A pipe camera inspection can serve many purposes when it comes to maintaining your plumbing. Knowing what they are can ensure you schedule an inspection when it is needed most.
1. Locate Drain Clogs
It's not always enough to know which pipe is clogged, sometimes you need to know the exact location. This is especially true if traditional augers have failed to clear it completely. Your plumber can feed a camera down the pipe and then use a GPS locator unit to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. This way the proper tools can be deployed to clear the leak without any damage to the drain pipes.
2. Determine Blockage Reasons
If a blockage keeps returning, it may be time to determine what is causing it. Problems like tree roots will keep coming back, for example, and sometimes they can do so rapidly. Clogs could also be caused by a habit or product in the home, such as someone flushing hygiene products or flushable items that really shouldn't be put down the pipes. Finding the reason for the blockage means it can be treated properly or the habits can be changed so that clogs stop occurring.
3. Assess Water Line Condition
Pipe cameras aren't just for drain lines. If you have older water pipes in your home, or if you have been having issues with the water lines, a camera inspection can help. Your plumber can determine the materials used for the pipes, as well as check their basic conditions. Issues like rust, corrosion, and mineral buildup can be spotted with a pipe camera. Then, your plumber can clean out the pipes and replace those that are rusting away before they spring a leak.
4. Locate Pipe Damages
A damaged drain line may not always be immediately obvious. Clogged pipes can be caused by a collapse or a break that has allowed soil into the pipeline. You can try to clear it, but it will keep coming back. Large gaps or breaks could also lead to leaks, which you may not notice right away if they are in the yard. Your plumber can spot potential damages and then locate them for repairs.
5. Locate Lines
Sometimes you simply need to know where the plumbing lines are. For example, if you will be digging in your yard or cutting into a wall. The pipe camera is equipped with a tracking unit. The plumber feeds the camera into the pipe or line and then uses a handheld locator to map the route of the line.
Contact a plumber if you need to schedule a pipe camera inspection.
What was the first thing you did when you got up this morning?
If you answered "go to the bathroom," "get a drink of water," or "brush my teeth," then it's important to realize the role that a plumber has already played in your day. The plumber who installed your plumbing made that morning routine possible! Some other plumbers may have worked on the system over the years, also contributing to your experience. Plumbers have a bigger impact on our daily lives than we often realize. In fact, that's one reason we write this blog — to make our readers more aware of their plumbing.