Sewer line camera inspection uses a tiny camera mounted on the end of a cable that can be inserted into the pipes to view the sewer’s interior without the need for expensive excavation. It not only provides an accurate and precise picture of your sewer problem but also enable you to have a closer look at it. However, sewer line camera inspection can’t detect every potential of your pipes due to certain reasons. Below, we have shed light on what this innovative technique can and can’t do.
What a Sewer Line Camera Inspection Can Identify
The location of sewer lines: Sewer cameras have attached location devices that can send out signals to the recipient above ground, which further helps the plumber to pinpoint the exact location of sewer lines.
Slow drainage and blockages: The sewage runs through the pipes using the power of gravity. When something like dirt, hair, grease, waste, debris penetrates into the sewer line, it may slow down the draining process or start to back up due to blockage in the sewer. The sewer camera can be used to detect the exact cause of blockage so that the plumber could implement the best strategies and practices to eradicate the issue.
System type and materials: Since sewer pipes are underground, determining the type and material of plumbing system is kinda hard. A sewer line camera inspection can help you identify if your pipes are made of PVC or cast iron.
Structure and connections: With a sewer camera, the plumbers can view fittings, tees and all other types of connection in your plumbing system. It also allows them to check from which line water comes and where it further flows.
What a Sewer Line Camera Inspection Can’t Identify
The only thing that sewer line camera inspection can’t detect is the location of a leak. The main reasons behind this are:
- A leak is water escaping the pipe through a crack or a hole. Since the camera is inside the pipe, it can’t detect if something is leaking out of the pipe.
- The leakage in the pipe is caused due to many factors like pipe collapse, clogs and blockages, tree root invasion, and dirt and debris accumulated in the lines. Meanwhile, the plumber is at ground to interpret or guess what they are seeing on the monitor. This can make minute leaks hard to identify.
- The material of the pipes used for sewage is very thick, so it can be difficult to determine if the crack or hole seeing by the plumber is really a leak or not.
To Sum Up:
Sewer line camera inspection is a highly effective and safe way to view the interiors of underground sewer pipes, but is important to bear in mind that this technique can’t detect leaks. To meticulously inspect the condition of your sewer, approach the plumbing experts of a leading company.
