The Importance of Regular Sewer Inspections

Your home’s sewer line does an important job every day, but because most of the system is underground, it can be easy to forget about it until something goes wrong.

Unfortunately, sewer line problems don’t always appear suddenly. Tree roots can work their way into small openings, debris and buildup can restrict flow, and aging pipes can develop cracks, offsets, or other damage over time.

A professional sewer camera inspection provides a look inside the line and can help identify these problems before they turn into a major backup or repair. An inspection can also provide valuable information when buying or selling a home, diagnosing recurring sewer problems, or determining whether a recommended repair is actually necessary.

For homeowners, homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals throughout Greater Seattle, knowing the condition of a sewer line can make it much easier to make informed decisions about a property.

What Is a Sewer Camera Inspection?

A sewer camera inspection uses a small waterproof video camera attached to a flexible cable to examine the inside of a sewer line.

As the camera travels through the pipe, a trained technician can view the condition of the line in real time. This provides much more useful information than simply knowing that a drain or sewer line is flowing.

An inspection can help determine why a problem is occurring, where it is located, and whether the pipe itself is in good condition.

That information can help homeowners make better decisions about maintenance and repairs instead of relying on guesswork.

What Can a Sewer Inspection Find?

A sewer camera can reveal a wide range of conditions that would otherwise remain hidden underground, including:

• Tree root intrusion
• Cracks and fractures
• Separated or offset pipe joints
• Corrosion and deterioration
• Heavy buildup or obstructions
• Low or sagging sections of pipe
• Signs of previous repairs
• Collapsed or severely damaged pipe sections

Not every issue discovered during an inspection requires major repair. In some cases, cleaning or removing an obstruction may be enough. In others, the inspection may reveal damage that should be monitored or repaired before it becomes worse.

The advantage is knowing what is actually happening inside the sewer line.

Why Are Regular Sewer Inspections Worthwhile?

One of the biggest benefits of a sewer inspection is the opportunity to identify a developing problem before it becomes an emergency.

A small crack, for example, may allow tree roots to begin entering the line. Over time, those roots can grow and collect debris, gradually restricting wastewater flow.

Similarly, an aging pipe may continue functioning despite deterioration that makes it increasingly vulnerable to failure.

Without an inspection, these conditions may go unnoticed until homeowners experience recurring drain clogs, sewage backups, unpleasant odors, or other obvious symptoms.

Finding a problem earlier can provide more time to evaluate the situation and determine the most appropriate response.

Sewer Inspections Support Preventive Maintenance

Preventive sewer maintenance is about more than reacting to clogs.

Knowing the condition of your sewer line can help establish whether cleaning, root removal, monitoring, or another maintenance step makes sense for your property.

It can also provide a useful baseline. If the sewer line is in good condition, that is valuable information too.

Rather than assuming something is wrong — or waiting until something obviously is — an inspection can help homeowners make maintenance decisions based on the actual condition of their pipes.

When Should You Schedule a Sewer Inspection?

There is no single inspection schedule that is right for every home. The age and material of the sewer line, surrounding trees, previous problems, and other property-specific factors all matter.

However, there are several situations in which a sewer camera inspection can be particularly useful.

Consider scheduling an inspection if:

• Multiple drains are repeatedly slow or backing up
• You experience recurring sewer or drain clogs
• You suspect tree roots may be entering the sewer line
• Your home or sewer system is older
• You notice unexplained sewer odors
• The property has a history of sewer problems
• You are considering purchasing an older home
• You are preparing to sell and don’t know the condition of the sewer line
• You want to verify the condition of a line after sewer work
• You are experiencing symptoms but aren’t sure what is causing them

An inspection can also be worthwhile before a minor recurring issue becomes a larger one.

Sewer Inspections When Buying or Selling a Home

A sewer camera inspection can be especially valuable during a real estate transaction.

A home can look beautifully maintained above ground while an aging or damaged sewer line remains completely hidden below the property. Tree root intrusion, cracks, deteriorating pipe, separated joints, or previous repairs may not produce obvious symptoms during a typical home showing or walkthrough.

Buying a Home? Check the Sewer Line Before You Buy

For prospective homebuyers, a sewer camera inspection can provide important information before completing a purchase — especially when considering an older Seattle-area home.

A professional inspection can help determine:

• What condition the sewer line is in
• Whether tree roots or obstructions are present
• Whether sections of the pipe appear cracked, deteriorated, offset, or damaged
• Whether previous repairs are visible
• Whether cleaning, monitoring, or repair may be appropriate

A standard home inspection and a sewer camera inspection also serve different purposes. A general home inspection evaluates many visible and accessible components of a property, while examining the interior of an underground sewer lateral requires specialized camera equipment.

Finding a sewer problem doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the home. It means you can make the decision with more information about the property and potentially avoid discovering a significant sewer problem shortly after moving in.

Selling a Home? Know the Condition of Your Sewer Line

A sewer inspection can also be useful for homeowners preparing to sell.

If you don’t know the condition of your sewer line — particularly in an older home — an inspection can identify issues that might otherwise arise later in the selling process.

If the line is in good condition, you have useful information about the property. And if a problem is discovered, you have an opportunity to understand it and consider your options rather than being surprised by the issue during a buyer’s inspection.

A seller may also want to keep documentation of inspections, maintenance, and completed sewer repairs available as part of the property’s records.

Sewer Camera Inspections for Real Estate Agents and Their Clients

Real estate agents can also recommend a sewer camera inspection when helping clients evaluate a property.

A standard home inspection provides valuable information about many parts of a home, but the condition of an underground sewer line can require a separate, specialized inspection. Organizations such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) recognize sewer scoping as an ancillary inspection service that can provide valuable information to homeowners and prospective homebuyers.

For an agent representing a buyer, recommending a sewer inspection can help the client better understand one of the home’s most important — and least visible — systems before completing the transaction.

Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter works with homeowners, homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals throughout Greater Seattle to provide sewer camera inspections and straightforward information about what we find.

If a problem is discovered, the next step isn’t automatically a major sewer replacement. Depending on the condition of the line, the appropriate recommendation could be cleaning, root removal, continued monitoring, sewer repair, or a trenchless solution such as pipe lining.

What Happens If a Sewer Inspection Finds a Problem?

The next step depends entirely on what the camera reveals.

If the problem is primarily buildup or an obstruction, professional cleaning — like high-pressure water jetting (hydro jetting) — may restore proper flow.

Should we find that tree roots have entered the line, the roots must be removed and the source of the intrusion evaluated.

If the inspection reveals a damaged section of pipe, a sewer repair may be appropriate.

And when conditions allow, trenchless sewer repair may provide a way to rehabilitate the existing sewer line without the extensive excavation associated with traditional replacement.

A camera inspection helps sewer techs determine which approach makes sense rather than recommending a repair without first understanding the condition of the pipe.

And if you have already been told that your sewer line requires a major repair or replacement, keep in mind that Bob Oates is the Home of the Second Opinion! A professional evaluation by our team will help confirm the condition of the line and whether the recommended work is appropriate.

Sewer Inspections and Trenchless Repair

We mentioned this above, but it’s definitely worth repeating: When an inspection does reveal significant pipe damage, traditional excavation isn’t always the only option.

Depending on the condition and configuration of the existing sewer line, trenchless technologies may allow damaged pipe to be repaired or rehabilitated with substantially less digging.

One option is sewer pipe lining, which creates a new durable lining within the existing pipe. This can address certain cracks, root-entry points, and deteriorated pipe sections while avoiding the need to excavate the entire sewer line.

Not every pipe is a candidate for lining or another trenchless method, which is another reason the inspection comes first.

The camera provides the information needed to determine whether cleaning, conventional repair, trenchless repair, pipe lining, or another solution is appropriate.

Protect Your Sewer Line With Preventive Maintenance

You don’t need to wait for sewage to back up into your home to learn what is happening inside your sewer line.

A camera inspection can identify developing problems, help diagnose recurring symptoms, and provide useful information for planning future maintenance.

For homeowners with older sewer lines, mature trees, previous root intrusion, or a history of backups, periodic inspections can be particularly valuable. Sewer inspections can also provide important information when buying or selling a home or helping a real estate client evaluate a property.

Bob Oates Plumbing, Sewer & Rooter provides professional sewer camera inspections throughout Greater Seattle. Our experienced team can evaluate the condition of your line, explain what we find, and recommend an appropriate next step if one is needed.

Whether that means routine maintenance, sewer cleaning, repair, trenchless pipe lining — or simply knowing that your sewer line currently looks good — the goal is the same: understand the problem before deciding on the solution.

Give us a call(opens in new tab) or use our contact form(opens in new tab) to schedule a sewer inspection or request a free second opinion.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a sewer line be inspected?

There isn’t one inspection schedule that applies to every property. The age and material of the sewer line, surrounding trees, previous root intrusion, recurring backups, and history of sewer repairs can all affect how often an inspection makes sense. A sewer professional can help recommend an appropriate schedule based on the condition and history of your particular line.

What problems can a sewer camera inspection find?

A sewer camera inspection can identify conditions such as tree root intrusion, cracks, deteriorated pipe, separated or offset joints, heavy buildup, obstructions, low sections of pipe, and severely damaged or collapsed sections. The inspection can also provide information about previous repairs and the overall condition of the visible portions of the sewer line.

Should I get a sewer inspection before buying a home?

A sewer camera inspection can be particularly valuable before purchasing an older home or a property with mature trees or a history of sewer problems. Because the underground sewer line may not be evaluated as part of a standard home inspection, a specialized camera inspection can provide additional information about its condition before the purchase is completed.

Can a sewer inspection tell if I need pipe lining?

A camera inspection is an important first step in determining whether pipe lining or another sewer repair method may be appropriate. The inspection allows a professional to evaluate the condition of the existing pipe. Not every damaged sewer line is a candidate for lining, so the appropriate repair should be based on what the inspection reveals.

Do I need a sewer inspection if I haven’t had a backup?

Not necessarily, but you also don’t have to wait for a complete sewer backup before considering an inspection. Recurring slow drains, previous root problems, an older sewer line, mature trees, unexplained sewer odors, a real estate transaction, or simply not knowing the condition of an older line can all be reasons to consider a camera inspection.

Further Reading

Do I Need a Video Inspection for My Seattle Sewer Line Repair?