Sewer Scope Inspections

At The Real Estate Inspection Company, in addition to our comprehensive home inspections, we offer inspections for specific systems, like our sewer scope sewer inspection. When buying or selling a home, the only way to know for certain if your drain line is clear is to look inside it with a camera. Find out for certain by calling (800) 232-5180 or schedule now. We serve San Diego and the surrounding areas.

Why Have a Sewer Scope?

Adding a sewer scope to our home buyer inspection, pre-listing inspection, or any of our inspection services is a smart thing to do. Please remember that root intrusion or damaged drain lines will most likely not be discovered during the course of a standard home inspection. Only clear water can be run during an inspection, which is not a substitute for actual use by a family (toilet paper, waste, soap, suds, and so on). Under normal use, obstructions in the drain line can cause a backup of sewage into the home.

Replacing or repairing buried drain lines can cause significant expense and inconvenience. The cost of replacing a sewer line can be from $5,000 to $10,000. Nearly two-thirds of all the sewer lines we inspect require repairs of $3,000 or more.

The cost and inconvenience of these repairs can escalate if driveways, landscaping, or even sidewalks have to be torn out and replaced. Problems exist in new and old homes alike. Every buyer should consider a sewer scope to be an integral part of their due diligence. Without question, main drain-line inspections should be performed on every house.

Additional Inspection

The Real Estate Inspection Company is proud to offer sewer scope services to our clients as an optional inspection. Just like a home inspection, sewer scope sewer inspections are visual in nature and do not include dismantling any component other than removing a cleanout cover.

What Can the Video Reveal?

Our technicians use state-of-the-art digital color cameras to take a careful look at your sewer line from the inside. Inspectors show up with over $25,000 worth of equipment, including cameras that can inspect up to 200 feet instead of the typical 100 feet. The camera is inserted through a cleanout and fed into the pipe until it reaches the public sewer line or septic tank.

Just like our home inspections, The Real Estate Inspection Company does not perform repairs on sewer lines. Therefore, we are unbiased in our reporting and not influenced by the possibility of performing expensive repairs. Our interactive reports also allow us to provide you with the most detailed information possible. Try our interactive sample report now!


Our inspections tell the story of your house.

Here’s what is included:

  • Video color scan of the main drain line or “lateral.”
  • Accessing the main drain line from a standard cleanout to the street or alley where it connects to the public sewer system or to your septic tank.
  • A written report including the findings.
  • A link to the video.
  • Locating and placing a marker at the site of the defect.

The color video you receive will confirm that the drain is in good condition, or it can be used to obtain a quotation from a contractor for repair if the drain is clogged, broken, collapsed, or damaged in any way. We place a marker on the ground where defects are found.

Septic System Inspection in San Diego

Location, Location, Location!

We mark the location of any defects so that repair professionals will know where to look. We can also locate septic tank cleanouts, saving you money. Septic inspectors will charge you $90/hour or more just to locate the cleanouts.

In the event we cannot access the drain line, you will not be charged for our sewer scope inspection. In some cases, old cleanouts cannot be removed without causing damage. In some older homes, no cleanouts are present which in itself is a costly repair. We do not install cleanouts or modify the plumbing in any way.

Here’s what is not included:

  • Removing plumbing fixtures such as a toilet to access the drain
  • Climbing on two story roofs, tile roofs, or metal roofs to access drains
  • Adding cleanouts to the drain
  • Forcing or cutting off old cleanouts
  • Researching the issuance of permits
  • Determining the adequacy of the drain
  • Any repairs whatsoever
  • Any drain lines over 200 feet long
  • Providing any quotations for repair
  • Accessing, evaluating, or operating sewer ejector pumps
  • All other Limitations, Exceptions, Exclusions as set forth in the Standard Inspection Agreement

Don’t be stuck with a huge repair bill!

Be proactive and get your drain lines inspected with a sewer scope sewer inspection when purchasing a home. If a blockage is found, you will have the information you need to decide how to proceed with your purchase. Call The Real Estate Inspection Company at (800) 232-5180 or schedule now. We service San Diego County, Orange County, and Riverside County.

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