A sewer camera inspection before buying a house is one of the most important steps most buyers skip.
Standard home inspections are thorough — they cover the roof, foundation, HVAC, electrical, and visible plumbing. What they do not cover: the sewer lateral. The underground pipe that connects your house to the city sewer main is not part of a standard inspection and is not visible without a camera. It is also your financial responsibility the moment you take ownership.
What a sewer camera inspection finds
In the Atlanta metro area and North Georgia, common findings on pre-purchase camera inspections include: root intrusion from mature trees in older neighborhoods, deteriorated clay tile pipe in pre-1960s homes, Orangeburg pipe in homes built between 1945 and 1972 (a paper-based pipe that fails predictably with age), offset pipe joints from ground settling, and in some cases, partial or complete pipe collapses that the seller had no knowledge of — or did know about and did not disclose.
What it costs — and what it saves
A pre-purchase camera inspection typically costs $150–$400. Sewer line repair in the Atlanta area runs $3,000–$8,000 for partial repairs; full lateral replacement can run $8,000–$20,000 or more depending on depth, access, and length. The inspection is a fraction of the cost of the surprise.
What to do with the findings
If the line is clean — you close with confidence and documentation of the sewer line condition at purchase. Useful for future reference and potential insurance purposes.
If the line needs jetting — you have negotiating options: ask the seller for a credit, require them to have it jetted before closing, or factor the cost into your offer.
If the line has structural problems — this is where the inspection really earns its cost. A collapsed section or severely deteriorated pipe is a multi-thousand-dollar repair. You can negotiate a significant repair credit, require the seller to replace it before closing, or walk away from the deal with your earnest money if the contract allows for it.
How to add a sewer inspection to your purchase
Talk to your real estate agent about adding a sewer line inspection contingency to the purchase contract — or at minimum, scheduling the inspection during the standard inspection period. We work quickly and can often schedule within 24–48 hours, which matters when inspection windows are tight.
Ready to get clear pipes? Call Sunburst Environmental at 678-799-4389 — same-day response across Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Or request a free estimate online.