The time to inspect if a sewer is faulty or needs replacement is before purchasing a home, not after payment. Prudent home buyers will always choose to invest in professional sewer line inspection, regardless of the age of the house. We recommend that you do a thorough sewer inspection for homes older than 20 years. This is because tree roots can still clog up a 20-year-old sewer line. As tree roots go in search for water, they often times grow into sewer lines and expand causing a blockade and potential backup. Roots crawl into tiny openings in the sewer line, growing around other debris such as grease or eggshell waste that typically causes backups. Sometimes chemicals can kill the tree’s roots, but if the roots reappear, the pipe may be damaged and require excavation to fix the problem.
Sewer backups are quite nasty and expensive, backup events are especially discouraging when they occur in a recently purchased home. Repairing a sewer line can also be extremely expensive, as it requires a bit of manpower for excavations and potentially street/sidewalk repairs. The cost of sewer line repair can cost about $5000, and if it gets to the street, costs can quickly reach two or three times that. Sewer repairs are considered the single most expensive repairs you could face as a homeowner. At Flatirons Plumbing, we provide expert sewer inspection analysis using multiple devices to ensure that you are protected from nasty sewer backups.
