Should I get a sewer scope before buying a house?

For most buyers, yes. A sewer scope is a camera inspection of the line that carries waste from the house to the public sewer main, and it shows you a part of the property that is buried and out of sight. Fairfax County says the best way to assess the condition of a lateral is by Closed Circuit Television Video (CCTV) examination.^[2] The scope is most worth it for an older house, a house with large trees near the line, or any house where the seller cannot say much about the pipe.

Why buyers get it

The line becomes your responsibility. Spotsylvania County says "the property owner is responsible for all maintenance, operation, cleaning, repair, and reconstruction" of the private sewer lateral up to the property line.^[3] Fairfax County says the building lateral is considered part of the home, and that maintenance, repair and replacement of it is the owner's responsibility.^[2] When the closing happens, a cracked or root-filled pipe is yours.

You cannot see it, and nobody marks it. The line is buried. Virginia 811 says the sewer line that connects a house to the sewer main at the cleanout is private and will not be marked when you contact it,^[4] so there is no free way to find out where it runs or what shape it is in.

The seller's paperwork will not tell you. In Virginia the owner gives the buyer a residential property disclosure statement, and the statement tells buyers that the owner makes no representations or warranties as to the condition of the real property or any improvements on it.^[1] Under the same statute, buyers are advised to do whatever due diligence they deem necessary, including obtaining a home inspection, in accordance with the contract terms but in any event before settlement.^[1] A sewer scope is part of that due diligence. It has to fit inside the time your contract allows, so raise it with your agent early.

Roots and old pipe cause real damage. Spotsylvania County says broken sewer laterals can allow tree roots or debris into the pipe, which may cause blockages, building backups, or overflows in the environment.^[3] The City of Salem's advice is to remove trees and woody plants from around the sewer lateral,^[5] which tells you what is at risk when a large tree stands near the line. Alexandria adds a point about older homes: it says that if a home was constructed before 1970 and a downspout or outdoor basement stairwell drain goes into the ground, it may be connected to the sanitary sewer,^[6] which adds rainwater to the system and can add to backups.

What a repair and a backup can mean for you

A repair means paperwork and a licensed plumber. Fairfax County says a repair or replacement on private property requires a plumbing permit from the county.^[2] Your own city or county sets its own rules, so ask the building department.

A backup is also an insurance question. The City of Salem says most homeowners' insurance will not pay for damage unless specific sewer backup coverage has been added to the policy.^[5] Ask an insurance agent about that coverage before you close, not after the first backup.

What to do with the result

A clean scope means you buy with one fewer unknown. A scope that shows damage gives you options. You can ask the seller to repair the line, ask for a price reduction or credit, or, if your contract allows it, walk away. Show the recording to a licensed plumber and ask for a written quote before you negotiate, so the number you ask for is real.

Not every flaw is a deal-breaker. A pipe with some surface roughness is different from one that has collapsed or is offset so that waste cannot pass. A plumber looking at the recording can tell you which you have.

Doing the groundwork

The steps above are what a buyer can do alone. Finding the cleanout helps a lot: Spotsylvania County says a cleanout is usually 4 inches across with a tight-fitting cap.^[3] If the house has none, tell the scope company so they can plan the access, and see how much a sewer scope costs in Virginia for what to ask in a quote.

Stop and call a pro if

• the seller or neighbors report sewage backups, or you see damp, soggy ground or smell sewage near the house
• the scope company reports a blockage, a collapsed section or a section that cannot be filmed
• you are tempted to dig, pull a toilet or open the cleanout yourself; leave that to a licensed plumber, and call 811 before any dig on the lot

Getting help in Virginia

For the rest of your buyer checks, read the most common problems found in home inspections and what to fix first after a home inspection. Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class: browse inspection services or see more inspection answers.

When you are ready, describe the job once and licensed local pros quote it.