Homebuyers check homes for mold, leaking roofs and cracks in the foundation (among many other problems that may exist in a home). But when it comes to a sewer system and piping, a lot of homeowners aren't having their systems properly checked.

New homes may not be a concern when it comes to sewer systems, but older homes may be dealing with 100-year-old piping systems.

Pittsburgh is undergoing a massive $2 billion upgrade plan because some of the city's pipes are 100 years old. Some of the infrastructure is made of brick. Storms are leading to inadequate wastewater treatment, causing billions of gallons of water to flow into local streams and rivers.

The once arduous and costly process is easier to perform without the need to dig up pipelines to examine the integrity of a system.

"With advanced technology and eco-friendly techniques, we keep your pipes underground while we facilitate innovative methods for diagnosing problems within the pipes," claims Lonestar Trenchless.

Why Sewer Line Inspections Are Recommended

Sewer lines have changed a lot over the years. Homes built before the 1950s may have had Orangeburg pipes, or pipes that were made from tar paper. This tar paper may still be in place in older homes, but the problem is that the paper disintegrates over time.

Collapse can occur, too.

Older homes that have Orangeburg pipes will need to have the sewer line replaced.

Tree roots are another major issue. When tree roots grow into the sewer lines, they will go through tiny openings in the sewer line before expanding. The roots will then latch on to debris, causing the sewer system to suffer backups.

Chemicals may be able to kill the roots, but if the process doesn't work, the pipes will need to undergo excavation to repair the problem.

Sewer inspections are often not included with a regular home inspection, so homebuyers will have to request the inspection separately.

Replacing a sewer line can be very expensive, and if slopes occur or a pipe collapses, you may have to pay thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to remedy the problem. It's a very expensive process, but it gets worse.

There are times when a sewer line may stretch across a road to reach the city connection.

When this occurs, the homeowner will need to pay to have the road torn up and repaved, which is a major expense that most homeowners are not ready to cover.

Homebuyers also have the right to request a disclosure to see whether or not a previous homeowner had any issues with the sewer system. Owners are required to disclose any information or problems with the system before selling a home if they are aware of them.

But there's also the fact that plumbing problems often go overlooked by owners.

A home's plumbing system deteriorates over time without the homeowner realizing that deterioration is even occurring.

Proper sewer inspections will be able to determine the condition of the sewer system, locate any blockages and also determine if any of the system has caved-in or collapsed.