Sewer scope inspections in Waukesha, WI
Before you buy in Waukesha County, see inside the buried sewer lateral. A camera runs from the house to the city main and records the roots, cracks, bellies, and aging pipe that a standard home inspection cannot reach.
The sewer lateral is the buried pipe that carries waste from the house to the municipal main, and repairs to it are usually the property owner's cost. It sits underground where a standard Waukesha County home inspection cannot reach, so the only way to know its condition before closing is to put a camera in it.
A sewer scope is also one of the simplest add-ons under Wisconsin's offer to purchase. The WB-11 separates inspections, which are observations, from tests, which take samples for lab analysis. A sewer scope is a camera observation, so unlike asbestos, lead, or mold testing, it does not need its own testing terms in the offer. Your agent can confirm how it fits your contingency.
We most often recommend a scope for older homes in Waukesha, Brookfield, Elm Grove, New Berlin, and Menomonee Falls, where decades-old clay or cast iron laterals run under mature front-yard trees. On septic properties around Oconomowoc and the lakes, a septic inspection does not check the lateral pipe itself, so a scope can be added to cover it. Call our Waukesha County line at (262) 522-0710, seven days a week.
Watch a real sewer scope
This footage is from a real Homesight sewer scope here in Waukesha County. It is the same kind of video your inspector records and delivers to you and your agent.
What we look for in your lateral
The camera documents the accessible run of the lateral from the cleanout toward the main connection, with approximate locations for anything it finds.
Tree roots
Roots from mature trees work into joints and cracks in older pipe, slowing flow and causing backups.
Cracks and breaks
Clay and cast iron pipe crack with age, soil movement, and Wisconsin freeze-thaw cycles, letting soil into the line.
Bellies
Low, sagging sections hold waste instead of carrying it to the main, a common cause of clogs that keep coming back.
Offset joints
Settling soil pushes pipe sections out of line, narrowing the flow path and catching grease and debris.
Buildup
Grease, scale, and solids that restrict flow are noted with their approximate position in the run.
Pipe material
We identify clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, or plastic pipe, which tells you roughly where the lateral is in its service life.
What comes with every inspection
Rapid Report Delivery
Our organized, easy-to-understand reports are delivered the next day. No more waiting around for the inspection report to arrive!
200% Satisfaction Guarantee
If you are not completely satisfied at the end of your home inspection, we won't charge you AND we will cover the cost for another Licensed Home Inspector of your choice to re-inspect the property.
Inspection Protection
If the house that we inspect doesn't work out, we'll take $100 off if you find a second house within 30 days! (Must use same realtor.)
Free Moving Concierge
Homesight, Inc offers a moving assistant with every inspection. They'll help you with things like booking movers, installing appliances, lawn care, or furniture assembly.
Complimentary Warranty Package
A 6-month warranty plus 6-month water and septic, mold, radon, and WDO coverage, and a 5-year extended roof coverage.
Sewer scopes across Waukesha County
Inspectors are in Waukesha County every day. Outside the county? Our main sewer scope page covers all 13 counties we serve.
Waukesha County sewer scope FAQ
Do I need to write a sewer scope into my offer to purchase?
Usually not as a separate test. Wisconsin's WB-11 offer to purchase separates inspections, which are observations, from tests, which take samples for lab analysis. A sewer scope is a camera observation, so it sits on the inspection side of that line, unlike asbestos, lead, or mold testing, which need their own terms in the offer. Confirm the details of your contingency with your agent.
Which Waukesha County homes most need a sewer scope?
Homes on municipal sewer where the lateral may be near the end of its service life: older homes, homes whose clay or cast iron laterals have never been replaced, and homes with mature trees in the front yard, where roots can enter pipe joints. Many Waukesha County homes were built before the 1980s, so this covers a large share of listings in Waukesha, Brookfield, Elm Grove, New Berlin, and Menomonee Falls.
The home is on septic in Lake Country. Is a sewer scope still useful?
It can be. A septic inspection does not inspect the condition of the lateral pipe that runs from the house to the tank. A sewer scope can be added alongside the septic evaluation so the whole line is documented.
Can you add a sewer scope to my home inspection?
Yes, and we recommend it. The inspector can run the scope during the same visit as your home inspection anywhere in Waukesha County, and the video and findings are delivered with your next-day report.
Is the sewer line covered by the Homesight warranty?
Yes. The complimentary warranty package includes a 6-month Water and Septic Warranty. When a sewer scope is performed along with the home inspection, it protects against new issues that arise after the inspection and were not found during the scope.
How quickly can you scope a line in Waukesha County?
We can often schedule same-day. Call our Waukesha County line at (262) 522-0710, seven days a week, or book online any time.
Book your Waukesha County sewer scope.
Schedule online or call our Waukesha County line. Next-day video report, second-level review, and a 200% Satisfaction Guarantee on every inspection.