What a home inspection leaves out
A general home inspector runs the faucets, flushes the toilets, and checks that the drains empty. That shows the line works today. It does not show the inside of the pipe between the house and the street, which is where the costly problems are.
What a camera finds
A camera goes in through the cleanout and records the whole line. It shows:
- Roots growing in at the joints
- Cracked or broken sections of clay pipe
- A belly, where the pipe has sagged and holds standing water
- Sections that have shifted out of line
- Old repairs, and whether they were done right
Why it matters on a 1950s tract home
The original laterals in La Mirada are now around seventy years old. Some are in good shape. Some are one heavy rain away from a backup. From the curb, the two houses look the same. When one house on a street starts having root problems, the neighbors are usually not far behind.
When to do it
During the inspection period, before your contingencies are removed. If the line is clean, you buy with confidence. If it is not, you have video to bring to the seller and can ask for a repair or a credit. After closing, the line is yours and so is the bill.
Selling? Scope it too
Sellers benefit the same way. Knowing the condition of the line before you list means no surprise in the middle of escrow, and a clean video is something you can hand to a buyer.
What you get
Mickey runs the camera, shows you the footage, and tells you plainly what it means: fine, worth watching, or needs work, with a price if it does. He will not recommend a replacement the video does not support. One Hour Plumbing Service is based next door in Norwalk and has been in business since 1953.
Related service: Sewer Camera Inspection
Service area: Plumber in La Mirada