Pre-Purchase Sewer & Drain Video Inspections in Southeast Louisiana

Buying a home is a major investment. While the roof, electrical system, HVAC equipment and visible plumbing may receive plenty of attention during the inspection process, some of the most expensive potential problems may be hidden underneath the home.

Louisiana Leak Detection provides pre-purchase sewer and drain video inspections for home buyers throughout Southeast Louisiana, including Greater Baton Rouge, Greater New Orleans, the Northshore and surrounding communities.

Using professional sewer camera equipment, we inspect accessible drain and sewer piping to help identify deterioration, damage and other conditions that may be difficult or impossible to see from the surface.

Buying a home? Call Louisiana Leak Detection at 225-320-5566 to schedule a pre-purchase sewer and drain inspection.

What Is a Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection?

A pre-purchase sewer inspection uses a specialized video camera to visually inspect accessible sewer and drain piping before you purchase a property.

The camera travels through the piping while our technician evaluates visible conditions inside the line.

Depending on the piping, access and conditions, an inspection may reveal problems such as:

• Cast iron deterioration
• Corrosion and heavy scaling
• Cracked or damaged piping
• Standing water
• Bellies or low areas in the pipe
• Offset or separated connections
• Root intrusion
• Blockages or restrictions
• Deteriorated pipe walls
• Changes in piping material
• Evidence of previous repairs
• Areas that may require additional investigation

A sewer camera inspection can give a buyer valuable information about parts of the plumbing system that cannot normally be seen during a walkthrough.

Why Home Buyers Should Consider a Sewer Camera Inspection

A home can look beautiful on the surface while significant plumbing problems remain hidden beneath the slab or underground.

Drain and sewer line repairs can sometimes involve excavation, concrete removal, flooring repairs and significant plumbing work.

Identifying a potential problem before closing allows the buyer to better understand the property and determine whether additional evaluation, repair estimates or negotiations may be appropriate.

The goal is simple:

Know as much as possible about the property before you own it.

Buying an Older South Louisiana Home?

Pre-purchase sewer inspections can be especially valuable when purchasing older homes throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Many older properties may contain cast iron drain piping, including piping located beneath concrete slab foundations.

As cast iron ages, it can develop corrosion, scaling, deterioration and other problems that are not visible from inside the home.

A house may have functioning sinks and toilets while portions of the underground drain system are already showing significant deterioration.

A sewer camera inspection gives the buyer an opportunity to see the condition of accessible piping before the transaction is complete.

Cast Iron Drain Lines Can Be Hidden Beneath the Slab

One of the biggest reasons we recommend considering a sewer inspection on older properties is that much of the drain system may be located beneath the concrete foundation.

You cannot determine the condition of those pipes simply by looking at the home.

Video inspection can help identify visible conditions such as:

Corrosion
The interior surface of aging cast iron can become rough and deteriorated.

Heavy Scaling
Accumulation inside the pipe can reduce the usable diameter of the drain line and affect drainage.

Cracking or Deterioration
Sections of piping may show visible signs of damage or deterioration.

Standing Water
Water remaining in sections of pipe may indicate improper slope, a belly or another drainage problem.

Offsets and Separation
Connections can shift or become misaligned over time.

Previous Repairs
Changes in pipe material or repaired sections may sometimes be visible during the inspection.

If an area of concern is discovered, additional diagnostic testing may be recommended.

A Standard Home Inspection and a Sewer Camera Inspection Are Different

A traditional home inspection evaluates many important components of the property.

A sewer camera inspection serves a different purpose: it allows us to look inside accessible drain and sewer piping.

For buyers purchasing an older home, slab-foundation home or property with an unknown sewer-line history, this additional information can be valuable during the inspection and due-diligence period.

Sewer Inspections for Real Estate Agents and Their Clients

Louisiana Leak Detection works with home buyers, real estate agents, home inspectors and other real estate professionals throughout Southeast Louisiana.

For real estate professionals, offering buyers the option of a sewer and drain video inspection can provide another level of due diligence when evaluating an older property.

This may be particularly appropriate for:

• Older homes
• Slab-foundation homes
• Properties with cast iron drain piping
• Homes with recurring drain problems
• Properties with mature trees
• Homes with known sewer repairs
• Properties where the age or condition of underground piping is unknown

Our goal is to provide clear diagnostic information so the buyer can make a more informed decision.

What Happens If We Find a Problem?

Finding an issue does not automatically mean that the entire sewer system needs to be replaced.

The purpose of the inspection is to document what can be seen and identify areas that may require further evaluation.

Depending on what we discover, the next step may include:

• Additional leak testing
• Drain line location
• More detailed diagnostic testing
• Evaluation by a plumber
• Repair estimates
• Further investigation of a specific section of piping

Louisiana Leak Detection focuses on helping identify and locate problems so property owners can make better-informed repair decisions.

Sewer Camera Inspection vs. Sewer Leak Detection

A video inspection allows us to visually evaluate the inside of accessible piping.

However, a camera alone does not always determine whether a pipe is actively leaking.

When a sewer or drain leak is suspected, additional diagnostic testing may be necessary.

Louisiana Leak Detection also provides sewer line leak detection, drain line diagnostics, underground leak detection and other specialized testing when additional information is needed.

Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspections Throughout Southeast Louisiana

Louisiana Leak Detection provides pre-purchase sewer and drain video inspections for buyers throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Greater Baton Rouge

Including Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Gonzales, Denham Springs, Central, Zachary and surrounding communities.

Greater New Orleans

Including New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, LaPlace and surrounding communities.

The Northshore

Including Mandeville, Covington, Madisonville, Slidell and surrounding St. Tammany Parish communities.

We also serve many surrounding communities throughout Southeast Louisiana.

Before You Buy, Find Out What's Under the House

Some of the most important parts of a home's plumbing system are the parts you cannot see.

If you are purchasing an older home, a slab-foundation property or a home where the condition of the sewer and drain system is unknown, a pre-purchase video inspection can provide valuable information before closing.

Schedule a Pre-Purchase Sewer & Drain Video Inspection

Call Louisiana Leak Detection at 225-320-5566 to schedule an inspection for a home you are considering purchasing.