# Downtown Gilbert Remodel: What the Sewer Camera Found

- Link: https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/downtown-gilbert-remodel-sewer-camera/
- Published: 2026-10-24T09:19:26+00:00
- Author: homeinspectordan

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](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/thermal-imaging-inspection/)
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](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/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](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_STlYJxJvEI).
[Book your inspection online](https://app.spectora.com/home-inspectors/my-inspection-company-f8d6dbae4e/schedule)
or call [623-399-0079](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/downtown-gilbert-remodel-sewer-camera/6233990079).

Property Inspections Plus is a [Gilbert, AZ home inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/)
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](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/service-areas/).