Plumbing Archives - House Call Home Inspection of Acadiana

A sewer scope is a type of inspection that involves inserting a small camera on a flexible cable into a sewer line or drainpipe to visually inspect the condition of the pipe and identify any blockages, damage, or other issues. The camera captures real-time video footage of the interior of the pipe, which can be viewed by a technician or plumber on a monitor. Sewer scopes are commonly used to diagnose sewer line problems such as clogs, cracks, tree root infiltration, corrosion, and other issues that can cause backups and sewage leaks. This type of inspection is often recommended for home buyers, as well as for homeowners who are experiencing recurring sewer line problems.

In the past, you would have had to hire a licensed plumber with expensive equipment. Today, more home inspectors are trained and equipped to perform sewer scope inspections. It is not a standard part of a typical home inspection. Home inspectors generally focus on evaluating the overall condition of the home, including the structural elements, roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, among other things. A sewer scope is a more specialized inspection of the waste plumbing system.

It’s important to note that a sewer scope inspection typically involves an additional cost beyond the standard home inspection fee. However, the cost of a sewer scope inspection is often well worth it, as it can help identify potential problems with the sewer line that may not be visible to the naked eye.

Sewer scope performing an inspection on cast iron pipes.

Inspecting Cast Iron Pipes

Sewer scope performing a video pipe inspection on front yard clean-out.

Performing Sewer Scope in Front Yard

Sewer scope performing a video pipe inspection on a clean-out.

Sewer Scope on Multi-Family Units

Improper “S” Trap at Kitchen Sink

During a home inspection it is common to find sink drains with an improperly installed trap. Noxious sewage gasses may come up from the pipes if there is an improper trap on a sink drain. The flow of sewage gasses are normally blocked by the water sitting in the trap.

When a trap is correctly installed on a drain, it resembles the shape of a ‘P’. These are called ‘P’ traps. Sometimes for various reasons, plumbers will install traps with questionable performance. The most common culprit is the famous ‘S’ trap. These are often found when a home is on piers. Even though ‘S’ traps are very common, they are still considered to be a deficiency.

The problem is the design of the ‘S’ traps. When water is flowing down the drain and into a ‘S’ trap, the flow can siphon water out of the trap. With little to no water in the waste trap, sewage gasses are able to creep back up to the home. ‘P’ traps do not have this problem.

“S” Trap Diagram

Turning your improper ‘S’ traps into proper ‘P’ traps can be a costly repair and sometimes it is just not feasible. In many cases ‘S’ traps do not cause any major problems for the home occupants. Flushing a large amount of water down the drain at once is more likely cause it to siphon out the trap. If you run a little more water down the sink drain, the trap should stay full and block the gasses like normal.

What is a Sewer Scope?

Why did the inspector say I have “S” traps?

Proudly Providing Home Inspection Services in Louisiana

Contact Us

Address

Email

Phone