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You want to make sure you know what you are walking into.

General inspections look only at superficial aspects of the property. Usually issues highlighted are easy and non expensive to fix.

There is a key part of the property that is left non inspected and can actually be the root of an expensive problem down the road: the Sewer Line.

We, at Abra Leak Detection, offer comprehensive sewer line inspection including a full writing summary done by our experts with location of the sewer line, life left on the sewer line and costs of potential repairs.

You can use this written summary during your negotiations process with the sellers.
Defecting sewer lines can cost thousands in repairs.

Our sewer line inspections are video recorded, a copy of the footage of the sewer can be sent to you.

We work directly with the realtor and/or the buyers, we can spend time educating our customers about the condition of the sewer line and this implies for their wallet down the line.

It is a great investment that can give you an edge during negotiations and save you from future unplanned expenses.

Sewer line defects can affect old and new homes. A sewer pipe can last anywhere from 50-100 years or more, depending on the material from which the pipe is made and the conditions under which it is used. However external elements (trees, settlements, construction) can deteriorate the pipe at a much faster rate.

Sometimes for old properties such as in Tacoma, where lots have been subdivided, sewer lines can run under your neighbors’ house or backyard. That can be a big liability that you need to be aware of in case you need to make some repairs, i.e you might need to dig into your neighbor’s backyard or underneath his house. Moreover you want to notify your neighbors about it to avoid any bad surprises. Indeed, we had one client that had his sewer going through his neighbor’s backyard, they found that out when the neighbor busted the line when digging for the hole for the swimming pool.

Recently we had a client that had a new deck built. We discovered with the video inspection that they actually placed the main anchor right over the sewer line. After a few weeks of settlement of the patio, the pipe busted and the sewer backed up.

It is often we receive calls from customers because of sewer back up a few months after purchasing their new home. When we conduct an inspection with the camera on the sewer, we find that the sewer is at the end of its lifetime with roots inside, crunched or busted. After only a few months in their new home, they have to put in a few thousands of dollars to fix this problem that should have been discussed and addressed before closing with the previous owner.

Here a list of the main cause of Sewer Line defects:

• Roots running through or inside the line .
• Pipe flattening or crushed due to settling, heavy weights added on top of the line or roots.
• Water stagnating due to pipe misalignment.
• Blockage due to feminine hygiene products, paper towels and even certain types of thicker toilet paper.
• End of life sewer pipes that start to crack and leak.

Video inspection can alert you ahead of time that your sewer is defective saving your thousands of dollars.

When it is too late and the problem starts to be serious there are few signs that can potentially indicate that there is a problem related to the sewer line:

• Slow flowing drains, and gurgling noises from the toilet bowls can indicate a blockage somewhere in the main sewer line.
• Sewage backups when you flush the toilet, the problem could be the main sewer line. All the property’s drains rely on the main sewer line in order to drain properly. If you start experiencing blockages in more than one drain, it’s definitely an issue with the main sewer line.
• Foul odors could mean a leak in the main sewer line as intact sewer lines should be airtight, no odors should escape the pipes.
• Lush patches of grass can indicate a leaking sewer line as sewage acts as a great fertilizer.
• Lawn indentations can be caused by a crack in the sewer line saturating the soil around it, eventually causing it to dissipate and dip.
• Broken sewer lines left untreated over time can lead to cracks in your home’s foundation, a settled foundation, or even sinkholes.
• Pools of septic waste with a foul-smelling, the problem could be a crack in the main sewer line.
• Unwanted pests (rats and insects) inside your home coming from cracks and gaps in your sewer line and making their way into the plumbing.

Based in the South Seattle area

Serving King and Pierce County

Available 24/7 for Emergency Leak Detection Service

Same Day Response

+1 (253) 838 3525
contact@abraleakdetection.com