Pre-Purchase Sewer Scope

A pre-purchase sewer scope runs a camera from the cleanout along the building sewer to look for roots, cracks, offset joints, bellies that hold water and old patches. In Waterbury, CT, more than half the homes were built before 1960, so buyers often check the line first.

What the camera looks for
Expect a note or recording showing the distance the camera covered, the state of each joint, any roots, low spots holding water and where the cleanout is.

Limits of a scope
A scope sees only the inside of the pipe and can stop at a blockage. It cannot judge the city sewer, and it does not settle what the owner pays for, so keep the recording.

Call about a cracked sewer pipe and mention the year the house was built and your closing date.