24/7 · All five NYC boroughs
Pre-purchase sewer inspection in NYC
Before you close on an NYC house, a sewer scope shows the condition of the line from the building to the street: roots, sags, cracks or a clean pipe. You get the video and written findings to take into negotiations. Starting at $495.
- Answered 24/7
- Price confirmed before work starts
Starting prices. Every job is different, so the technician confirms your price on site before any work starts. Nights, weekends and holidays add $150. All prices
Why scope before you buy
A sewer line can’t be seen from the basement. It runs under the yard, the sidewalk and sometimes part of the street. In older NYC houses it might be clay or cast iron that’s been in the ground for generations. Roots, sags and cracks don’t show up until the line backs up, and by then it’s yours.
A scope costs a fraction of what a line problem costs to fix. If the footage is clean, you close with peace of mind. If it isn’t, you have evidence to negotiate.
Who needs one
- Brownstone and rowhouse buyers in Brooklyn and Manhattan, where mains are often original and run through a house trap.
- Queens and Staten Island house buyers, where longer lines run under yards with mature trees.
- Two-family and multifamily buyers, where one main serves several units.
- Investors buying older rental properties.
What we check
- Material and condition: clay, cast iron or newer pipe, and how it’s holding up.
- Roots: where they’re entering and how heavy the growth is.
- Sags: low spots where water and waste collect.
- Joints: offsets or separations that catch debris.
- Cracks or collapse: sections that need repair.
- The house trap: condition and whether it’s clogging.
How to set it up
- Call or text with the address and your closing timeline.
- We tell you what access we need, usually the cleanout or house trap.
- Your agent arranges access with the seller.
- We scope the line, and you or your agent can watch live.
- You get the video and written findings.
If the footage shows a repair is needed, we refer you to an NYC master plumber for a quote based on what’s actually there.
Red flags on a sewer scope
| Finding | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Heavy roots at several joints | Ongoing cleaning costs, and possibly repair down the line |
| A collapse or a large crack | The line needs repair before it can be relied on |
| A long sag with standing water | Recurring clogs at that spot |
| Fiber pipe that’s flattening | The pipe may be near the end of its life |
| Badly corroded cast iron | Narrowing and recurring clogs |
| A clean, round pipe end to end | No sewer surprises at closing |
Questions to ask the seller
- When was the sewer line last cleaned or inspected?
- Has the basement ever had a backup?
- Has any part of the line been repaired or replaced?
- Where is the cleanout or house trap?
- Are there large trees near the line, in the yard or on the sidewalk?
Using the footage
The video and written findings are evidence. Your attorney or agent can use them to ask for a credit, a price change or a repair before closing. If a repair is needed, an NYC master plumber can quote it from the same footage. We’re not involved in the negotiation and we don’t sell repairs, so the findings are just what the camera shows.
From real jobs
Photos and footage from our own work. No stock images.
Where we work
What we don't do. We clear, clean and inspect drains and sewer lines. If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or separated line, you get the footage and a referral to an NYC master plumber for the fix. Why we work this way
Common questions
Isn't the sewer line covered by the home inspection?
Usually not. Most home inspections run water and look at visible drains, but they don't put a camera into the main line. The section under the yard and sidewalk stays unseen.
Who is responsible for the sewer line after I buy?
In NYC the property owner is generally responsible for the sewer service line out to the city sewer in the street. Whatever condition it's in at closing becomes your responsibility.
How long does a sewer scope take?
It depends on access and the length of the line. We give you a time estimate when you book.
What do I get?
The full video, a written summary of what we found and where, and the distance to any problem. That's what your attorney or agent can use to negotiate a credit or repair.
What if the house has no cleanout?
We can often go in through the house trap or another existing access point. We'll tell you on the call what access we need from the seller.
Can you clear the line if it's blocked?
Yes, with the seller's permission. Clearing a main line starts at $595 with the camera included.
Should I scope a co-op or condo apartment?
For a single apartment, usually not, since the building's lines are the building's responsibility. For a house, two-family, townhouse or small building, yes.
Can the seller be there during the scope?
Yes. Anyone can watch the footage live on the monitor while we inspect.
Need a drain cleared?
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. A technician looks at the job and confirms your price on site before any work starts.