Buying a Home in Portland? Why a Sewer Scope is Worth Every Penny
You’ve fallen in love with a charming 1920s bungalow in Portland or a mid-century ranch in Vancouver. The curb appeal is fantastic, and the giant Douglas Fir in the front yard adds incredible character.
But that beautiful tree and that vintage charm might be hiding a financial disaster underground.
While a standard home inspection covers hundreds of items from the roof to the foundation, it stops at the walls. It does not tell you what is happening inside the buried pipe that carries waste from your home to the city main. This is where a Sewer Scope Inspection becomes your financial safety net.
In the Pacific Northwest, we face a unique combination of factors that wreck sewer lines:
Aging Infrastructure: Many homes in Portland and older Vancouver neighborhoods were built before 1970. The sewer pipes used back then (clay, concrete, and cast iron) have exceeded their life expectancy.
The "Orangeburg" Nightmare: During WWII and up to the 70s, a material called Orangeburg (essentially tar-impregnated paper) was used. Today, these pipes are failing catastrophically, collapsing under the weight of the soil.
Aggressive Roots: The lush trees we love have thirsty roots. These roots seek out tiny cracks in sewer pipes for water, eventually crushing the pipe or causing massive blockages.
The Math is Simple (and Scary) Let’s look at the numbers.
Cost of a Sewer Scope: A few hundred dollars added to your inspection.
Cost of a Sewer Repair: Typically $5,000 to $15,000, and sometimes upwards of $25,000 if the line runs under a driveway, sidewalk, or street.
If you skip the scope, you are gambling with $15,000. If we find a problem during the inspection, you can ask the seller to repair it or credit you the money before you close the deal.
Myth: "It's a New Construction, I Don't Need It". We hear this often. While new plastic (PVC/ABS) pipes are durable, human error is still a factor. We frequently find:
Construction debris (rocks, lumber) left inside the pipe.
"Belly" in the line (a low spot where water collects) due to improper soil compaction.
Disconnected joints where the house connects to the city main.
At iQ Living Solutions, we use a high-resolution camera on a flexible rod to travel through the pipe. We are looking for:
Root Intrusion: Roots growing inside the pipe.
Offsets: Where sections of pipe have shifted and no longer align.
Cracks and Collapses: Physical breaks in the line.
The "Belly": Sagging sections that hold water and waste, leading to frequent backups.
A sewer backup is not just gross; it is one of the most expensive unplanned repairs a new homeowner can face.
For the price of a nice dinner out, you can know exactly what lies beneath the ground. A Sewer Scope gives you leverage in negotiations and, more importantly, peace of mind that your new home won't turn into a money pit the first time you do laundry.