SEWER SCOPES
Sewer scopes are one of the most important items to check when doing a home inspection. This is especially true if you are buying an older home. You never know the condition of a sewer pipe until you get it scoped. The graphic below outlines what the homeowner is responsible for (purple pipe). The city responsibility is at the city sewer connection. (Larger pipe under the street).
Sewer scopes are not expensive. We recommend them to customers that are buying a home pre 1960. Its a small amount of money for a very important item to inspect.
Most common issues found with sewer scopes:
- 1. Tree roots - If a sewer material consists of clay tile pipes it could be susceptible to tree roots getting into the pipes. This is because clay tile pipes have joint connections.
- 2. Cracked/Damaged areas - Pipes in Minneapolis/St Paul neighborhoods are getting to be 100 years old on average. Over time the materials used are reaching the end of their lifespan.
- 3. Offset connections - A sewer line offset happens when two pipe connections shift out of place from their original construction. This can disrupt the flow of waste water and cause backups/leaks.
- 4. Belly - A sewer pipe belly is a sag or dip in the pipe that can disrupt the flow of waste water. This can lead to standing water inside the pipe that does not naturally flow into the city sewer.