Don’t forget to check the pipe that carries waste and sewage from the house you want to buy to the public sewer system. You’ll be dealing with loan approval, home inspection, seller disclosures, and so many other things – it’s a small wonder anyone can get through them at all. Sewer line inspection is often overlooked, and it can lead repairs that cost you a bundle.

Many existing “sewer lateral” pipes are made of a clay-based material or cast iron.  Over time, these pipes are subject to shifting earth, tree root invasion and overall deterioration, causing them to become as weak as peanut brittle.  It is therefore very important to add the sewer lateral inspection to the cache of “must do” inspections when you purchase an older home. (If the home has a septic tank, this does not apply.)

For obvious reasons, some municipalities have compulsory ordinances that govern the replacement of damaged or collapsed sewer pipes. Check with your local building department for details.

Recently, I worked on a sale in which the buyer commissioned a “pipe cam” and received a DVD of the results.  The line was 180 feet to the public sewer.  A couple of weeks prior, the line had to be “snaked” because of a sewage backup. The findings were conclusive – several breaks and compromises in the existing joints of the line. It was evident that the sewer lateral line needed replacement.

Some households will live with the inconvenience of snaking a line either yearly or every few years. This only postpones the inevitable, but is a less expensive way to nurse along an aging pipe.

Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue, so sellers and homeowners, fret not.  Even though the tab could still run into the thousands, depending on the length of the line and the topography at hand, property owners can still save a small fortune by having a reputable plumbing company use a “trenchless” method of sewer lateral replacement. Trenchless pipe replacement works with hydraulic equipment and the principle of using the existing openings at the sewer “cleanout” location in addition to other openings. The new durable plastic pipe literally moles and bursts through the current clay or iron pipe, coming out the other end to connect with the public system.

Viola!  No more backups and the home’s sewer system lives happily ever after.