Many homes for sale in Placentia were built when clay and cast-iron laterals were standard. A house can look well kept and still have roots, cracks or a sag in the pipe under the front yard, and none of that shows up by running the faucets during a showing.
A sewer camera inspection during the contingency period lets a buyer see the actual pipe. If problems are found, the footage gives a concrete basis for asking for a repair, a credit or more time to get estimates.
Fitting it into an escrow
- Offer accepted
- Schedule the sewer inspection early in the inspection window.
- Inspection day
- Plumber locates the cleanout, films the line to the city connection and notes defects by distance.
- Report received
- Review the video and written findings with your agent.
- If issues are found
- Get repair estimates from licensed plumbers while the contingency is still open.
- Before closing
- Agree on repair, credit or other terms in writing.
What the inspection report should include
- Video of the full run, ideally from the cleanout to the city connection
- Pipe material for each section, including any past repairs
- Defects listed with distances and approximate depth
- A note if the camera could not reach the main and why
- Whether a cleanout exists and where
- The inspecting plumber's name and CSLB license number
Clean report versus problem report
Clean or minor findings
- Round pipe, no standing water
- Light roots at a joint or two
- Keep the video as a baseline for the future
Findings worth negotiating
- Roots, cracks or offsets at many joints
- A belly holding water
- Broken or collapsed sections
- Corroded cast iron under the slab
Questions to ask the seller
- Has the sewer line ever been replaced, lined or spot-repaired?
- Are there records or videos from earlier inspections?
- How often has the main line needed cleaning?
- Were there any backups in the time they owned the house?
Common questions
Is a sewer inspection part of a standard home inspection?
Usually not. It is typically a separate service done by a plumber or a specialist with a sewer camera.
Should sellers inspect before listing?
Some do, so problems can be addressed or disclosed up front. Either way, keeping the video helps answer buyer questions.
What if the camera cannot reach the street?
The report should say why. A blockage or collapse that stops the camera is itself an important finding worth following up.
General information for Placentia, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.