Purchasing a home is one of the most significant financial decisions most people will ever make. Because of this, you want the property to be in excellent condition. Most homebuyers would never consider buying a home that hasn’t been adequately inspected. However, home inspectors generally don’t include the sewer line in their examination. Sewer cleaning and repair can be expensive, so it’s essential to have this part of the house checked out before you make any significant investments. Consider the following warning signs of potential sewer issues.

Why You Should Have Your Sewer Line Inspected

1. Tree Roots

If your home is more than 20 years old, you should have the sewer inspected. This is about how long it takes for tree roots to start growing into your line. Once they’re inside, they expand, latching onto waste like eggshells or grease. In time, you’ll notice water or sewage backups in your home. You can try sewer cleaning with chemicals to kill the roots, but often the problem is already too severe. The pipe may need to be dug up so that it can be replaced, which can be difficult, primarily if it’s located somewhere inconvenient, like under your driveway. A sewer cleaning and inspecting professional can use a tiny camera to look for these roots to help you decide whether you want to buy the home.

2. Cesspools

There are three options for moving sewage away from your house: a sewer system, a septic tank, or a cesspool. A cesspool is a pit lined with cement or stone that stores waste in a way similar to a septic tank. They’ve largely fallen out of favor because of sanitary concerns. However, some older homes still have inactive cesspools underground.

Unfortunately, inactive, older cesspools can cause problems with your sewer line. They can gradually sink or collapse, which can create a large hole in your yard. Also, if your home is currently connected to a cesspool, it can be costly to change out your system. A sewer cleaning professional can use a scope to determine whether you have a cesspool and how expensive it would be to decommission it. 

3. Orangeburg Pipes

If your home was built in the 1950s, you might have another issue to worry about. Some sewer lines during this time were made of tar paper, and these were called Orangeburg pipes. Over time, they’ll fail and disintegrate. If the existing system is made of Orangeburg pipes, the entire sewer line will need to be replaced sooner rather than later. This process can be expensive and time-consuming for the sewer cleaning and repair company.

Notestone County Sanitary Service offers septic services for residents of Chillicothe, OH, and the surrounding areas. Their expertise ranges from sewer cleaning and routine septic tank pumping to complete system repairs. They’ve been providing high-quality service to residential, commercial, and industrial customers since 1956. Visit their website or call (740) 772-1189 to schedule an appointment.