Because of their narrow diameters and underground location, sewer lines are among the hardest features in your home to inspect, says Pillar Property Management experts. This can pose serious problems in situations where you need to evaluate the condition of your sewer line to fix or clean it.
Without knowing your sewer line’s condition, you will be forced to fix the problems blindly or replace the sewer line. This is why sewer camera inspection is a valuable tool for managing and maintaining an underground sewer line.
What is a sewer camera inspection?
This inspection method uses a specialized waterproof high-resolution camera attached to a flexible cable inserted into the sewer line. The cable is guided into the line, allowing the camera to capture and transmit a live feed showing the sewer line’s interior to an above-ground monitor.
Because the camera can get close to the walls of the pipes, the plumber or technician can get a detailed view of the line’s condition. Additionally, the camera’s geolocation capabilities make it possible to determine the location of the problems in the sewer line with pinpoint accuracy.
Sewer camera inspection has many advantages over other inspection methods, namely;
- Sewer camera inspection is non-invasive
No digging is required. The sewer line can be accessed via a cleanout, floor drain, or toilet.
- Sewer camera inspection is visual
It is almost as if the inspector were inside the pipe. The risk that an important detail will be missed is extremely low.
- Sewer camera inspection is fast
Unlike other invasive inspection methods, you can complete a sewer camera inspection in a few hours.
- Sewer camera inspection is accurate
The camera will map the sewer line to provide the coordinates of any problem spots, even going as far as indicating the depth.
- Sewer camera inspection is versatile
It can be used for residential and commercial sewer lines and other pipes.
- A sewer camera inspection is suitable for preventive maintenance
Doing a sewer camera inspection periodically will help you preempt problems in your sewer line.
- Sewer camera inspection saves money
Because it saves time by eliminating trial and error, this method saves you a lot of money.
When should you call for a professional sewer line inspection?
When to order a sewer camera inspection
- When you are unsure of the location of your sewer line
In any situation where you don’t know the location of your sewer line, a sewer camera inspection will solve the problem. Even if you don’t know where the cleanout is, a competent plumber can access the sewer line through a toilet or floor drain to help you map the sewer line.
- When buying a new home
When buying a new home, you are expected to do a home inspection. However, home inspections do not offer an in-depth evaluation of all the systems and structures in the house. Any feature of the home that is not easily accessible (such as the sewer line) will not be inspected by the home inspector. Considering the high cost of sewer line problems, it is a good idea to do a sewer line inspection when buying a new home.
- When trying to locate clogs and blockages
If your sewer line is blocked and you want to know where the blockage is, how bad it is, and what is causing it, a sewer line inspection will help you. Doing a sewer line inspection before fixing or cleaning your sewer line ensures that your chosen solution is going to be effective.
- When there are disputes
If you argue with your neighbor about the origin of a sewage-related problem affecting your properties, a sewer line inspection can help you lay the issue to rest. Where public infrastructure is affected, a sewer line inspection can also help to solve conflicts between you and the authorities.
- When doing routine maintenance
Having your sewer line inspected on a schedule (not just when the system has problems) is one of the best ways to keep the line flowing. Annual sewer line inspections keep you abreast of problems in the sewer line. You can solve those issues before they become emergencies and improve the sewer cost-effectively.
Who should you call when you need to have your sewer line inspected?
The plumber you hire for your sewer line inspection is more important than the inspection itself. That is because the effectiveness of the inspection depends on the plumber’s ability to interpret the information they see on the screen.
When planning a sewer line inspection, you want to hire a plumber with years of experience working with the tools used in sewer camera inspections. They should also know how to deal with diverse sewer line problems.
Are you planning to inspect the sewer line in your Chicago home? Do you need a Chicago plumber who is competent enough to do the inspection and has the know-how to solve all issues uncovered during the inspection?