Why You Should Get a Sewer Inspection Before Buying a Home
A standard home inspection doesn’t include the inside of the sewer line. If you’re buying an older home in Long Beach, Rossmoor, Los Alamitos or Seal Beach, add a sewer camera inspection before your contingency period ends. It takes about an hour, and it can save you from one of the most expensive repairs a new homeowner can face.
What a Home Inspector Doesn't See
A general inspector runs water through the fixtures and checks for slow drains, but the sewer lateral, the pipe from the house to the city main, is buried. In many homes built before the 1970s, it’s clay or cast iron and 60 years old or more. A line can drain fine on inspection day and still be cracked, full of roots or sagging.
Who Owns the Line
In most Southern California cities, the property owner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the house to the city main. Once you close, any problem in that line is yours to fix. Some cities also require lateral work when a home is sold or remodeled, so ask your agent whether that applies where you’re buying.
Safety and Code
California requires tank water heaters to be strapped to the wall to keep them from tipping in an earthquake. Los Angeles building department guidance, for example, calls for two straps, one in the upper third of the tank and one in the lower third, at least 4 inches above the controls. We strap and permit every installation to code.
What Can Be Wrong Underground
Clay pipe comes in short sections, and roots get into the joints. Cast iron rusts, scales up and cracks. Both can sag where the soil has settled, creating low spots that hold waste. Some older homes also have past repairs made with mismatched materials or poor connections.
How the Inspection Works
We run a waterproof camera through the line, usually from an outside cleanout, all the way to the city connection. You can watch on the screen as it goes, and we record the footage so you can share it with your agent and the seller. If the home has no accessible cleanout, we can usually go in through a roof vent or a pulled toilet. Learn more about our sewer video inspections.
Reading the Results
A clean line means peace of mind and one less unknown. Light roots or buildup can usually be cleared with hydro jetting for a modest cost. Cracks, breaks, offset joints or a significant sag mean real repair work. We’ll tell you which category your line falls into and what it would take to fix.
Using the Results in Your Negotiation
If the camera finds a problem, you have options. You can ask the seller to make the repair before closing, request a credit, or negotiate a lower price. We provide a written estimate for any sewer repair so both sides are working from real numbers. In many cases, trenchless repair is possible, which keeps cost and disruption down.
For Sellers Too
A pre-listing inspection lets you find and fix problems on your own schedule instead of during escrow, when a surprise can delay closing or scare off a buyer. Having clean footage to share can also reassure buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I schedule the inspection?
Do newer homes need a sewer inspection?
Does the seller have to agree?
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