What Is a Sewer Scope Inspection?
Did you know sewer scoping is not required by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice? Yet, it is one of the most common—and expensive—”issues” buyers face after moving into a home. Because we can’t run enough water down your plumbing systems during a standard home inspection to simulate full daily use, a sewer scope is especially helpful to reveal what is hiding underground.
A sewer scope is a specialized video camera inspection of the main lateral sewer line connecting a home’s plumbing drain line system from the foundation to the city sewer main, HOA tap, or septic tank. A professional scope identifies hidden problems before closing, potentially saving you thousands of dollars down the road.
Should You Get a Sewer Scope?
Ask yourself these questions about the home you are buying to determine if a scope is a necessary investment:
Is the home older than 20 years old?
Is it located in a neighborhood with a lot of mature trees?
Has the home been sitting vacant?
Have the lines ever been cleaned out before?
Has the previous homeowner ever disclosed prior sewer issues?
- Am I worried about an unexpected sewer backup, regardless of the home’s age?
Why Choose Wiemann Home Inspection?
While plumbing and sewer cleaning companies offer sewer scope services, Wiemann Home Inspection provides an objective, third-party assessment focused purely on client education.
Seamless Scheduling: We typically perform the sewer scope at the same time as your home inspection, saving everybody additional trips to the house and making coordination between all parties easy.
Independent Access: Our Sewer Technician, Ben DeReus, has DMAAR Supra lockbox access for flexible entry.
Transparent Pricing: A sewer scope is $230 when added to your comprehensive home inspection.
Clear Documentation: You receive a detailed video recording and a comprehensive report of any defects or recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you do a sewer scope on a new construction home? Yes. During construction, lateral pipes can be shifted or crushed by heavy excavation equipment. Construction debris—like dried mortar or gravel—is also frequently flushed down open drains, leading to immediate blockages.
What are the most common sewer line issues found? The most common defects include tree root intrusions, pipe bellies (sagging where water pools), cracked or offset joints, scale buildup, and deterioration in older cast-iron or Orangeburg pipes.
How does this affect my purchase agreement? If our technician identifies a blockage or defect, the video footage provides objective evidence for an inspection response. Your agent can use this to request professional jetting, repairs, or a seller credit before closing.
Schedule Your Scope Today. Protect your investment from hidden pipe damage. Call our office at (515) 865-0346 or select the sewer scope add-on when scheduling your inspection online.
Our team is ready to serve you in Central Iowa.