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A sewer line video inspection isn’t just a smart phone on a long selfie stick! They use special-purpose high-tech equipment with some amazing capabilities. Once rare, sewer cameras are now pretty common. And a big plus for our customers. Residential and commercial plumbers like us use models designed for lines from around 2 inches to 8 inches, but utility companies have cameras sized for sewer lines as large as 3 feet in diameter.
A Video Camera and More
Designs range from a small camera on a short cable suitable for scoping out drains to advanced wheeled mechanisms with lots of special features. All designed for operation under water… and worse. Today’s plumbing cameras typically feature
- a high-resolution color camera,
- powerful lights, and
- a self-righting mechanism so that up is always at the top of the image.
Some also include a radio-frequency transmitter to aid in location so we’ll know the location and depth of anything we find.
The cameras themselves can cost as little as a few hundred dollars. But the special cables can cost thousands. Why? They’re more like a flexible rod, capable of pushing the camera down the sewer line… and reliably pulling it back. Plus they can be hundreds of feet long.
The Many Benefits of Video Inspection Services
Have a total blockage? Repeat backups? A sewage leak? With a real-time look throughout the length of the line we can accurately diagnose the problem without digging. That saves time, keeping costs and disruptions to a minimum. You’ll know in advance what you’re getting into. We can identify the following, and more.
- What’s causing a blockage — whether that’s tree roots, a foreign object that got flushed, or just heavy deposits of grease and gunk.
- The condition of the line itself such as corrosion cracked or collapsed pipes, and separated joints.
- Any problems with sags or slopes that collect grease, debris, and grime that sooner or later lead to clogs.
So with any sewer problem, they tell us all we need to know in order to determine the best solution. A follow-up sewer camera inspection verifies that cleaning and repairs are complete. And a sewer line inspection is also a good idea for home buyers — they’re not normally included in the home inspection.
Eliminating guesswork can be a huge win. Consider that the worst-case scenario — a line replacement involving full trenching under a driveway, walkway, patio, garage, or floor often runs $25,000. But a short spot repair is just a small fraction of that. Whatever’s necessary there’s no need to take our word for it. You can have a look at the video yourself.
Sewer Cameras – ASAP Drain Guys & Plumbing
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