How Camera Drain Inspection Saves Time and Money on Plumbing Repairs

Camera Drain Inspection is one of the most cost-effective methods to examine drain line issues. Camera Inspections are used to detect problems ranging from slow draining and clogged lines to more severe issues such as tree root infiltration or corrosive breakdowns in older piping. Drain clogs can lead to sewage backups and overflows, which can cause costly damage to flooring and other property. Left unchecked, clogs can lead to odors and infestations that will drive down the property value. Identifying the issues before they get out of control can prevent bigger problems and financial burden to the property owner.

Prior to the use of drain cameras, plumbers would have to dig down to piping to determine the cause of the issue, which often led to unnecessary destruction of floors, walls and landscaping. Now, through the use of specialized cameras, plumbers are able to inspect drainage issues without affecting the property, allowing the owner to make informed decisions regarding repairs.

Thermo Elite Inc. is one company that performs these inspections and diagnostics; their services aid in the timely identification of problems that could worsen and drive up the cost of ownership.

The purpose of this article is to review the technology behind camera drain inspections and explain the benefits of utilizing these services.

Video images are transmitted to a monitor as the camera moves through the drainage system. This allows the technician to evaluate the condition of the inside of the pipe and identify defects.

Camera inspections may help to identify:

Obstructed pipe sections

Misaligned pipe joints

Tree roots

Cracked pipe sections

Rodent Holes

Pipe corrosion and deterioration

Sediment buildup

Other obstructions

There are traditional ways of troubleshooting a problem with a plumbing system, but not all of them can help identify the exact cause of the problem or what should be repaired. Traditionally, symptoms of a problem with a plumbing system are investigated and then repaired, but not all symptoms help identify the underlying cause.

The use of a drain camera to examine a problem with a plumbing system can help to identify the problem and the cause. This can help provide a more targeted solution for the problem rather than a band-aid solution for the symptoms.

Why it saves money: Accurate diagnoses reduce the need for unnecessary labor, repeated service visits, and ineffective repairs.

1. Lessen Unnecessary Excavation and Property Damage

Traditional drain repairs often require excavation to access the pipes. While excavation is often the last step in the repair process, it should not be the first.

Camera Drain Inspection allows technicians to identify the general location of defects and decide whether excavation is necessary.

Camera Drain Inspection is especially helpful when dealing with properties that have paved driveways, landscaped gardens, tiled floors, finished basements, etc.

For example, a homeowner who is experiencing drain backups repeatedly, needs their drains cleaned. Instead of excavating the entire drainage route to locate the blockage, a technician can perform a camera drain inspection to locate the blockage.

Excavation may still be necessary. If the camera inspection shows damage to the drain, the excavation and repair can be focused on that general area.

This can reduce disruption and the costs of excavation and restoration.

2. Speed up Troubleshooting

Plumbing problems become annoying and increase the loss of time. In a residential setting, blocked drains can disrupt normal family activities. Blocked drains in a commercial setting can affect the normal business activities.

The use of Camera Drain Inspection in the troubleshooting process provides immediate feedback and facilitates quick decision-making.

Rather than spending a lot of time looking into different possible causes, a technician can take a look at the pipe and check for any visible signs of damage or blockages.

Examples of problems like this include:

Persistent toilet blockages

Slow draining showers

Backed up kitchen sinks

Problems with the underground sewer line

Multiple blocked drains

Bad drain odors

For businesses, faster determination of the problem may mean fewer disruptions for customers, employees and tenants.

Although the exact time it takes to do an inspection is relative to factors like the length of the pipe, accessibility, and how bad the problem is, a visual inspection usually expedites the process.

3. Prevent Small Problems from Becoming Expensive Repairs

Small problems with a building’s drainage usually turn into larger, more costly issues if not addressed.

Think of it this way, if there is even a small crack in a pipe, over time, soil and/or tree roots can invade the pipe and obstruct it. Likewise, if fats, oils and greases accumulate in a pipe over time, that could also lead to an obstruction.

Inspections can help find problems before they lead to an unexpected failure.

It is suggested that a drain camera inspection be completed if:

Drains become clogged often

Multiple fixtures have slow drainage

Bad odors persist

There are mature trees in the area

There is a history of issues with the building’s drainage

Repair issues persist after they have previously been addressed

An inspection does not always avert issues, but it may provide information on possible defects that should be fixed first.

4. Improve Repair Accuracy and Reduce Repeat Callouts

 Mishandled repair jobs can escalate costs when the root cause of a problem has not been diagnosed correctly.

 One example is blockages, which can be cleared to restore water flow. However, if tree roots or other blockages cause a reduction in the pipe's diameter, flow may not be fully restored, and the blockage may reoccur.

 This is why Camera Drain Inspections are valuable in differentiating a blockage from a more serious issue with the drain pipe.

 After reviewing the footage, the technician can explain the findings, and possibly determine the next best step to resolve the issue. This may include drain cleaning, root removal, localized pipe repair, or pipe replacement.

 The recording can also help property owners and/or plumbers understand the issue with the drain system.

 The more information available, the better the decision that can be made to resolve the problem. While not all inspection methods can guarantee a permanent fix, identifying the root cause of a problem can help reduce the risk of money being spent on repeated, temporary fixes.

5. Protect Residential and Commercial Properties

Drainage system issues affect more than just the home. Office buildings, commercial and industrial properties, and rental properties can also be negatively impacted by drainage issues.

Drainage failures at home can impact the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry. Drainage issues in a commercial or business property can also impact operations, hygiene and the customer experience.

Camera Drain Inspections can help property managers examine recurring issues or assess the condition of the drainage system.

Investigating repeated blockages due to grease and food waste buildup is something all restaurants should look into. Property managers may use inspections to help with drainage issues in older buildings. Prospective homeowners may want to have an inspection done before they purchase the property, if they notice any issues or have any concerns with the property’s underground drainage system.

How often an inspection is needed will depend on the age of the building, how it’s used, the condition of the pipes, and how old the pipes are.

6. Understand the Role of Thermo Elite Inc.

Thermo Elite Inc. specializes in inspection-related services to identify concealed problems in buildings. They use a variety of diagnostic methods including thermal imaging, to assist in investigating conditions that may not be apparent with a routine visual inspection.

It's important to know that thermal imaging and drain camera inspections are different diagnostic methods.

Drain cameras are used to examine the interior of a pipe. Thermal imaging, on the other hand, is used to detect abnormal surface temperatures to help determine if there are concealed conditions, like moisture.

Thermal imaging may be useful to help determine if there are abnormal conditions in the building, and help to narrow the scope of the problem. A drain camera inspection would help determine if there is a blockage or some other visible condition in the drain.

Depending on what the problem is, a variety of diagnostic methods may need to be used to gain a better understanding of what's going on with the property.

When a property owner needs a specific service, they should verify the company they're considering has the appropriate equipment and expertise to do the job.

7. What Happens During a Camera Drain Inspection?

The following is a description of the camera drain inspection process, and gives the homeowner an understanding of the process.

Step 1: The technician reviews the symptoms, including blockages or odors.

Step 2: Access

The technician finds a location where they can access the drainage system.

Step 3: Camera insertion

A camera is inserted into the drain line to view the condition of the interior of the line.

Step 4: Camera review

The technician reviews the camera footage to determine the cause of any drain blockages, cracks in the line, roots in the line, or other abnormalities of the line.

Step 5: Results

The technician reviews the results and gives their findings to the homeowner and makes recommendations.

Step 6: Repairs

The homeowner decides on the extent of repairs, including a general cleaning of the line, or localized repair of the line.

The complexity and price of the drainage system will also impact the final price.

8. When Should You Book a Camera Drain Inspection?

Drainage concerns should be investigated before they result in an emergency.

Investigate drainage concerns if you experience blockages, slow draining, or have other symptoms that affect multiple fixtures and result in the need for repeated plumbing repairs.

A camera drain inspection can be useful to evaluate the conditions of an older property or provide peace of mind when investigating a known issue prior to purchasing a property.

If wastewater is backing up considerably, sewage is overflowing, or there is an imminent threat of property damage, a plumbing professional should be contacted without delay. Often, a diagnosis will include a camera inspection. However, there are some situations that require immediate action before other repairs can be done.

Conclusion

Inspecting drains with the help of a camera is a good way to take a closer look at clogged or broken drains to more accurately assess and address the problem. It can even help identify visible damage.

This type of plumbing inspection provides visual information about blockages and damage, allowing the plumber to come up with an effective solution to address the problem.

From the home or business owner’s perspective, the key advantages include timely identification and repair of clogged drains, reduced property disruption and a decrease in the risk of paying for repeat, short-term solutions to drain problems.

Other inspection related services we offer, such as thermal imaging and thermography, can help provide information about hard to find problems on a property. These work in a different way and serve a different purpose than plumbing related issues.

 If you are having drainage problems, contact a qualified plumber to see if a camera drain inspection would be useful in your case. Catching and addressing these problems early can help you protect your property and help manage your property drain maintenance costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What problems can Camera Drain Inspection identify?

Camera Drain Inspections can identify accessible blockages and other issues such as tree root intrusion, cracked pipes, joints and pipe defects, corrosion, and other drainage defects.

2. Does camera drain inspection always require digging?

It is generally not necessary to excavate to access the drain. The camera can usually be inserted through existing access points. Excavation may be necessary to access drainage pipes if the inspection indicates that repairs are needed.

3. Can the use of a drain camera prevent plumbing problems?

Drain cameras can be used to find the cause of recurring blockages. Preventative action can be taken to address defects.

4. Is camera drain inspection appropriate to use on commercial buildings?

Yes. Camera Drain Inspections can be used to diagnose drainage issues on any kind of building including residential, commercial, and industrial.

5. Is Thermal Imaging the same as camera drain inspection?

No. Thermal Imaging and Camera Drain Inspection are not the same. Thermal Imaging determines surface temperature patterns and creates images of those patterns. Those images may represent and show differences in hidden conditions.