If you’re buying a home built before the 1980s, there’s one inspection you absolutely shouldn’t skip — and most buyers don’t even know it exists. A sewer camera inspection scopes the main sewer line running from your house to the municipal connection, and it can uncover thousands of dollars in hidden problems that a standard home inspection simply cannot detect.

Here’s why it matters, what it catches, and when you should book one.

What a Sewer Camera Inspection Actually Does

A sewer scope uses a high-resolution camera mounted on a flexible cable that’s fed through the home’s main sewer cleanout. The inspector watches a live video feed as the camera travels the full length of the line, recording everything from the inside of the pipe to the municipal connection point.

It’s the only way to actually see the condition of a buried pipe without digging it up.

Sewer Camera Inspection

Why Standard Home Inspections Miss This

A standard home inspection covers what’s visible and accessible. Buried sewer lines are neither. Inspectors will test drains by running water and checking for slow drainage inside the home — but that only catches problems severe enough to affect flow. Major issues can exist in a sewer line that won’t show up in the sink, shower, or toilet until they fail completely.

By the time a sewer line problem becomes obvious, you’re usually looking at backups, flooding, and emergency repair costs.

What Sewer Camera Inspections Find

Root intrusion. Mature trees send roots toward water sources, and old clay or cast iron sewer pipes are practically an invitation. Roots crack pipes, restrict flow, and eventually cause complete blockages.

Pipe corrosion and collapse. Cast iron pipes from the 1950s and 60s and Orangeburg pipes from the 1940s through 1970s have known failure modes. Many are at or past their lifespan now.

Bellies and sagging. Sections of pipe that have settled below grade collect waste and debris, leading to chronic blockages.

Cracks, separations, and offsets. Ground movement over decades can shift pipe joints out of alignment.

Improper repairs. Previous owners or unlicensed contractors sometimes patch sewer issues in ways that work temporarily but fail catastrophically later.

What a Sewer Line Replacement Actually Costs

This is where it gets expensive. A full sewer line replacement in Canada typically runs $5,000 to $25,000 depending on:

• Length of the line
• Depth of the pipe
• Whether it runs under a driveway, sidewalk, or street
• Local permit and excavation costs
• Whether trenchless methods are an option

For a few hundred dollars upfront, a sewer camera inspection tells you whether you’re walking into that bill.

When You Should Absolutely Get One

• The home was built before 1980
• There are mature trees on the property
• The home has had any history of plumbing or drainage issues
• You see signs of slow drains, gurgling, or sewer odors during your showing
• The home is in an area with known soil movement or older municipal infrastructure
• You’re buying an acreage or rural property with a septic system (different but related — get a septic inspection)

Septic & Cistern Pressure Systems

What Happens If We Find a Problem

Knowing about a sewer issue before closing gives you options. You can:

• Negotiate the repair cost off the purchase price
• Ask the seller to repair before closing
• Walk away from a deal that no longer makes financial sense

Finding out after closing leaves you with the full bill and no recourse.

Book Your Sewer Scope Today

If you’re under contract on an older home anywhere in Canada, add a sewer camera inspection to your home inspection. Atta-Boy inspectors offer this as a specialized service alongside standard inspections.

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