• The property is older and may have older clay or Orangeburg pipes(see A Brief History of Pipe Materials). During the early 1900s, vitrified clay pipe was the most common type of sewer pipe material installed throughout the United States. It was made by firing clay pipes and throwing salt into the kiln to produce vapor. This hardened and smoothened the clay and made it perfect for sewer lines. However, like most products, the lifespan was not indefinite. Most clay pipes still in existence today have most likely outlived their “useful life” and are more likely to have collapsed, cracked and or allowed tree roots (which were planted when the house was built) to enter the pipe and cause a blockage.
• There is a long-distance between the house and the street sewer connection. Regardless of the type of pipe installed (even today), if the distance from the house to the street sewer connection (the “lateral connection”) is significant, there is a strong possibility that settlement of the soil has happened over the years. Settlement of soil can cause pipes to settle unevenly and become “offset” or break. An “offset” pipe is simply a section of pipe that disconnects from the next section and settles, causing one section to be higher than the other.

• There are large trees in the front yard. Especially in older houses with trees that were planted when the house was built and are now fully matured with deep roots, this can cause breaks of offsets in older clay pipes. While this may seem like an obvious reason to book a sewer line inspection, it’s not. In many locations, the main sewer line drains towards the rear or side of the property, to the sewer line that’s located in an easement or alley. So regardless of the large tree in the front yard, if the sewer line doesn’t drain to the street, there is no reason to get a sewer line inspection. A little homework goes a long way.

• There are known issues with the sewer lines. If a homeowner/seller has been living in the house for a few years, and there is an existing issue with the sewer line, there’s a good possibility they know about it. If they have disclosed this fact as part of your transaction, ask if they have had a sewer line inspection. If the issue is known, and more importantly the location is known, then is there really a need for a new inspection? Well, that depends. Like a general home inspection, it gives you a snapshot of the condition of the home “on the day of the inspection”.  If the previous sewer inspection was years ago, then yes, a new inspection done with a location device can pinpoint the exact location of the current damage. This information will be critical for your plumber to make repairs or replacement without having to trench the entire yard.

So there it is. The reasons why you might ACTUALLY need a sewer line inspection. A sewer line camera inspection is truly a valuable tool if you’re purchasing an older house. And while it may be tempting to get one, I honestly recommend you only get one if you actually need it or really want the peace of mind. Good luck with your transaction.