Not a subject most like to think about .......waste lines........BUT(T) one that does need addressing in older homes and neighborhoods.
In several California Cities it is a requirement to update the sewage lines at time of sale or within a time period shortly after sale.
Many of the older pipes are made out of clay and have cracked and failed allowing for seepage of waste into areas not desired creating a health and safety issue besides the smell........
If a homeowner selling your home, be aware this could be an issue and/or requirement and/or negotiated in purchase offer to be scoped or replaced.
The good news is there is a new method without doing the whole trenching that allows for replacement at a lesser cost.
If a buyer seeking to purchase an older home you are encouraged to have the sewer line scoped to ensure there is no major blockages as part of your inspections.
Sometimes you can negotiate with seller to split the costs or have the seller pay for the replacement.
Be cognizant of tree roots and their proximity to the sewer line running from the house to the street.
Further it was brought to my attention that many of the waste lines for the high efficient washers are not adequate in older homes and can cause flooding ......
In the scheme of things another item to be considered when selling or buying a home.
I owned two homes in California. I had to have the sewer line replaced in both of them.
My homeowners' insurance covered the first one, but they dropped that coverage from most policies around that time (around 2000. We made it by one month!)
For the second home, we had the sewer line video taped during the inspections, found that it needed to replaced and the sellers agreed to do so. Nice little cost savings and well worth the cost of the inspection!
Homeowner