Everything You Need to Know About Sewer Cameras
So your sewer lines are acting up, and you need to get to the bottom of the problem. Have you considered using a sewer camera before tearing up your yard or paying thousands for significant plumbing repairs? These handy devices can help pinpoint clogs, breaks, and other issues in your underground pipes without the mess and expense of excavation. A sewer, pipe, or drain camera is a waterproof video inspection system that plumbers thread down into your sewer line to get a close-up view of what’s happening. The camera, attached to a flexible rod or cable, beams live images back to a monitor so you can see what’s happening beneath your feet. A sewer camera can help detect the source of a backup or leak and spot minor damage before it becomes a significant emergency. Here’s everything you need to know about sewer cameras and how they work.
How Sewer Cameras Work
Sewer cameras, also known as pipe inspection cameras, send a waterproof camera into your pipes to give plumbers a view of what’s happening there.
- The camera is attached to a flexible cable and slowly fed into your sewer line through an access point like a drain or cleanout.
- A monitor allows the plumber to see live footage of the pipe interior. The camera can pan, tilt and zoom to get a good look at every inch of pipe.
- Most sewer cameras also have lights to illuminate the dark, cramped space. Some models can capture still images or videos for review.
Benefits of Using a Sewer Camera
Using a sewer camera, a drain or pipe camera offers several valuable benefits for homeowners and plumbers.
Save Time and Money
instead of digging up your yard for access, a sewer camera can quickly and easily detect any issues within your sewer lines. This helps avoid expensive exploratory excavation and repairs. Sewer cameras are much more affordable than excavation equipment and less disruptive to your property.
Pinpoint Problem Areas
A sewer camera uses a flexible cable with a camera attached to feed down through drains, pipes, and sewer lines, allowing you to inspect the condition of your plumbing system visually. Any clogs, cracks, breaks, root intrusions, or other problems can be spotted, so repairs are targeted precisely where needed instead of replacing entire plumbing sections.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
Even if you’re not currently experiencing any plumbing issues, having a sewer camera inspection every few years is a good idea. Minor problems can often be caught early before becoming significant issues, and any necessary repairs or drain cleaning can be scheduled proactively.
What types of sewer cameras are available?
There are several types of sewer cameras to choose from:
- Push cameras are compact cameras mounted on flexible rods that plumbers manually push through sewer lines.
- Crawler cameras are self-propelled cameras that plumbers control remotely. They provide a more comprehensive range of motion and can navigate around corners and bends.
- Floating cameras are small cameras that float through sewer lines propelled by the water flow. They help inspect longer sewer mains.
Why are sewer cameras necessary?
Sewer cameras are invaluable for detecting damage, clogs, leaks, and other issues inside underground sewer lines without digging them up. They allow plumbers to perform non-invasive sewer line inspections and pinpoint the exact location of any problems. This helps reduce repair and replacement costs by enabling targeted spot repairs instead of wholesale pipe replacement.
Conclusion
So now you know everything you need to know about sewer cameras and how they work. These compact devices can give plumbers and homeowners a glimpse into the mysterious underbelly of pipes and drains without destroying walls or digging up yards. Whether you need to inspect and diagnose clogs or damage or satisfy your curiosity about what’s happening beneath the surface, sewer cameras provide an easy high-tech solution. Next time you experience plumbing issues in your home, don’t hesitate to ask your plumber about using a sewer camera for diagnosis and inspection. You might be surprised at how efficient and affordable this technology has become. Happy exploring!
