We recommend a sewer line inspection alongside a standard plumbing evaluation during a home inspection. This can provide valuable insights for homeowners and buyers alike. Since main sewer line repairs can be expensive, inspecting the line before purchasing a home is a smart precaution.
A sewer scope involves using a video camera to check the lateral sewer line running from the house’s foundation to the main city line or septic tank.
Inspectors insert a flexible rod with a high-resolution camera into the sewer pipe. This lets them see inside the pipe, even around bends, to spot any problems needing repairs.
A sewer line inspection is almost always recommended as part of a home inspection to determine whether there are any issues with the sewer line. A sewer backup can cause extensive damage, and a sewer line replacement can be costly.
1900s - 1930s Homes
In the early 20th century years of the 1900s to 1930s, cast iron and clay were commonly used sewer line materials:
Additionally, improper installation often led to sagging pipes and separation at joints, resulting in leaks, root intrusion, and blockages.
1940s - 1960s Homes
In the post-war years, from the 1940s to the 1960s, cast iron, clay, and bituminous fibre pipe (also known as Orangeburg or NoCorrode) were commonly used sewer line materials.
Additionally, improper installation often led to sagging pipes and separation at joints, resulting in leaks and blockages.
1970s - 1990s Homes
From the 1970s to the 1990s, clay was a commonly used sewer line material between the house and the city connection. Clay pipes are prone to cracking, breaking, shifting, and root intrusion. Additionally, improper installation often led to sagging pipes and separation at joints, resulting in leaks and blockages.
2000s - Present, including New Builds
Although the type of material used in modern waste systems isn’t typically prone to the problems of the past, such as cracking, breaking, shifting, collapse, rusting, and root intrusion, we have found pipes damaged from backfill and blockages from construction debris. Additionally, the piping used in modern homes can still be prone to low spots that restrict the smooth exit of waste.
Infills
Many times, infill builders have the sewer line replaced, but sometimes they do not. Due to the age of the original building and the type of sewer line materials commonly used at the time of construction, we recommend a sewer line inspection to see if there are any issues with the sewer line. A sewer backup can cause extensive damage, and a sewer line replacement can be costly.
Throughout the 20th century, cast iron, clay, and bituminous fibre pipe (also known as Orangeburg or NoCorrode) were commonly used sewer line materials.
Even if the sewer line was replaced with the new construction, we recommend a sewer line inspection. Although the type of material used in modern waste systems isn’t typically prone to the problems of the past, such as cracking, breaking, shifting, collapse, rusting, and root intrusion, we have found pipes damaged from backfill and blockages from construction debris. Additionally, the piping used in modern construction can still be prone to low spots that restrict the smooth exit of waste.
A sewer line inspection examines the lateral sewer line – the privately owned pipeline connecting the property to the publicly owned main sewer line or septic tank.
Click to expand.
Breaks
A break is any breach in the pipe’s wall. If the break is on the bottom of the pipe and completely breaches is pipe’s wall, the break will allow sewage to enter the ground, compromising the function of the side sewer.
We may find that the break does not effect the overall function of the pipe (like when the inspection camera captures a small break in the top of the pipe), but breaks are usually a must-fix abnormality.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals a break—a complete collapse of the pipe that likely started as an offset
Buildup
A buildup is any significant material that has remained on the pipe’s wall. The sewer scope could reveal debris (soil and aggregate) or solidified cooking oils.
Depending on the severity of the buildup, we may recommend cleaning the sewer—a common maintenance action for sewer lines.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals buildup in the sewer line—notice the camera sitting almost halfway up inside the pipe
Constriction
Constriction, in this context, is the lessening of the interior diameter of a pipe via the pipe’s own material, such as a kink or fold can cause in plastic or “Orangeburg” pipe.
Constriction is not commonly found, but it is one of the few abnormalities that plastic pipes can exhibit.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals a constriction in the side sewer—a moderate crushing of the Orangeburg pipe that reduces the pipe’s ability to function
Corrosion
Corrosion is the gradual destruction of the pipe’s interior surface. Rusting is a common form of corrosion. Cast iron pipe commonly corrodes at a very slow rate.
The inspection camera may find areas of heavy corrosion that either restrict the interior diameter of the pipe or compromise the integrity of the pipe’ wall. The severity of corrosion, not the presence of corrosion, is the determining factor in the health of your side sewer.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals corrosion in the side sewer—the rough side wall is not yet seriously effecting the function of the pipe
Erosion
Erosion is the natural removal of aggregate and cement from the interior of a concrete pipe. Erosion is a slow process that tends to accelerate towards the end of a pipe’s life. As the surface of a concrete pipe become more eroded, the force of the water tends to wash away more cement, loosening the aggregate and washing it down the side sewer. Erosion is also generally not consistent in severity throughout a pipe; it is often most severe where the force of the water is greatest (close to the house) and less severe further down the line.
The sewer scope may reveal erosion, but not all erosion requires repair—it is part of the natural life cycle of concrete pipe.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals erosion in the side sewer—you can see the typical water-flow line towards the bottom of this 6″ concrete pipe (compared to the smooth top)
Foreign objects
A foreign object is any remaining object not native to the sewer line. A foreign object could be something as harmless as a child’s small toy car that will soon wash down the line, or it might be something as severe as a piece of rebar driven through the center of the pipe.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals a foreign-object in the side sewer—close to the left side of the camera’s view there is a grounding rod driven through the top of the concrete pipe
Fractures
A fracture is the cracking of the pipe’s wall. Fracturing is most commonly seen in vitrified clay pipe.
The presence of fracturing does not require the replacement of the pipe—only fractures that impair the function of the sewer line (or fractures that could be classified as a break in the pipe’s wall) may require repair.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals a fracture in the sewer line—the top-left of the camera’s view shows fracturing just past the bell joint of a vitrified clay pipe
Low areas
A low area is a length of the sewer line that never completely drains. The presence of a low area requires that care be taken as to what is sent into the line, as buildup may occur over time when sewage doesn’t completely drain down the line.
Generally speaking, only low areas that block 2″ of a 4″ pipe (50%) may need to be repaired.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals a low-area in the side sewer—sewage is not draining completely from this section of cast-iron pipe
Offsets
An offset is a difference in height between to adjoining sections of pipe. Offsets are fairly common in sectioned pipe made of concrete or vitrified clay pipe.
The sewer scope inspection camera may reveal an offset exposing the underlying pipe bed or presenting a significant barrier to the flow of sewage (a serious condition requiring repair), but often the inspection camera reveals an offset that doesn’t require repair. Your Sewercam sewer scope technician will be able to determine the offset’s effect on the side sewer’s function.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals an offset in the sewer line—in this case, the pipe has shifted so severely that the sewage can flow beneath the pipe, compromising the function of the sewer pipe and eroding the pipe’s bedding, causing further shifting over time
Root intrusion
Root intrusion is the presence of live root matter in the side sewer, usually through a pipe section’s joint. Root intrusion often intensifies in the late spring and early fall. Root intrusion is present in many of the sewer lines we scope, to varying degrees.
Not all root intrusion requires immediate treatment, and several treatment options exist.
sewer scope inspection camera reveals root-intrusion in the side sewer—the roots are blocking about 25% of the pipe; when caught at this stage, root intrusion is an easily-treatable abnormality
A sewer line inspection can reveal hidden issues and clarify existing or suspected problems that homeowners or buyers need to understand. Sewer systems are often ignored until something goes wrong, but when warning signs appear, a sewer scope inspection is key to identifying the cause and extent of the issue.
For example, a damp or sunken spot in the lawn above the sewer line may indicate a leak or break in the pipe. Recurring backflow in sinks, toilets, or drains could signal a blockage, root intrusion, or damage to the main line. In severe cases, bacteria or chemicals in the water supply may point to cross-contamination from a compromised sewer line, posing a health risk.
A sewer scope inspection can quickly pinpoint these problems, providing critical details to address them before they escalate. Early detection can help homeowners avoid costly repairs, reduce property damage risks, and prevent health hazards. Knowing the sewer line’s condition is equally important for buyers, as it affects both the property’s safety and value. A proactive inspection gives all parties the information they need to make informed choices and protect their home and water supply.
Inspection Works provides home inspection services in the greater Edmonton area, including, but not limited to, Edmonton, Parkland County, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Leduc, and Sherwood Park. We will inspect anywhere in Alberta when you need a first-class home inspection!
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