The Biggest Sewer Defects Found During Real Estate Transactions

Written by Steven Shipler, Texas Licensed Master Plumber, Responsible Master Plumber (RMP), MBA, and host of The 4 Guys Education on YouTube.

The biggest sewer defects found during real estate transactions are usually the ones buyers cannot see during a showing: roots, bellies, standing water, offsets, pipe separations, cast iron deterioration, broken pipe, Orangeburg pipe, and collapsed sewer sections.

These defects matter because they can change repair costs, negotiation strategy, seller credits, buyer confidence, and the final decision to close.

Common Defects Found During Transactions

• Root intrusion: Roots enter through cracks, joints, offsets, or separations.
• Sewer bellies: Low areas hold standing water and debris.
• Pipe offsets: Misaligned pipe sections catch waste and paper.
• Pipe separations: Sections pull apart and may allow soil or roots inside.
• Cast iron deterioration: Old pipe may scale, corrode, crack, or fail.
• Orangeburg pipe: Older fiber pipe may deform, crush, or collapse.
• Collapsed pipe: The camera may stop at a blocked or crushed section.
• Bad previous repairs: Repairs may have poor slope, bad transitions, or missing verification.

Why These Defects Matter Before Closing

If defects are found during the option period, the buyer may be able to request repairs, seller credits, price reductions, further testing, or repair estimates. If the same defect is found after closing, it may become the buyer’s problem.

What Buyers Should Ask After a Defect Is Found

• Where is the defect located?
• Is the defect under the slab, yard, driveway, sidewalk, or near the city tap?
• Was the camera able to pass through the full accessible line?
• Does the defect need cleaning, repair, replacement, locating, or further testing?
• Is there a written repair estimate?
• Will a post-repair camera inspection be provided?

Helpful Internal Links

• What Can a Sewer Camera Inspection Find?
• What Is a Sewer Belly?
• What Is a Sewer Pipe Offset?
• Testimonials
• Contact Us

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