Perimeter Drain Camera Inspections
Camera inspections of accessible perimeter drains across Greater Victoria, the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo
A perimeter drain is a perforated pipe laid around the outside of the footings. It collects groundwater before it can build up against the foundation and carries it away from the house. On Vancouver Island, where the wet season brings months of steady rain, it is one of the hardest-working parts of a home, and one of the least visible.
Because the pipe is buried, you usually only find out it has failed when water shows up in the basement or crawlspace. A camera inspection lets you see inside the drain first. Perimeter drain camera inspections are an optional service I offer across Greater Victoria, the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo.
Many older homes in Victoria and up-island were built with clay or concrete drain tile, laid in short sections. Over the decades, joints shift, sections crack, and tree roots find their way in through the gaps. Newer homes usually have plastic pipe, but silt and fine soil can still wash in and settle, especially where the drain has little slope.
Roots are a common cause. Cedars, maples and hedges planted close to the foundation send roots toward the moisture in the drain, and a pipe that is partly blocked slows down long before it stops. When the drain can no longer keep up, water pushes against the foundation and finds its way in.
During a home inspection I note visible signs of water trouble, and thermal imaging and moisture meter readings can show damp areas you cannot see. Consider a camera inspection of the perimeter drain if you notice:
The camera goes in through an accessible clean-out or opening in the drain system. Many homes have clean-outs near the corners of the foundation; some older homes have none that can be reached, and I will tell you if that is the case.
A specialized drain camera is pushed along the pipe while I watch the live picture. I look for roots, sediment and silt, standing water, crushed or separated sections, and places where the pipe sags or changes direction.
I document what the camera found and explain what each concern means in plain language. If the drain needs cleaning, repair or replacement, I will recommend that you have a drainage contractor quote the work.
Replacing a perimeter drain means digging around the foundation, so it is far better to know about a problem before your subjects are removed than after you own the house. A camera inspection gives you something concrete to discuss with your realtor and the seller.
For more on what drains do and what can go wrong, read my article on perimeter drain inspections on Vancouver Island and my guide to moisture and rot in coastal BC homes. You can also see all my services, including radon testing, or my page for home inspections in Nanaimo.
Call Adam at 250-213-1699 to book a perimeter drain camera inspection.
and you deserve to know it before you buy.
Because every home has a story and you deserve to know it before you buy.
Schedule NowAdam was knowledgeable and thorough, with all of the right equipment. After he inspected the inside and outside of the home, he sat down with us and our realtor to talk about what he found and explained why it was important (or if it was not an issue as well).
Brenda Deacon
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Adam was awesome! His thorough inspection really made us feel confident throughout the home-buying and price negotiation process. The walkthrough and report were very detailed and easy to understand. He patiently answered all of our questions.
Megan Kamachi
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As a senior doing renovations on a rental home on our property I called Lockwood Home Inspections to be assured of proper workmanship. I found Adam to be prompt, courteous and respectful. It was a rewarding experience witnessing his professional attitude.
Jeffrey Stubbs
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