This 1950s home in historic Downtown Gilbert has been beautifully renovated. New finishes, a great location and a price near a million dollars. The sewer camera told a very different story. Under the remodel, the drain lines are a mix of old and new pipe, and the old sections are failing.
What the camera found
This house had several cleanouts, which is rare for a home this age, so I could scope the lines from more than one direction.
- Three kinds of pipe: newer ABS, plus older concrete and clay sections. The ABS looked good. The concrete and clay did not.
- Cracks and gaps around 51 feet, where cockroaches were getting into the line.
- Pipe bellies holding standing water and sludge. A belly is a section that has settled and no longer slopes, so waste sits there instead of flowing out.
- Two separate drain lines that reconnect in the backyard, possibly left over from a duplex conversion.
- A lateral cleanout full of water and venting sewer gas, likely tied to a driveway drain.
More surprises in the attic
Up top, I found original knob-and-tube wiring still in place and roof supports that had been moved to make room for ductwork. My thermal camera showed missing insulation, and the cold water lines running through the attic were reading 120 to 130°F. That’s hot water coming out of your cold tap in the summer.
A remodel isn’t a new house
Remodels usually focus on what you can see: floors, cabinets, paint and fixtures. The sewer line, wiring and attic often stay original. Cracked clay pipe and bellies can lead to backups, recurring clogs and a health concern if sewage leaks into the soil. Some lines just need hydro-jetting. Others need sections replaced, and that’s a number you want before you close, not after.
If you’re buying an older home in Gilbert, Mesa or anywhere in the Phoenix area, a sewer camera inspection is one of the best few-hundred-dollar decisions you can make.
Watch the full inspection
See the camera footage and the attic in the video above, or watch it on YouTube. Book your inspection online or call 623-399-0079.
Property Inspections Plus is a Gilbert, AZ home inspection company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our service areas.
