Pre-Purchase Sewer Scope

A pre-purchase sewer scope sends a camera from a cleanout through the home's sewer line before closing. In Nampa, ID, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line on their own property, so the scope tells a buyer what they would inherit along with the house.

What the scope covers
The plumber typically notes where the cleanout is, the condition along the run, root entry, standing water, offsets and the distance to each defect, then shares the recording.

Know the limits
A camera cannot see outside the pipe, and a house with no cleanout may need a toilet pulled for access. The public sewer is the Water Renewal Division's. Ask for written findings listing each defect's distance.

Call about a sewer inspection and mention the closing date, the home's age and its ZIP code.