Why a Sewer Scope is Important Before Buying an Older Home

W.When buying a new home, getting a home inspection is pretty normal. Who doesn’t want to know as much as possible about something that you will be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on? And when you buy a house with a sewer system, it’s also quite common to have that system checked by a professional. But what if your house is connected to the municipal sewage system? Do you just trust that all sewer lines are in good condition?

Dwayne Boggs has been inspecting new and old homes in Thurston County for over 14 years.

Dwayne Boggs of Boggs Inspection Services has been inspecting homes in the South Sound for over 14 years. He knows his way around a home and provides clear, concise, and accurate home inspection reports to potential buyers. And when warranted, Boggs advises homeowners to seek professional services to further investigate problems or assess repairs needed. One of those recommendations, standard by Boggs and his talented, well-trained inspectors, is: Get a sewer inspect you.

A sewer sounds like something that happens on your worst day as a homeowner – a very smelly, bad day. But – in reality, a sewer can help homeowners avoid that terrible day when their sewer system goes down, causing odors, damage and, ultimately, a massive repair bill.

What is a sewer? “A sewer is essentially a simple inspection of the inside of a house’s sewer lines, from the house to where it is connected to the main line on the street,” explains Boggs. Oddly enough, this simple inspection is often an afterthought for buyers, but it’s one of the most important pieces of information for people buying a home that is more than 20 years old.

Buying a beautiful home and then learning to tear up your front yard to fix a septic tank is not something a new homeowner wants to face.

During the life of a home, many things can occur underground to the sewer without the homeowner’s knowledge. When buying a home, gather all of your information, including the condition of your sewers. “All kinds of things can be caught in a sewer,” says Boggs. “Tree root invasion, pipe rupture or pipe collapse can be observed during the inspection.”

The invasion of the tree roots is one of the most common in our year-round growing climate in the southern sound. Over time, small roots can crawl into tiny cracks and openings in the sewer line and begin to expand. They then often form traps for debris that migrates down the sewer line, creating backups and blockages. Ultimately, the roots cause the lines to break, leading to leaks and line failure.

Homes built before 1950 have sewers made from a tar paper substance called Orangeburg Pipes. Over time, these tubes disintegrate and collapse. The only way to determine whether there are still Orangeburg pipes in an older house (over 60 years old) is to inspect the sewer.

The process is extremely simple, but it can save you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in repairs, excavations, and landscape destruction. “The inspections typically cost between $ 200 and $ 250,” says Boggs. “It’s a small price to pay for knowing your sewer lines are in good condition and can save you thousands on future repairs.”

Oyster Bay storyBuying a historic home offers charm and character. But also the potential for serious problems that a home inspection and sewer area can reveal before you sign on the dotted line.

Historic mid-century bungalows and sprawling ranches are desirable in today’s market for unique and characterful homes. However, they come with hidden risks. A sewer can check one of the areas on your list.

Inspecting the sewer is quick and easy. A certified professional will insert a long cable camera with a light at the end of your drain and through your pipes to the municipal sewer connection. Typically, the inspections are also filmed so that the pipe can be inspected after a full physical inspection. Before you get too close to looking inside your sewer pipes, the plumbing is usually much cleaner than you expected, and most of what you see is just the inside of the pipe. Depending on the size of your home and the distance from the road, the rifle scope may take as little as five minutes. However, if significant problems are encountered, expect it to take a little longer.

BoggsThe Boggs team of home inspectors keep home buyers safe.

Ultimately, it is a small price to spend a few hundred dollars before committing to your home purchase to know that your sewer is in good shape. Nobody wants to have a housewarming party where the sewer system is secured.

For more information on home inspections throughout South Sound, contact the Boggs Inspection Services experts at 360-480-9602 or online.

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