Professional Sewer Scope Inspections Throughout Chicagoland

A sewer scope inspection is a video inspection of the property’s main sewer lateral, the underground pipe that carries wastewater away from the home toward the municipal sewer system. A specialized camera is advanced through the line so the technician can look for visible defects and conditions such as cracks, tree-root intrusion, offset joints, blockages, standing water and deteriorated piping.

Sewer scope inspections are also commonly referred to as sewer surveys, sewer camera inspections or sewer line camera inspections.

No. A standard home inspection evaluates visible and accessible plumbing components within the home, but the underground sewer lateral cannot normally be visually inspected without specialized camera equipment.

A sewer scope inspection is a separate ancillary service that allows the interior of the buried sewer line to be evaluated.

A sewer scope can be particularly valuable before purchasing a home because significant sewer defects can exist underground with few or no visible warning signs inside the property.

Discovering root intrusion, damaged piping, major offsets, blockages or other concerns before closing gives buyers an opportunity to better understand the property, obtain additional specialist evaluation when needed and address significant concerns before taking ownership.

A sewer camera inspection can reveal many visible conditions inside the main sewer lateral, including:

• Tree-root intrusion
• Cracks and fractures
• Offset or separated pipe joints
• Standing water
• Blockages and debris
• Corrosion and scaling
• Broken or deteriorated piping
• Restrictions that may interfere with drainage

The inspection is visual, so conditions hidden outside the pipe or beyond portions of the line the camera cannot access may not be identifiable.

An accessible interior or exterior sewer cleanout is typically the preferred access point. Cleanouts may be located in a basement, crawlspace, garage or outside near the foundation.

When a suitable cleanout is not available, Dunsing also has specialized sewer camera equipment that may allow the lateral to be accessed through a toilet when the plumbing configuration and conditions permit.

Not always. The amount of sewer line that can be inspected depends on the available access, the plumbing configuration and the conditions encountered as the camera moves through the line.

Severe blockages, damaged or collapsed piping, standing water, sharp turns and branch fittings such as tees or other junctions can prevent the camera from advancing farther. In some homes, a camera may encounter a limitation relatively early in the inspection.

If Dunsing is unable to obtain a meaningful view of the sewer lateral because access or an obstruction prevents the inspection from progressing, the inspection may be discontinued and the sewer-scope fee may be refunded. If a substantial portion of the line can still be inspected, the accessible portion is evaluated and the limitation is clearly documented as part of the inspection findings.

Older homes are often particularly good candidates for sewer inspection because the sewer lateral may contain aging materials or have experienced decades of soil movement, root growth and deterioration.

Older clay, cast iron and other piping materials may develop cracks, displaced joints, corrosion or other defects over time. The age of a property does not automatically mean the sewer line has a problem, but it can make understanding its condition especially worthwhile.

Tree roots seek moisture and can enter sewer piping through cracks, joints and other openings. Once inside the pipe, roots can continue growing, restrict wastewater flow and collect debris.

Significant root intrusion can contribute to repeated clogs, drainage problems and, in more severe situations, sewer backups.

Standing water indicates that wastewater is not completely draining from that portion of the sewer line during the inspection.

In some cases, persistent standing water may be associated with a low area in the pipe commonly called a belly or sag. However, standing water alone does not automatically establish the exact cause. The condition must be evaluated along with the surrounding sewer line and other observations.

Dunsing documents the visible condition and provides information to help you understand what was observed.

Depending on the finding, additional evaluation, cleaning or repair by a qualified plumbing or sewer contractor may be recommended. For buyers, identifying a significant sewer concern before closing also provides an opportunity to obtain specialist input or repair estimates before taking ownership.

Dunsing sewer scope inspections are $369 when added to a home inspection and $419 as a standalone service.

Pricing may vary if unusual property conditions or access requirements create additional work. The service includes evaluation of the accessible sewer lateral, documentation of visible findings and sewer camera video when available.

Yes. Dunsing provides sewer scope inspections, sewer surveys and sewer camera inspections throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs for home buyers, homeowners, sellers and property owners.

A sewer scope can be scheduled along with a home inspection or as a standalone service depending on the property and scheduling needs.

Sewer repair costs can vary dramatically depending on what is wrong, where the damaged section is located and how difficult the line is to access. A relatively simple blockage may require cleaning or rodding, while cracked, collapsed or badly deteriorated piping may require excavation, lining or replacement of part or all of the sewer lateral.

In the Chicago area, sewer repairs can quickly reach several thousand dollars, and major sewer lateral replacements can reach five figures or more, particularly when the line is deep, long, difficult to access or runs beneath sidewalks, driveways or other finished areas. A current Chicago cost guide from Angi estimates sewer replacement at roughly $80 to $300 per linear foot, depending on material and project complexity.

That potential expense is one of the main reasons a sewer scope can be valuable before purchasing a property: a relatively inexpensive camera inspection may identify a condition that could otherwise become a major unexpected repair.