Is a sewer scope worth adding to the inspection in Bangkok?

T

timo.grove

Homeowner
Established
Adding the camera inspection sounds sensible given the possible downside, but I hesitate to order it automatically when there have been no slow drains or other symptoms. The general inspection is already booked for this older 135 m² Bangkok duplex, and trees stand close to the route the private line may take.

The THB 2,160,000 replacement figure was only a worst-case estimate, yet it would consume most of my reserve once moving costs and the insurance excess are allowed for. Would you first ask the inspector to check flow and visible plumbing, then arrange a scope only if those findings or the available access justify it?
 
Given the age, trees and size of the possible bill, I would add it—provided the contractor can actually reach and identify the relevant line. Ask what the fee includes, whether you receive the recording, and how far the camera can travel. Also clarify why someone has already estimated a full replacement when the line has not been scoped.
 
That last point is bothering me too. The replacement figure came up as a worst-case estimate rather than a recommendation based on observed damage. I have not noticed drainage symptoms during viewings. Would you still scope if access requires extra work, or would you start with flow testing and the general inspector’s observations?
 
No symptoms make it less urgent, but they do not answer what condition the buried section is in. I would first establish whether the duplex has a genuinely private line, where responsibility changes, and whether there is a usable access point. If those answers are vague, paying for a camera visit may produce little more than an invoice.
 
I disagree slightly with treating a clear scope as reassurance by itself. It is only a view of the reachable line on that day, and interpretation matters. Still, it could be useful negotiating evidence if it shows an obstruction or damaged section. I would compare the scope cost with your insurance excess and the cash left after the first mortgage payment, not with the frightening full-replacement figure alone.
 
Also ask the seller about recurring blockages, drain cleaning and any past excavation, without assuming the answers replace an inspection. Run water at several fixtures during the general inspection and note slow emptying, odours or unusual sounds. Those observations will not show the whole buried line, but they can help decide whether difficult camera access is worth pursuing.
 
One more practical issue: do not let furniture timing consume the contingency. A sewer finding may be manageable rather than a full replacement, but you could still face an immediate repair shortly after completion. Keep the scope report, general inspection findings and replacement estimate separate so a worst-case number does not become treated as the likely cost.
 
Before authorising anything, get the scope contractor to state the intended route and stopping point in writing. On a duplex, shared drainage or unclear boundaries could change both the usefulness of the test and who might pay for later work. That is property-specific in Bangkok, so the sale documents and someone familiar with the local arrangement matter more than a general rule.
 
My decision would be conditional: if there is accessible entry and the contractor can inspect the section you may be responsible for, scope it before committing. If access is uncertain, spend nothing until the line layout and responsibilities are clarified. Meanwhile, budget from the likely immediate repairs shown by the main inspection, while retaining an emergency reserve rather than buying all the furniture at once.
 
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