Protect your home with thorough sewer line inspections tailored for Boise homeowners and older properties.
I was helping a family in the North End last month. They just bought this cute old house with big trees in the yard. Everything looked perfect until their toilet started backing up. Turns out, those pretty trees had roots growing right into their sewer line! If they'd gotten a sewer inspection before buying, they could have saved thousands on emergency repairs.
That’s why I wanna talk about residential sewer inspections in Boise today. These checks are super important but lots of folks skip them. Big mistake!
A sewer inspection is when we put a tiny camera on a long cable into your sewer pipes. This camera lets us see inside your pipes without digging up your yard. We can spot cracks, blocks, roots, and other problems that might cause big headaches later.
The camera shows everything on a screen so you can see the problems too. We record it all so you have proof of what we found.
Boise has lots of older homes. Many houses in areas like the Bench, North End, and East End have old sewer pipes made from things that don’t last forever:
I did an inspection in the Collister area where the homeowner had no idea their line was almost totally blocked by roots from their 50-year-old maple tree. We caught it just before sewage would’ve backed up into their house!
Always get a sewer inspection when buying a house in Boise. Fixing sewer problems can cost big money. You don't want that surprise after you already bought the place!
Just last year, I worked with a couple buying in Southeast Boise. The house looked great but our camera found a pipe that had totally collapsed under the front yard. They used this info to get the seller to pay for repairs before closing.
Smart sellers get sewer inspections before listing their house. This stops deals from falling apart later when buyers find problems.
If your sinks drain slow or toilets gurgle, your sewer line might have problems. Better check it out before things get worse!
Planning to plant trees or build a patio? Better know where your sewer line is first!
Here’s what we look for:
Boise's big trees look nice but their roots can wreck your sewer pipes. Roots can sense water in your pipes and break in through tiny cracks.
I once found roots from a neighbor's tree that crossed under a fence and got into my customer's sewer line in the West End. The roots made a clog as big as a basketball!
Our soil moves, especially in hilly areas like the Foothills. This movement can crack old pipes.
This means the pipe sags in the middle, making a low spot where waste gets stuck. We see this in newer North and West Boise areas where the ground has settled.
You wouldn't believe what people flush! Grease, "flushable" wipes, toys, and other stuff can stick to pipes and make clogs.
When you call us for a sewer inspection, here’s what happens:
The whole thing usually takes about an hour.
Watch for these warning signs:
I remember a family near BSU who called because their grass had a super green stripe running across their yard. They thought it was weird but not serious. Our inspection showed a big crack leaking sewage water, which was feeding that grass but also risking contamination!
If you’re buying or selling a home in Boise, listen up! In our crazy housing market, some folks skip inspections to make offers look better. This is a huge risk with sewer lines!
A realtor I work with in Eagle always tells her clients to get sewer inspections. Last year, her buyers were about to get a beautiful house in Harris Ranch when our camera found the line was totally broken under the driveway. The sellers had to drop their price by $10K to cover repair costs.
To get the most from your inspection:
Write down questions as we go
If we find problems during your Boise inspection, don’t panic! Many issues can be fixed without digging up your whole yard:
But if you do need repairs, it’s better to know before sewage backs up into your house during a party! (Yeah, I’ve seen that happen to a family in Meridian – not fun!)
Some stores in Boise rent sewer cameras. But knowing what you’re looking at takes practice. I’ve had many customers try DIY first, then call us because they couldn’t tell if what they saw was bad or normal.
When we do your Boise residential sewer inspection, you get:
After we check your line, here’s how to keep it working good:
Get checkups if you have old pipes
Whether you're buying a cute house in Hyde Park, selling your home in Columbia Village, or just want to prevent problems in your Bown Crossing home, a sewer inspection gives you peace of mind.
Our Boise sewer inspection team knows this area and the common problems here. We'll give you honest advice about your sewer system.
Don't wait for a messy backup or a failed home sale. Call today to check your pipes and know what's happening underground at your Boise home!
