When you buy a brand new home, you aren’t focusing on sewer camera inspections. But as home inspectors, we know firsthand that even new builds can hide serious issues beneath the surface. That’s why we always recommend a new home sewer camera inspection, even on homes that just received their final walkthrough.
Take a recent inspection we performed in San Tan Valley at a Meritage home. On the surface, the property looked move-in ready. But what we found underground told a different story.
🚨 What We Found:
Loose Cleanout Caps
Cleanout caps are supposed to be finger-tight – easy to remove, yet secure enough to keep everything sealed. But in this case, they were over-tightened so much that they snapped off with a twist at the base. That’s not just bad practice – it’s a plumbing red flag.
Debris in the Sewer Line
Our sewer camera inspections uncover rocks, a mystery nut, and construction debris sitting in the main sewer line. This kind of blockage can lead to costly clogs or backups just weeks after move-in. These issues don’t just appear over time – they were there from day one.
Suspicious Pipe Conditions
The pipes showed inconsistent coloring, which might mean paint overspray or condensation damage – either way, it’s not what you want in a brand new system.
🔍 Limited Access, Limited Clarity
Due to restrictions on entering the home and inspecting through the roof vent, we couldn’t perform a full internal vent line scan.
✅ Peace of Mind for $195
At Property Inspections Plus, we offer sewer camera inspections for just $195. It’s cheap insurance for your peace of mind – especially when you consider how costly plumbing repairs can be after you’ve already closed on the home.
We’re not here to scare you – we’re here to inform you. These issues can happen in any new home. All it takes is one worker overlooking one detail to cause a problem that could cost you thousands later.
🎥 Watch the Full Video
Check out our full inspection video for a real look at what we uncovered at this Meritage home. You won’t believe what we found in the sewer line!
Even with a brand-new home, a sewer camera inspections are one of the smartest investments a buyer can make. Builders don’t always install sewer lines perfectly, and issues like low spots, construction debris, or improper connections can be hiding underground from day one. These defects won’t show up during a standard inspection, yet they can quickly lead to blockages, sewage backups, and costly repairs after you move in.
A quick sewer scope gives you peace of mind by confirming the line is clean and properly sloped, or it gives you the leverage to have the builder correct any problems before they become your financial burden. In short, a sewer camera inspection on a new build is like insurance – it’s a small cost now that could save you thousands and a lot of headaches down the road.
Sewer line problems are not the kind of surprises you want after moving in, because repairs can get extremely expensive if they aren’t caught early. A small belly or crack in the pipe today can turn into a full blockage or collapse tomorrow, and fixing it often means digging up the yard, tearing out landscaping, or even breaking up parts of the driveway. It’s not unusual for sewer repairs to run anywhere from $3,000 for a spot repair to $20,000 or more for a full replacement—costs that no new homeowner wants to face right after closing.
Here is the City of Phoenix most common plumbing problems.
If you’re buying a new home in the Phoenix or San Tan Valley area, give us a call to see if a sewer camera inspections are right for you. We’ll give you real answers, and peace of mind, before you make one of the biggest purchases of your life.
Hi, I’m Home Inspector Dan — owner of Property Inspections Plus and a 
