When you’re buying a home in Nashville, the checklist is already long. Financing, negotiations, appraisals, inspections. But there’s one crucial service that many buyers still overlook, and it could save you thousands of dollars and a mountain of stress: the sewer camera inspection.
In Middle Tennessee, where homes range from charming historic builds to brand-new construction, what’s hiding underground can make or break your homeownership experience. Here’s why this often-overlooked inspection is a must-have, and what Nashville buyers need to know.
What is a Sewer Camera Inspection?
A sewer camera inspection is a specialized service that sends a waterproof camera into your home’s main sewer line (the pipe that connects your home’s plumbing to the city sewer or private septic system).
This inspection allows professionals to visually map and assess the entire waste line, looking for:
- Root intrusion
- Cracks or collapsed lines
- Low spots (“bellies”) where waste collects
- Blockages from grease, debris, or even construction waste
While your standard home inspector checks all visible plumbing, a sewer line runs underground and out of sight, and problems here can go undetected until it’s too late.
Why Sewer Line Repairs Can Be a Financial Nightmare
Unlike a leaky faucet or a worn-out water heater, a damaged sewer line often requires excavation, which means tearing up your yard, sidewalk, or driveway just to reach the problem.
In Nashville, these repairs typically cost $6,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on depth, location, and severity.
And here’s the kicker: homeowners are responsible for the sewer line from the home to the city connection even if it’s under the street.
Who Needs a Sewer Camera Inspection? (Hint: It’s Not Just Old Homes)
Older Homes (Built Before 1980)
Many older homes in Nashville and Middle Tennessee were built with materials like cast iron or clay piping, which degrade over time. These systems are particularly vulnerable to:
- Rust and corrosion
- Cracks and root intrusion
- Collapses due to shifting soil or age
If you’re buying a pre-1980 home, a sewer camera inspection is highly recommended—especially before finalizing the purchase.
New Construction Homes
Surprised? You’re not alone.
New homes are the second most likely group to experience sewer line issues. Why?
- Heavy equipment may crush or misalign freshly laid pipes during construction
- Construction crews often use new plumbing to rinse paint, concrete, or drywall, leading to blockages before move-in
- Trenches may not be properly graded, causing low spots where waste pools
Even in new developments, sewer lines can have “bellies,” crushed sections, or foreign materials lodged inside. A sewer camera is the only way to know for sure.
How a Sewer Camera Inspection Works
A home inspection company offering sewer scope services (like DILIGENT) will:
- Locate an access point—either a cleanout or toilet removal
- Insert a high-resolution camera into the main waste line
- Record and review the condition of the sewer pipe all the way to the city connection
- Provide you with video footage and a detailed summary of any concerns
And yes, this can all be done alongside your home inspection, giving you a full picture of the home’s condition above and below the surface.
Why Nashville Buyers Need This Extra Step
Middle Tennessee presents a unique mix of:
- Aging infrastructure in legacy neighborhoods like East Nashville and Sylvan Park
- New builds on heavily graded lots in areas like Spring Hill, Mt. Juliet, and Murfreesboro
- Clay-heavy soil that can shift, settle, or put pressure on buried pipes
These regional factors mean that sewer issues are not rare, they’re just often invisible until it’s too late.
Protect Your Investment from the Ground Up
A sewer camera inspection isn’t just a good idea, it’s a powerful negotiation tool. If issues are found, you can:
- Request repairs or replacements before closing
- Renegotiate the purchase price
- Walk away from a potentially disastrous (and expensive) situation
At DILIGENT, we offer sewer camera inspections as a seamless add-on to your home inspection, helping Nashville buyers move forward with full confidence, not just hope.
Buying a home in Middle Tennessee?
Schedule your inspection with DILIGENT and make sure nothing beneath the surface catches you off guard.
Experience the DILIGENT Difference
With DILIGENT, you can understand the value of your potential home investment by skipping the guesswork and gathering deeper information about your new home with our detailed reports provided the same day as your inspection.
