Is sewer inspection necessary?
Whether you already own a home or you are planning to buy a home, you might want to consider a sewer inspection, which is a simple process using a sewer inspection camera. Even if you aren’t having any issues with your sewer lines getting an inspection should be a part of your regular plumbing maintenance.
With a quick and easy camera inspection, you’ll be able to find out if there are any leaks or damages to the sewer line that needs to be repaired. The sooner you find issues like leaks, the better. Letting repairs go unchecked for too long could lead to costly repairs or replacements later on. Because sewer lines are underground, one particular problem is tree roots that can get into your sewer lines and over time expand and cause blockages that can cause major problems, and often require the pipes to be replaced. An inspection allows you to find out if have problems with tree roots and deal with them quickly and effectively.
If you are buying a home, a sewer camera inspection should be included with your overall home inspection. You don’t want to discover after you’ve bought the house and settled in that it has major problems with the sewer lines. With an inspection, you may be able to get the seller to repair any problems or negotiate the price if problems in the sewer line exist.
Sewer camera inspections are quick and effective ways to ensure your sewer lines are free of problems. Give the experienced team at James Armstrong Plumbing a call at 214-918-6109 to schedule an inspection today.
What Is Sewer Camera Inspection?
Using a specially designed waterproof sewer inspection camera, plumbers are able to snake the camera through your sewer lines to check their condition. With a sewer camera inspection, a plumber can get a real-time video feed from the line and detect problem areas such as leaks or blockages from debris or tree roots. The cameras are attached to flexible lines and can go anywhere you have piping, including underground or behind walls. Inspections are especially useful as part of regular plumbing maintenance or when buying a home.
Drain and Sewer Camera Inspections
Sewer inspection cameras aren’t used just for sewer line inspections. Today, for plumbers video cameras are as valuable tools as wrenches. Besides being able to find leaks or blockages in your sewer lines, cameras can be used throughout your plumbing system. They are especially effective at finding clogs, in particular when it comes to underground pipes of any sort, including under the foundation.
Foundation problems are a big concern when it comes to plumbing. A plumbing leak that forms under your foundation can cause major problems including a foundation shift. Your foundation can also be affected if you don’t have a good way to drain water off your roof and away from the house. Damaged or clogged gutters can affect drainage and require gutter repair and installation services to come and clean or replace them.
Cameras give plumbers a real-time look at your plumbing lines, so any problems can be assessed immediately. For instance, when they detect a clog deep in a drain line, they can quickly determine the best course of action to clear the clog.
How long does a sewer inspection take?
The length of time it takes for a sewer inspection can vary. Some can take as little as five minutes, not including set-up time. The inspection could take longer if any problems are detected. Much of the time required will depend on how much piping is present.
How much does a sewer camera inspection cost?
When you get a sewer camera inspection, expect to pay anywhere between $226 and $791. In some instances you may end up only paying around $100, depending on the service. You may wonder if you want to do the inspection yourself, “Can you rent a pipe camera?” Yes, there are services available that allow you to rent a sewer inspection camera. Rental costs about $200. Using a sewer inspection camera can be complicated, however, so you may want to hire a professional for the job.
What is the best sewer camera?
There are several sewer inspection cameras on the market today and can cost anywhere between $90 to more than $3,000. Different cameras have different roles and use. Plumbers may use one of three basic types of sewer cameras, depending on what kind of service they’re performing. Types of sewer inspection cameras:
Crawlers: These are cameras that are mounted on motorized wheels, and can change angles to examine pipes more thoroughly. These cameras often give plumbers greater visibility.
Push cameras: These cameras are the simplest, and the ones plumbers use for basic checks, such as when you know which pipe has a problem. The cameras are attached to flexible lines and pushed through the pipes.
Lateral launch cameras: With these cameras, a secondary camera can be launched from the primary camera to explore pipe branches. The plumber can inspect the entire system with this type of camera.
