral line.
In addition to our comprehensive home inspection, a sewer line inspection should be considered one of the most important additional services to add on. Sewer line problems repairs are one of the more expensive projects you may embark on in your home. Knowing your sewer lines’ condition before purchasing a home and becomes your responsibility is highly recommended.
Our Sewer Scope Inspection Procedure
Our procedure involves pushing a high definition waterproof camera down the sewer line through an access point over several feet (up to 140 feet)in the home and following the line all the way to the city’s main line to tap. This length covers the part of the sewer that is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain. As a homeowner you need to know where your property line is located and to ensure that your private water, wastewater and stormwater systems (including laterals) are not carrying inappropriate flows such as pollutants, cross contamination or inflow and infiltration.
Sewer Scope Inspection
Specialized State Of The Art Equipment
Do I need a Sewer Scope Inspection?
Every home owner can benefit from having a sewer scope inspection. Even brand new homes could have their sewer lines filled or restricted with construction debris, have improper slope or connections, be crushed etc. possibly causing sewage to drain into soil or backup. A sewer line inspection is by far cheaper than any repairs and provides additional information to help you make an informed decision on a property purchase or provide you peace of mind knowing exactly the condition of the sewer lines. Our recommendation is that every potential homeowner obtains a sewer scope inspection, however if you are undecided about the need for this service, here are some guidelines to help you :
Is this an older home? – As every home ages the pipes have had more time to break down, develop weak spots that may allow root intrusion, and collect materials that could cause blockages. Some older sewer line materials are prone to damage and/or deterioration. One of such pipe materials is Orangeburg aka No-corrode which can completely collapse and should always be replaced.
Are there any large trees? – The more foliage and larger trees located on the property, the more likelihood that roots have grown into the sewer lines.
Is the home Well maintained overall? – A well maintained home overall may indicate that items such as fat, oil, wipes, diapers, sanitary products, dental floss, grease etc. may have been kept away from the sewer lines.
FAQs
- Breaks/cracks in the Sewer line.
- Offsets at the pipes connections possibly causing leaks.
- Root Intrusion possibly blocking the line from draining properly and causing backups.
- Missing /deteriorated sections
- Crushed sewer line sections that may impede flow.
- Bellies or dips possibly causing accumulation of materials and impeding flow.
- Blockages from prohibited or unwanted materials sent down the sewer line (fat, oil, wipes, diapers, sanitary products, dental floss, grease etc.)
You certainly could hire a plumber to do the same inspection. However, the advantage of choosing us it that we would cost less and since we are probably already there to perform a home inspection, it means one less co-ordination effort. Another perspective is we do not perform any repairs so our report is completely unbiased. Finally, our sewer scope specialist was trained to do these inspections, identify problems and defects accurately. In the case of a problem or defect, you may take our report and video to a plumber or drain/pipe repair company to ask for review and/or estimate.
According to Halifax water, As a property owner, you are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the water, wastewater and stormwater systems located on your private property. Your laterals are the underground pipes extending from your building to the Halifax Water system in the street.