Any tips for knowing if there is a sewer line issue?

[Eric M.]

When you are just getting a cursory showing/walk through are there things I should look for to see if there is a problem between the house and the street? Or with the water service from the street for that matter?

Houses from 1920's to 1970's

[Kiera Underwood]

Originally posted by @Eric M.:

Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:

Eric  its common practice in our area to run a sewer scope on virtually every sale. and in parts of the SF bay area sewer laterals must be replaced prior to conveyance if they are over a certain age. 

Water not sure.. other than obvious water pressure issues.

Sewer though is a biggee in our area. 

Yeah...on the sale. By then, I am committed. I am looking for how to better guess if there is an issue when I am making an offer.

For preliminary work through it's tough to tell. If the property is occupied, asking the tenants if their washer backs up can be helpful. Washers dump the most water at once and regular backups at the washer drain are a good indication of mainline issues. It's a bit out of the box, but you could also turn on all the water and run the washer if there are no tenants. You might look like a crazy person, but if you're trying to know before you do any type of inspection, this is an option. 

However, a mainline issue isn't always a deal-breaker! I advise everyone to do a scope and sometimes there are issues.. invasive roots, a lip in the line, or old lines that need to be replaced with PVC. Asking the seller to correct these items or provide a credit could be an easy solution. 

If you do move forward to the inspection phase I'd just get a recording of your scope, that way you've got big more leverage to ask for a replacement or repair via video evidence! 

Good luck!!