A plumbing system is essentially like a building’s blood vessels. It’s responsible for providing water and carrying away waste. Without proper plumbing, it would be difficult to function in our daily lives. That’s why it is extremely important to inspect your plumbing system regularly, and plumbing inspection cameras can help make the job easier and faster.
Who and Why Would You Need a Plumbing Inspection?
Before we get into plumbing inspection cameras, we should cover why plumbing inspections are even needed in the first place. Every building should make use of plumbing inspections. It doesn’t matter if the building is a residential home or a corporate skyscraper; if a building has a plumbing system, then it requires routine checkups. Regular plumbing inspections are necessary to ensure your pipes are in good health and operating smoothly. Even new plumbing systems can run into issues such as leaks, pipe corrosion, clogged drains, etc.
One plumbing problem may seem like a harmless thing, but putting off a repair could end up costing you a fortune in the future. For example, one small leak has the potential to cause severe water damage and mold growth which could destroy the building’s structure. Plumbing inspections are critical to catch issues early on before they spiral into something bigger.
What Does a Plumbing Inspection Cover?
It’s recommended that homeowners schedule a plumbing inspection with a professional when they do a home inspection to make sure that every part of the home is in good shape. Here are a few things that a plumber will check when doing a plumbing inspection:
- Kitchens: When inspecting kitchens, the plumber will check the kitchen faucet for any signs of a leak and monitor the water pressure. They will also look at the exposed pipe underneath the sink for any corrosion and check the drain for any heavy grease buildup.
- Bathrooms: In the bathroom, the plumber will inspect the water shutoff valve for any signs of wear, which is common due to the high water pressure. They will also check for any toilet leaks and see if any of the toilet parts need replacing.
- Exterior & Below: Below and on the exterior of the building, the plumber will look for any signs of water leaks that may be damaging the foundation. Additionally, they will look for gas leaks which could become dangerous.
- Water heater: Leaks from the water heater are a frequent cause of flooding and water damage. During plumbing inspections, the plumber will make note of how old the water heater is and identify any potential issues so that they can be addressed soon.
Plumbing Inspection Cameras
The best way to carry out a complete plumbing inspection would be to use specialized plumbing inspection cameras. These are essentially unique cameras that are designed to be inserted down pipes to assess what is going on below the surface. These devices consist of a camera that is attached to a long, flexible cable and connected monitor that will display the camera’s footage. When a plumber does an inspection with a plumbing inspection camera, they will snake the camera down the drain remotely and oversee what is happening through the above-ground monitor.
Uses of Plumbing Inspection Cameras
Even though plumbing inspection cameras are useful, they are not a catch-all solution for every problem. One thing that you should keep in mind is that these cameras alone cannot locate a leak in your sewer line. The reason for this is because the camera is only able to see what is going on inside of the pipe so it won’t be able to see any water leaking from the outside. Additionally, the interior of pipes tend to be extremely grimy so it’s difficult to be certain that what you’re looking at is actually a leak. If you suspect that there might be a leak, then solely relying on a plumbing inspection camera is not enough.
Even though a plumbing inspection won’t be able to spot a leak on its own, there are many other things that they can do:
- Locate lines: These cameras are equipped with location devices that will send out a signal so that the user will be able to detect where the camera is underground.
- Detect drainage issues: If you’re having drainage issues, then plumbing inspection cameras will be able to determine the cause. Common causes include buildup, mud, extensive root growth, clogs, etc.
- Determine system type: They can also see if a plumbing system is made of PVC or cast iron, which may affect performance and durability.
- Uncover system connections: With a camera, plumbers will be able to see exactly where water is flowing to/from and how extensive the connections run.
Benefits
This type of camera is extremely useful because they make plumbing inspections quicker and less invasive. Before these cameras came into existence, plumbing inspections were an inconvenience because they required trenching. Sewer lines are located below the building’s foundation so getting access to the pipes involves penetrating through layers of concrete and dirt. This means that you would have to hire someone to come out and dig up your property just to even take a look at your pipes. If the problem wasn’t your pipes, then you would have sacrificed your time, money, and beautiful lawn all for nothing.
Trenching requires a lot of time and effort so plumbing inspections were seen as a last resort. Because of this, a lot of people shrugged off seemingly minor issues which turned into bigger problems that required more costly repairs. Plumbing inspection cameras eliminate the need for trenching so plumbing inspections are easier to do and more accessible. Instead of having to dig up layers of dirt, a camera can be inserted down an opening to reveal just as much as trenching would have. Plumbing inspection cameras save you time since you don’t have to dig anything up and it saves you money because it allows you to find and take care of any detected issues quickly. Oh, and it also saves you from having an ugly yard.
If you’re interested in seeing just how a plumbing inspection camera can make your life easier and your pipes safer, then contact one of our sales consultants today.
