Pre-Purchase Sewer Scope

A pre-purchase sewer scope sends a camera from the cleanout through the line toward the street to look for roots, cracked or offset joints, sags that hold water and signs of past repairs. With the median Elizabeth home built in 1957, buyers often want to see the pipe before closing.

What the scope covers
The plumber may note where the camera entered, how far it traveled, the condition of each joint, any standing water and where the cleanout sits.

Know the limits
A camera cannot see outside the pipe, past a blockage or into the city main, and it cannot settle which section the owner must maintain. Ask the Division of Engineering about that, and keep the recording.

Call about a sewer inspection and mention the type of building, its age and when the sale closes.