Sewer Scopes are Good (in Charlottesville)

Orangeburg, Terra Cotta, PVC .. what kind of sewer line does your house have? What kind of sewer line does the house you’re considering have?

I wrote last month about sewer scopes

I advise my buyers to have the sewer lines scoped. It’s usually about $350 or so, and as part of the inspection process it is a) yet another cost in the aggregate of costs, b) possibly a perceived waste of money when it’s a simple and clean sewer line, and c) could result in us discovering a $10,000 defect in the sewer line: whether that’s infiltrating roots, a smooshed (technical term) pipe, a broken pipe, or something else.

If that $10,000 cost was a once-every-three years thing, I’d be less forceful in my recommending the scoping. It’s not; I see that sort of thing at least once or twice a year.

And no one wants poop backing up in their kitchen sink. Or their basement. Or anywhere, really.

Two properties, two manholes, two different discoveries

After I published my note, I had two properties’ sewer lines scoped

One was fine.

One had roots in the system, and water was having a hard time making its way through the roots.

One had no needed repairs.

One had significant needed repairs.

Sewer scopes should be non-negotiable parts of home inspections, and I’ve found plumbers are by far the best to do them. Bonus: I learn something every time I have one done.

As I tell my clients, one of the reasons I so vehemently recommend scoping sewer lines is so that I am not traumatized with them calling me after closing for recommendations to help them get sewage out their homes.