Drain & sewer answers
Do You Need a Sewer Camera Inspection Before Buying a Home in New Jersey?
It's strongly recommended, especially for older homes. A standard home inspection doesn't see inside the sewer lateral, the pipe from the house to the street. A sewer camera inspection shows roots, cracks, sags and collapsed sections before you close, so you can negotiate repairs instead of inheriting them.
What a sewer lateral inspection is
A technician feeds a waterproof video camera through the main cleanout and records the inside of the sewer line from the house toward the street. You see exactly what the camera sees, and the recording shows the condition and approximate location of any problem. See our sewer lateral inspection service.
What the camera can find
- Tree roots growing through joints
- Cracks and offset joints in clay and cast iron pipe
- Bellies (sags) where water and waste sit in a low spot
- Orangeburg pipe, a fiber pipe used in some mid-century homes that deforms over time
- Grease and scale buildup that narrows the pipe
Which homes need it most?
- Homes more than 30 to 40 years old
- Properties with large trees in the front yard
- Homes that were vacant for a long time
- Multi-family buildings and older properties in Hudson, Essex and Union counties
What happens if the inspection finds a problem?
You get a clear recording and an explanation of the options, from cleaning to spot repair or trenchless replacement. Buyers commonly use that information to ask the seller for a repair or a price adjustment before closing.
How to schedule one
Book the sewer inspection during your inspection period, alongside the home inspection. Make sure the cleanout is accessible. Call 973-715-9422 and mention the closing date so we can schedule before your deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Does a home inspection include the sewer line?
Usually not. Standard home inspections look at visible plumbing but don't run a camera through the sewer lateral to the street.
How long does a sewer camera inspection take?
Most residential inspections take about an hour, depending on access to the cleanout and the length of the line.
Who pays for a sewer inspection when buying a house in NJ?
The buyer typically orders and pays for it during the inspection period, the same as a home inspection.
Keep reading
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