Inspect
We use RIDGID sewer camera equipment to examine the line for blockages, roots, damage, offsets, standing water, and other visible conditions.
For home buyers
Know the condition of the sewer line before you buy
The sewer lateral is underground and not visible without a camera. Ask your home inspector what their inspection covers. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line. It is one of the few systems where a serious problem can exist with no symptom on the day you view the house.
Why this one system gets its own inspection
Ask your home inspector what their inspection covers. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line. The line runs underground from the building to the main, and its condition cannot be assessed from the fixtures.
That matters because a sewer failure is among the more expensive things a property can present after closing, and in most jurisdictions the lateral belongs entirely to the owner.
What the inspection tells you
- The visible condition of the accessible line
- Whether roots have entered, and at what point
- Joint separation, offsets, and visible cracks
- Standing water suggesting a low section or restriction
- Pipe material, and changes along the run
- Evidence of previous work
What it does not tell you
It documents visible conditions on the day. It does not guarantee future performance, and it does not establish who is legally responsible for which portion of the line: that varies by jurisdiction and is a question for your own advisers.
We are also not the people to advise you on what a finding should mean for your offer. We document the line; the decision and the negotiation are yours.
Where a lateral program changes the arithmetic
Some municipalities run programs that contribute toward lateral repair, and terms vary sharply: Carlsbad offers up to $3,000, Ballwin pays up to $4,500 per repair with up to $7,500 where the City approves special circumstances, Florissant states no maximum but stops five feet from the house, and the City of San Diego offers nothing at all.
Whether one applies to the address you are buying is worth establishing alongside the condition of the line. A defect in a city with a program and the same defect in a city without one are different financial situations.
Why we do not perform the repair
A pre-purchase inspection informs a significant financial decision. We inspect, document, and clean; we do not perform sewer repair or replacement, so what we find is not the opening step toward selling you the remedy.
Independent sewer inspection & second opinions
Before You Approve an Expensive Sewer Repair, Get an Opinion With Nothing to Sell
A sewer backup or major repair recommendation can make a costly decision feel urgent. The Sewer Pros inspects and documents the condition inside your sewer line so you can understand what is actually happening before you approve cleaning, excavation, lining, or replacement.
Because we do not perform sewer repairs or replacements, we do not profit from selling you the work. Our role is to inspect and document visible conditions, explain what we found in plain language, and give you an honest opinion you can use to make the next decision.
Get an Independent Second Opinion
Already received a repair recommendation? Bring us in for an independent second opinion before you sign off on major work.
Document
We inspect and document visible conditions inside the line, so you are not forced to rely only on a verbal repair recommendation.
Decide
Use the findings to determine whether the issue calls for cleaning, monitoring, a repair estimate, or another qualified opinion, without pressure to buy a repair from us.
Do not approve a major sewer repair based only on a sales-driven recommendation. The Sewer Pros does not repair or replace sewer lines, by design, so we have no repair contract to sell. Get a documented second opinion before you approve the expense.
What to expect
Arrange access
Usually through an existing cleanout.
Inspect and record the line
Document conditions and distances
Walk through the findings with you
How we work
The inspection is the product
Finding out what is happening in the line is the job, not a step toward selling a repair.
You see the evidence
Conditions found in the line are documented so you can look at them yourself.
Sewer and drain specialists
Sewer inspection, diagnostics, locating, and cleaning, rather than general plumbing.
The next step stays your decision
If the line needs work beyond cleaning, you decide what to do about it and who does it.
Request service
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What our customers say
4.9 out of 5from 595 Google reviews · as of
Answers to common questions Home Buyers have
Is a sewer inspection part of a standard home inspection?
Ask your home inspector what their inspection covers. A sewer scope is a separate, focused inspection of the sewer line, and a general inspection is not assumed to include one.
What if it finds a problem?
You have documented evidence of the line’s condition while the decision is still open. What you do with it, including getting repair quotes or discussing it with your agent and advisers, is yours to decide.
Can you tell me if I should still buy the house?
No. We can tell you what the line looks like and what could not be assessed. Whether that changes your decision is a judgement for you and your own advisers.
Inspect the line before you commit
Documented condition while the decision is still yours to make.
Request service
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