Lights! Camera! Sewer! When Do You Need a Plumber to Use a Video Scope?

If your plumber suggests the use of a camera in their services at your home or business, don’t worry, it doesn’t mean they are trying to go viral on TikTok with a #plumbinglife post.

It does mean, however, that your plumber wants to use the latest technology of plumbing video scoping or camera line inspections which can be an efficient way to diagnose problems and can save homeowners and business owners time and money.

“Nowadays, a plumbing camera is a must-have device in any plumber’s toolbox,” says Fiberscope.

Plumbing video scopes or line cameras can not only pinpoint where an exact problem is but can also identify potential problems before they occur, saving homeowners and business owners the costs of future property damage.

“These systems can help visualize clogs and damage to pipes and sewer systems quickly in residential and commercial buildings,” says Fiberscope.

A Plumbing Picture Could be Worth … Thousands of Dollars!

Sewer line replacement costs on average $5,000, according to This Old House, so if your plumber can identify problems and repair them before your system needs replacing, it can save you thousands of dollars.

“Video pipe inspection can reach the lines within a house and extend as far as the intersection of a sewer line to the municipal main,” says SoftDig.

In the past, plumbers might have had to tear into or make holes in walls, floors, and ceilings to search for an issue.

“Rather than digging up the entire length of a pipe to find and fix the problem, fiber optic video cameras are used to inspect inside the tube or sewer line,” says SoftDig. “These special cameras are a really valuable tool for underground utility location because they can pinpoint damage or blockages even within the cement or under the foundation.”

How Plumbing Video Scoping Works

Video scoping technology can inspect pipes and lines that are even smaller than a half-inch in diameter.

Here is how they work, according to SoftDig, a utility locating and subsurface utility engineering company:

• Video pipe inspection is performed using a high-resolution video camera connected to a flexible fiber optic scope.

• The camera is durable and waterproof so it can be used for even the toughest jobs.

• An LED light on the end of the inspection rod makes it possible to see along the inside of the pipe or space being examined.

• The pipe is flexible enough to bend around curves and corners.

• Your plumber above ground uses a monitor to watch the live video feed as the camera travels the length of the pipe.

• Video footage is collected on a file for future use and record of the procedure.

• Video scoping tools can also be fitted with a transmitter which will allow for the marking of a problem above ground at the exact spot where it occurs.

Once your plumber performs the video scoping, they can advise you on the best course of action to fix your problem or address an issue before it becomes a problem.

What Type of Problems Can Video Scoping Spot?

There are many problems and issues that plumbing video scoping or camera line inspections can spot:

• Seals, joints, and/or pipes that need repairing because of foundation shifting.
  
  
• Corrosion and deterioration of pipes that will eventually lead to leaks.
  
  
• Tree roots that are obstructing, and sometimes growing, inside your pipes.
  
  
• Debris, waste, and other foreign materials clogging your lines.
  
  
• Valuable items that have been lost such as rings or other jewelry.

Sometimes your plumber will recommend the use of video scoping or camera line inspections if you have experienced repeated clogs, backups, slow draining, or other issues.

“When sinks, drains and bathroom appliances frequently drain slowly or get backed up, the issue probably lies beyond your indoor plumbing. Rather than continuing to waste money and time having the pipe freed only to get obstructed again, it’s better to locate the blockage and fix the problem entirely,” says SoftDig.

Some home buyers when purchasing an older home might choose to have a plumber perform a video scoping to find any potential problems that need to be addressed in the sales contract.

SoftDig says if your plumber suggests video scoping or a camera line inspection you can expect the following advantages of using the technology:

• It’s less expensive than exploratory excavating.
  
  
• Reduced labor and time are needed to conduct repairs.
  
  
• Repair interventions are cheaper and less intrusive.
  
  
• Emergency situations can be resolved quicker.
  
  
• Better planning is possible knowing the location, cause, and size of the repair.
  
  
• Some potential problems can be prevented entirely.
  
  
• The need for maintenance or cleaning can be verified in advance.
  
  
• Leakage can be prevented before it becomes hazardous and difficult to fix.

Contact Pilot Plumbing today if you have #plumbingproblems in your North Houston and Montgomery County residential, commercial, or multi-family building that can benefit from the use of the latest technology in the trade.