A pre-purchase home inspection covers what can be observed, and buried pipes cannot be. Before buying a house, particularly a country property on a septic system and a well, a camera inspection of the main drain, and of the French drain when cleanouts are present, reveals the condition of lines that would otherwise stay out of sight. At Wilfrid David in Chénéville, we recommend scheduling it during the inspection period in your offer to purchase, before the signing at the notary's office.
What a pre-purchase inspection covers
Home inspectors in Quebec work within a defined framework. The BNQ 3009-500 standard sets out how an inspection for a real estate transaction is carried out, and it focuses on the systems and components that are observable. The Régie du bâtiment du Québec, the province's building authority, has been issuing a certificate to inspectors since October 1, 2024, and that certificate becomes mandatory on October 1, 2027.
The key word is "observable." The line that leaves the house under the slab, crosses the lot and connects to the municipal sewer or the septic tank cannot be seen. Neither can the French drain at the base of the foundation. An inspector can point out a stain, an odour or a floor that has been wet before, but cannot tell whether a pipe is crushed several metres from the house. A camera inspection adds that missing information to the report.
What a camera inspection reveals
The camera goes in through a cleanout, usually the cap on the main drain in the basement, and is pushed toward the outlet. It can identify, among other things:
- roots that have entered through a joint;
- an offset joint, or a section of pipe that is cracked or crushed;
- a sag where water sits instead of flowing;
- grease or deposits that narrow the pipe.
The camera also records the distance to each problem. If a repair is needed, the excavation can be targeted instead of covering the whole yard.
For the French drain, an inspection is possible when the house has cleanouts. Quebec's home builders' association (APCHQ) recommends them precisely so the drain can be inspected by camera. Their absence does not in itself indicate a problem, but it is a reasonable question to ask the seller. Our article on a clogged or missing French drain describes the signs to look for.
Septic system and well: two additional checks
If the house is not connected to a municipal sewer, Quebec's environment ministry recommends, in its leaflet for homeowners, requiring an inspection of the septic system before buying an existing home. That inspection must be carried out by a competent expert, such as an engineer, a technologist or a geologist. Lenders are also asking for it more and more often.
A camera inspection complements that report by showing the condition of the line between the house and the tank, which the septic inspection does not necessarily cover. It is also worth asking the municipality what information it has on file for the system and when the tank was last pumped. Our article on how often to pump a septic tank will help you interpret that information.
For the well, the water should be tested by an accredited laboratory. The Quebec government notes that this is the only way to know the quality of well water with certainty.
Why it should be done before signing
Quebec's legal warranty against hidden defects protects buyers, but it has an important limit. As Éducaloi explains, defects that a prudent and diligent buyer could have detected are not covered. An inspection is not mandatory, but not having one can make a later claim more difficult.
For any question about the conditions in your offer to purchase, your notary or real estate broker is the right person to consult. On the technical side, when the inspection report mentions a water mark or a slow drain, a camera inspection gives you a clear answer before you commit.
How the inspection works
The property belongs to the seller until the sale closes, so the seller's permission is required. The real estate broker usually arranges this. We need access to the main drain inside the house and an indication of where the septic tank or the street connection is located. If the lot has cleanouts for the French drain, we locate those as well.
We encourage you to watch the footage with us during the inspection. The difference between a line in good condition and one that has deteriorated is easier to understand on screen than in a written report.
When to call a professional
Contact us as soon as your offer to purchase is accepted, especially if the house is several years old, if it is served by a septic system, or if the inspector noted moisture in the basement. We will schedule the visit within your inspection period. Call us at 819-428-3161 or see our camera inspection page. Our septic systems page covers our other services for septic installations.
Filed under Camera inspection · Septic systems
