When to arrange a sewer scope
Older homes, mature trees, repeat clogs or an unknown repair history give a buyer reasons to investigate. A camera can reveal visible roots, cracks, offset joints and standing water. It cannot guarantee that every future issue will be visible.
Ask for the recording and location
Ask whether the full accessible run was inspected, where the camera entered, whether a cleanout exists, and whether the recording or stills show the problem. Our pre-purchase scope page explains the process, while the camera-inspection page covers what the equipment can and cannot show.
Separate cleaning from repair
A blocked line may be cleaned, but a collapsed section or persistent sag may require repair. Ask the independent contractor to explain the evidence for each proposed option and its cost before authorizing work.
Know who owns the line
Tempe says the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line between the home and city main. Review our Tempe sewer responsibility guide and verify property-specific details with the city and your real estate professional.
What to request before the inspection period ends
Ask the seller for earlier sewer-cleaning invoices, camera footage, permits and repair warranties if available. A seller's lack of records does not prove a healthy line or a bad one. Arrange any sewer scope early enough to review results and discuss concerns within the deadlines in your contract; your real-estate agent can explain the applicable timeline.
What a sewer scope can and cannot tell you
A camera travels through an accessible drain line and records visible conditions. It may show roots, an offset joint, corrosion, standing water or a broken section. If the pipe is blocked, the camera cannot inspect beyond the obstruction until it is cleared. The operator should state where access was obtained, how far the camera reached and whether the city-side connection was seen.
Questions to ask about any finding
- Can you provide the full recording and mark the location of a visible defect?
- Is there an active obstruction, or evidence of an earlier one?
- Is cleaning sufficient to assess the line, or is repair being proposed now?
- Does the proposal distinguish a local repair from replacing a longer run?
Obtain a written evaluation and compare the proposed work with any competing assessment when a major repair is involved. A scope is evidence for a purchase decision, not a guarantee that the line will never block. Review who maintains a shared line if the property is a townhome or condominium.
After you move in
Keep the video and repair records with your home documents. Know where the cleanout is and avoid flushing wipes or pouring grease into sinks. If a future blockage occurs, the earlier footage gives the next contractor a useful baseline to compare against new findings.
Sources and scope
Source: City of Tempe service-line responsibility. This guide is general information, not an on-site diagnosis. Tempe Sewer Cleaning connects callers with independent contractors; confirm the findings, work, price and licensing with the contractor.