Sewer Scope Inspection Services in Midland & Odessa
Sewer Camera Inspections in Midland-Odessa
- do i need a sewer inspection?
A sewer scope inspection is a video inspection of the home’s main sewer line at or near the foundation to the city connection or septic tank. It also includes inspection of the main drain line under the house, where accessible.
The purpose of a sewer scope is to discover defects within the pipe, such as root intrusions, cracks/collapse, sag/bellies, offsets, warpage, blockages, etc. Because the sewer lateral is only visible with a sewer camera, these defects will typically go unnoticed during a general home inspection.
Your inspection comes with a photo report and/or a link to a private Youtube video.
Further, a sewer line replacement can cost upwards of 30 grand! So the question is, can you really afford NOT to have your sewer line inspected?
Illustration of common sewer line defects
Common sewer line types in west Texas!
Cracked Cast Iron Drain
common issues include scale/buildup, cracks, deterioration and rot.
Deformed Orangeburg Drain
common issues include compression/egging, blistering/deformation, root intrusions
Cracked Clay Tile Drain
common issues include cracks, offsets (pipe holding water due to joint movement) & root intrusions
PVC Drain with Roots
common issues include “bellies” (areas pipe holds water because it has sagged) & root intrusion at failed glue joints
- FAQs
Frequently asked Questions
Won’t my home inspector discover sewer issues during his/her inspection?
No, generally only a pipe with a severe blockage will rear its head during a home inspection. Home inspectors are unable to replicate normal usage of the homes sewage system as they are only running water at the fixtures (NOT flushing solids, toilet paper, waste, grease etc) during their inspection. As such, issues like bellies, root intrusions, cracks, deterioration, separations and the like will almost never be discovered with a home inspection alone.
If I’m purchasing a pier & beam house, won’t my inspector be able to see all the drain lines already?
A home inspection of a pier and beam house does provide an inspector much better visibility for inspecting the houses branch drain lines, however, SOME of the house main & ALL of the sewer thru the yard & alley/street will still be underground and NOT visible for inspection. Additionally, not all houses afford suitable access to all areas of the crawlspace.
How much do sewer repairs generally cost & does your company offer estimates?
Sewer repairs are usually bid by the linear feet of pipe in need of repair/replacement. This varies by company & repair approach but can be anywhere from $80-$350/ft. In other words, sewer repairs can quickly get into the tens of thousands of dollars! We do NOT perform sewer repairs and therefore do NOT offer estimates but there are plumbing companies in the area that can usually give out estimates after receiving our report and/or inspection video link from you.
Do homes with PVC pipe need sewer scopes?
Yes! PVC pipe has been a mainstay in the plumbing industry for over 50 years now and it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere but like all materials – it has its unique set of weaknesses. PVC pipe is one of the easier pipes to accidentally damage. We have seen newer homes with pipe damage from concrete form stakes, listing signs, fence posts, electrical ground rods etc that were driven into the pipe. Additionally, PVC pipe is flexible and when not bedded/supported properly in the ground, it is susceptible to shifting & sagging and creating a low spot that holds water, which we call a “belly”.
What types of sewer lines do we generally have in older homes in the area?
The most common sewer line materials we see in older homes (1940s-1970s) in west Texas is Orangeburg, cast iron & clay tile. Many homes actually have a combination of them all in different sections of the sewer line. Orangeburg, which is essentially a tar paper pipe, is commonly found running thru the yard and has defects such as compression/egging, deformation, blistering & root intrusions. Cast iron is most often found in the house/under the slab and suffers from heavy buildup on the interior of the pipe called scale. It also will often have cracks & rotten areas in the pipe. Finally, clay tile is common in our oldest of homes but was also used for the city tap (section of sewer in the alley or street) for many decades of construction. Clay tile tends to leak at the joints which allows root intrusion. It is also commonly fractured from ground stresses and offset at the pipe joints.
