Sewer Line Inspection – Why Should You Do It Before Buying a Home?
When you buy a home, you invariably get all parts of it checked and inspected. However, although most of the people get homes inspected, they ignore inspection of sewer lines. In the years that follow, faulty or damaged sewer lines can cause a lot of trouble. So, it is important that you include sewer line inspection when your checklist. If the home inspector you hire does not provide this service, you need to hire a specialist sewer line inspection service to get the sewer system inspected.
Inspection identifies pipe material
Pipes used in sewers are made up of different materials. In the olden days, bitumen paper pipes called Orangeburg Pipe were used. It was only in the 20th century that PVC came into use. Bitumen paper is not very strong. Over time, it tends to crumble, distort and break, thereby causing leaks and other such problems. In order to avoid these problems, you need to get the sewer system inspected. If pipes made of poor quality materials are found, you might want to get them changed before you move in.
Identify damages in the existing system
With time, sewer lines might deteriorate in quality and develop cracks. Another possibility of damage is from the roots of trees growing in the vicinity of the sewer system. Roots can penetrate into the sewer system and cause massive damage. In addition to breaking or causing cracks in the piping, roots block debris and latch on to them. Over time, the debris accumulates and blocks the pipe.
Prevent problems in the future
Since inspection identifies such existing problems in the sewer system, you can take preventive measures such as use of chemical treatments to kill roots. In some cases, if roots have already created a lot of damage, chemical treatments do not work. So, you need to get the existing pipes removed and fresh ones installed. If the existing pipes leak because of any reason and are damaged beyond repair, you don't have an option but the change them.
Insurance might not cover sewer repairs and installation
Most of the home insurance providers do not provide coverage for the sewer system. So, if you do not get the system inspected before buying a home, you might have to pay out of your pocket when the defect is detected after the purchase. Do bear in mind that plumbers charge exorbitant costs to repair sewers.
It is important to ensure that the system is in perfect shape so that you don't incur unnecessary expenses. What is more, when you are assured about the efficiency of the sewer system, you don't have to include it in your home insurance coverage. You can save money this way as well because including sewer lines in home insurance increases the premiums drastically.
Sewer line inspection specialists insert a camera into the pipe and examine its interiors. High power cameras can capture small defects as well. By hiring an efficient sewer inspection company that uses state of the art methods to check the efficiency of the sewer system, you can ensure that you don't run into problems in the future.
Inspection identifies pipe material
Pipes used in sewers are made up of different materials. In the olden days, bitumen paper pipes called Orangeburg Pipe were used. It was only in the 20th century that PVC came into use. Bitumen paper is not very strong. Over time, it tends to crumble, distort and break, thereby causing leaks and other such problems. In order to avoid these problems, you need to get the sewer system inspected. If pipes made of poor quality materials are found, you might want to get them changed before you move in.
Identify damages in the existing system
With time, sewer lines might deteriorate in quality and develop cracks. Another possibility of damage is from the roots of trees growing in the vicinity of the sewer system. Roots can penetrate into the sewer system and cause massive damage. In addition to breaking or causing cracks in the piping, roots block debris and latch on to them. Over time, the debris accumulates and blocks the pipe.
Prevent problems in the future
Since inspection identifies such existing problems in the sewer system, you can take preventive measures such as use of chemical treatments to kill roots. In some cases, if roots have already created a lot of damage, chemical treatments do not work. So, you need to get the existing pipes removed and fresh ones installed. If the existing pipes leak because of any reason and are damaged beyond repair, you don't have an option but the change them.
Insurance might not cover sewer repairs and installation
Most of the home insurance providers do not provide coverage for the sewer system. So, if you do not get the system inspected before buying a home, you might have to pay out of your pocket when the defect is detected after the purchase. Do bear in mind that plumbers charge exorbitant costs to repair sewers.
It is important to ensure that the system is in perfect shape so that you don't incur unnecessary expenses. What is more, when you are assured about the efficiency of the sewer system, you don't have to include it in your home insurance coverage. You can save money this way as well because including sewer lines in home insurance increases the premiums drastically.
Sewer line inspection specialists insert a camera into the pipe and examine its interiors. High power cameras can capture small defects as well. By hiring an efficient sewer inspection company that uses state of the art methods to check the efficiency of the sewer system, you can ensure that you don't run into problems in the future.
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