New Jersey’s older housing stock presents a risk that most buyers never see coming: a failed sewer lateral. The sewer lateral is the underground pipe that carries all wastewater from the house to the municipal sewer line at the street. In a pre-1970 home, that pipe is likely made of cast iron, clay tile, or Orangeburg — materials that deteriorate, corrode, offset, and collapse. None of this is visible to the naked eye. The only way to know the condition of a sewer lateral before you close on a home is to send a camera into it.
A sewer scope inspection is not a standard component of a home inspection in New Jersey. Home inspectors assess visible, accessible components. An underground sewer lateral is neither. If the condition of the sewer lateral matters to you, it should — let us know when you book your home inspection so we can schedule a sewer scope inspection for you ($300 to $400) before the expiration of your inspection contingency, rather than $10,000 to $15,000 for sewer pipe replacement after the home is yours. See our NJ home inspection FAQ for answers to common buyer questions.
What Is a Sewer Scope Inspection?
A sewer scope inspection, also called a sewer camera inspection or lateral camera inspection, involves pushing a flexible fiber-optic camera into the sewer lateral and recording the condition of the pipe from the cleanout access point — usually located in the basement or at the foundation — to the municipal connection at the street. The camera transmits a live video feed that is recorded and reviewed by the technician.
The inspection reveals the condition of the pipe from the inside: the material, the diameter, the slope, the presence of root intrusion, cracks, offsets, bellies (low spots where water pools), corrosion, grease buildup, and blockages. A sewer scope inspection typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and requires access to the cleanout port. Learn more about the full scope of a NJ home inspection and what is included.
Why Older NJ Homes Require Extra Scrutiny
New Jersey has one of the oldest housing inventories in the country. Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties — the core of Michael Del Greco’s service area — are dense with homes built before 1960. The sewer laterals in those homes were installed with materials that were state of the art in their era and are approaching or past the end of their useful life today. Modern PVC pipe is by no means immune to installation defects.
Orangeburg pipe was used as a wartime substitute material from approximately 1940 to 1960. Made from a pitch fiber compound, Orangeburg deteriorates when exposed to moisture, deforming from round to oval and eventually collapsing. Homes with Orangeburg laterals frequently require full lateral replacement.
Clay tile pipe was the dominant sewer material through the mid-1950s. Clay is brittle and susceptible to tree root intrusion at every joint. Root masses inside a clay lateral cause progressive blockage and can eventually crack or collapse the pipe entirely.
Cast iron pipe was common from the 1940s through the early 1970s. Cast iron corrodes from the inside out, developing pitting, scaling, and eventually thinning walls that can crack or separate at the joints.
PVC pipe, introduced in residential construction in the 1970s and now universal in new construction, is the most durable of these materials. However, PVC joints can still separate over time due to ground movement, improper installation, or tree roots, and confirming the material before assuming a newer pipe is problem-free is worthwhile.
What a Sewer Camera Inspection Reveals
Root intrusion. Tree roots enter sewer pipes through joints and cracks. Fine root masses accumulate over time, restricting flow and eventually causing complete blockage. Root intrusion is one of the most common problems found in sewer laterals.
Cracks and fractures. Pipe walls crack from ground movement, vehicle loading over the lateral, freeze-thaw cycles, and age. Cracks allow groundwater to enter the pipe (infiltration) and sewage to leak into the surrounding soil.
Offset joints. Ground settlement causes pipe sections to shift out of alignment. A significant offset restricts flow, creates a ledge that catches solids, and can eventually block the lateral entirely.
Belly or sag. Sections of pipe that have lost slope (often due to installation over improperly compacted soil) develop a low spot where liquids (mostly water) pool and solids accumulate. Bellies cause chronic slow drains and recurrent blockages.
Corrosion and pipe deterioration. Cast iron pipes lose wall thickness over decades of exposure to hydrogen sulfide and biological activity. A corroded pipe is structurally compromised and may require replacement even if it is currently flowing.
Grease buildup. Dense grease accumulation on pipe walls indicates a slow-moving lateral that will require expensive hydro-jetting to restore adequate flow capacity.
When to Schedule a Sewer Scope Inspection
The time to schedule a sewer scope inspection is immediately after your offer is accepted — at the same time as your standard home inspection. Both must be completed, reviewed, and evaluated before the expiration of your inspection contingency. Scheduling the sewer scope after the contingency deadline means you have no recourse if problems are discovered.
A sewer scope inspection is particularly important when buying a home with any of the following characteristics:
- Any home with mature trees on the property, particularly oak, willow, maple, or elm growing near the sewer line route
- Any home with a sewer clean out cap newer than the home
- Any home with a history of slow drains, recurrent toilet backups, or sewage odors
- Any home where the seller cannot confirm the sewer pipe was recently replaced
If the sewer scope inspection reveals a compromised lateral, a licensed plumber can provide an evaluation of the scope and nature of the required work before the expiration of your inspection contingency, giving you the information you need to make an informed decision about your purchase.
Your Home Inspector’s Role
A standard NJ home inspection does not include a sewer scope inspection. Michael Del Greco inspects all accessible plumbing components — water supply lines, drain lines, fixtures, the water heater, and visible drain connections at the foundation. He can identify interior plumbing conditions that suggest problems with the drainage system: slow drains, gurgling fixtures, sewage odors, and evidence of prior backup. When those conditions are present, he will recommend a sewer scope inspection before the expiration of your inspection contingency.
Just ask us when you book your home inspection and we can schedule a sewer scope inspection for you ($300 to $400) before the expiration of your inspection contingency, rather than $10,000 to $15,000 for replacement after the home is yours. The recommendation to order one is included in your written inspection report when conditions warrant it. For more on what a standard NJ home inspection includes, see our detailed home inspection page.
Scheduling Your NJ Home Inspection
Call (973) 812-5100 to schedule your inspection — Monday through Friday 8 AM to 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8 AM to 5 PM. Your presence is required at the inspection. If your home inspection identifies conditions that indicate sewer lateral concerns, you will receive a written recommendation with time to act before the expiration of your inspection contingency.
Frequently Asked Questions — Sewer Scope Inspection NJ
Is a sewer scope inspection included in a standard NJ home inspection?
A standard home inspection covers visible, accessible components. Underground sewer laterals are not accessible for visual inspection as part of a standard home inspection. Just ask us when you book your home inspection and we can schedule a sewer scope inspection for you.
How urgent is a sewer scope inspection for a home in New Jersey?
It is VITAL! Sewers tend to clog at inopportune times causing problems that are often disgusting.
What happens if the sewer scope finds problems?
If the camera reveals root intrusion, cracks, offset joints, or significant deterioration, the next step is an evaluation from a licensed plumber to determine the nature and extent of any required work. After the repairs are completed and before the expiration of your inspection contingency, make sure you order another sewer scope to determine if additional corrective actions are necessary. Immediate corrective actions are necessary in cases involving active collapse or significant deterioration.
