What a Sewer Camera Inspection Shows Before You Buy a Cherry Hill Home
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The Sewer Line Is the Part Nobody Sees
Buying a home in Cherry Hill Township means a long list of checks. The roof, the furnace, and the electrical panel all get a look. The pipe that carries waste to the street usually does not.
Most buyers only learn about their sewer line after the first backup in their new home. By then the inspection window is long closed, and the full repair bill is theirs.
That gap matters because the buyer takes on the line the day they close. A sewer line inspection in Cherry Hill Township puts a camera inside that pipe, so you know what you are buying before it becomes your problem.
This guide from The Sewer Kings covers why the sewer line is on you after closing, what the camera shows, and how to use the results. A short video can change how you negotiate.
It is also useful for sellers. Knowing the condition of the line ahead of time avoids surprises late in the sale.
Why the Sewer Line Matters When You Buy
Cherry Hill Township places the private line on the owner. The township Sewer Department page says the resident is responsible for the sanitary sewer line from the main line connection to the home.
That means a cracked or root-filled lateral becomes the new owner’s repair the moment the keys change hands. Repairs to a buried line can involve digging through the lawn, the driveway, or the sidewalk.
A normal home inspection checks drains by running water inside the house. Water can flow fine during a short test even when the pipe outside is cracked, sagging, or partly blocked.
A camera inspection closes that gap. It looks at the part of the plumbing that does the most expensive damage when it fails.
Older homes deserve extra attention. Clay and cast iron lines that have been in the ground for decades are more likely to have root-filled joints, cracks, or scale. A newer home is not a free pass either, since poor bedding and settling can cause sags in any pipe.
What a Sewer Camera Inspection Shows
The Sewer Kings feeds a waterproof camera through the line, usually from a cleanout. The video shows the inside of the pipe from the house to the street connection.
Pipe Material
The camera shows whether the line is clay, cast iron, or newer plastic pipe. Older materials tell you how much life the line may have left.
Roots and Blockages
Roots growing through joints show up clearly on screen. So do grease buildup and debris that slow the flow.
Cracks, Breaks, and Offset Joints
Cracks and separated joints let soil and roots in. The camera shows where they are and how bad they look.
Sags in the Line
A section that has sunk holds standing water. Waste settles there and causes repeat clogs over time.
The camera also shows good news. Smooth pipe, tight joints, and clear flow tell you the line has been cared for. That is worth knowing about the biggest purchase most people ever make.
How to Fit a Sewer Inspection Into Your Home Purchase
Timing matters most. Schedule the camera inspection during your inspection window, so the results arrive while you can still ask for repairs or a price change.
Tell your agent early that you want the sewer line checked. Agents can help arrange access with the seller and fit the visit in alongside the general home inspection.
Sellers can benefit from the same step. An inspection before listing lets the owner fix a problem on their own terms, or share a clean video with buyers as a selling point. Either way, nobody gets caught off guard late in the sale when time is short and emotions run high.
Ask the seller where the cleanout is. If there is no easy access point, we find a safe way into the line. Having the seller’s permission for access keeps things simple.
The camera head also sends a signal we track from above ground. We can mark where a problem sits and how deep, which helps anyone quoting a repair give a real number.
Ask for the video. A recording lets your agent, the seller, and any contractor see the same thing you saw.
Plan for the line to be flowing on inspection day. If the house has been empty for a while, running water through the drains first helps the camera see the pipe clearly instead of dry debris.
What to Do With the Inspection Results
A clean line is good news. You can close knowing the pipe is in working shape, and you have a video to compare against in future years.
If the camera finds roots or buildup in a sound pipe, a cleaning may be all it needs. That is a small item compared to a broken line.
If it finds cracks, sags, or collapsed sections, you have real leverage. Many buyers use the findings to ask for a repair before closing or a credit toward the work.
We can also give you a flat rate for the repair itself. A written number is far easier to negotiate with than a guess, and it shows the seller the problem is real.
Knowing why older pipe fails helps you read the video. Our guide on who is responsible for the sewer lateral in Cherry Hill Township also explains which part of the line becomes yours.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Sewer Camera Inspections Before Buying a Home
Usually not. A standard home inspection runs water inside the house but does not put a camera in the sewer line. A separate sewer camera inspection shows the condition of the buried pipe.
Most residential inspections are completed in one visit. The time depends on access, the length of the line, and whether the pipe needs clearing first so the camera can pass.
You can share the video with the seller and ask for a repair or a credit. The Sewer Kings can mark the problem spot and depth, which helps you get a clear repair quote.
Buying a Home in Cherry Hill Township?
The Sewer Kings will put a camera in the sewer line and show you exactly what you are buying. We are a family-owned crew, licensed, bonded, and insured.
Call us to book an inspection during your inspection window.