Please help! We're under contract to buy a home and after having a plumber run a camera out to the main in the street, we're not sure what to do. The plumber indicated there were major problems all the way to the tap, including root intrusion and offsets between sections of the clay pipe. Recommendation: $8,400 in repairs. We had a second plumber look at the video and his opinion was that there were problems close to the house that needed to be addressed, including where the iron pipe meets the clay pipe. He suggested replacement of about 15', installation of a couple of clean-outs, to the tune of $2,400. If you'd like to see the vid and give an informed opinion, I posted it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3nmcBPiWQ

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You ask the seller to give at least a 7 or 8 K discount or for them to fix this prior to closing.
Same as with any issue. Get credit for it or have it fixed.

Most likely actual repair somewhere between, but normally you will want to replace the entire line with age

If I do that the seller will move on to the next buyer. What I'm looking for is an informed opinion on the condition of the line based on the video.

How far down the sewer does this video represent? You can certainly see problems at the end of the video. How far to the street? If first plumber did not run camera all the way to the street, why not? Is all the pipe to the street clay tile?

How far down the sewer does this video represent? You can certainly see problems at the end of the video. How far to the street? If first plumber did not run camera all the way to the street, why not? Is all the pipe to the street clay tile?

Thanks Harold. The video ends at the tap at the main in the street. It appears to all be clay pipe between the house and the main.

I would negotiate with seller using the $8000 number. If seller will not negotiate you will have to decide if the house is worth the additional cost. To me the camera shows the entire line needs to be replaced. You can see roots periodically all along the line almost to the end.

Granted there is a wide disparity between the $2400 and $8000. Either the $2400 is a low ball price suck you in or the $8000 is way over priced. Since the $2400 is a patch up job, when the entire line need to be replaced, I am inclined to believe the former.

Negotiate the best price you can, make your decision. If you decide to go through with the purchase, call two additional contractors. The plumber that ran the camera probably l understood why you had engaged him and was providing you with a negotiating instrument.