CCTV Drain Inspections Point Piper

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is an advanced technology utilised by plumbers to identify the source of obstructions. In place of estimating or resorting to invasive methods, plumbers now use CCTV drain cameras to precisely identify the blockage.The CCTV equipment consists of a submersible camera attached to a flexible cable, which is inserted into the drainage lines. The camera sends a continuous view of the inside of the plumbing directly to the operator. This live footage can also be saved for future reference, helping the plumber diagnose the issue with confidence.CCTV inspection is extremely valuable and is regularly used in the following situations:

Blocked Drain – when there has been a blocked drain in a plumbing system CCTV will be used to quickly find where the clog is. Knowing what exactly is blocking the system will also be easily found with the camera.

Pipe Relining – relining pipes is a service to strengthen existing pipes without the need to replace the current ones. To find potential errors in the plumbing which may interfere with the relining process, CCTV is used. A plumber will look for any cracks, holes or other defects which may prevent the pipes from being relined.

Leak Detection – if there is a suspected leak in piping networks then CCTV is perfect for finding them. From concrete slab leaks to leaks in bathrooms, combining a range of techniques with CCTV plumbers can easily find leaks.

As drain cameras is inserted down sewer systems, a plumber may find a large range of different objects.

The frequent items and materials that drainage specialists search for when utilizing CCTV include: –

• Tree roots– The growth of tree roots within pipes is often very difficult to manage. Tree roots find water then grow within drainage pipes. When this happens, tree roots can obstruct or damage pipes, and CCTV aims to detect before severe damage occurs. –
• Non-degradable waste – Flushable wipes or other foreign objects which get flushed down a sewer line may not break down. As a result, clogs are prone to occur, and CCTV can help pinpointing the exact location of these obstructions. -Food scraps, oils and grease – CCTV can be employed for kitchen sinks to identify areas where food scraps, oils, and greases can accumulate.
• Sewage buildup – CCTV drain services are used if there has been an obstruction as well as an issue inside wastewater systems. A plumber must navigate the system to determine what is causing a blocked drain as well as additional concerns.
• Pipe fractures – For repairs and preventative maintenance, CCTV is an ideal solution to detect small fractures as well as holes in plumbing systems without excavating. – Collapsed or damaged pipes – When a pipe collapses or suffers damage, in such cases CCTV is an efficient and cost-effective method to locate such issues.

Plumbers will utilise CCTV due to it having many benefits and advantages over other plumbing methods. From finding leaks to seeing how badly a drain is blocked, the main benefits which come with CCTV drain inspections are:

• Accurate and effective – with the live footage a plumber can accurately find what is inside of the plumbing. The whole drainage system, from its infrastructure to its damage, will be found with CCTV. Finding contents inside the drain or the condition of the plumbing will also be accurate. The camera removes any need for guesswork which leads to resolving a problem easier.
• Non-invasive or non-destructive – to see if pipes were broken or blocked previously excavating the pipe or performing other destructive measures were needed to access the pipe. CCTV completely removes the need to destroy the ground or clear other items in order to look inside of a pipe.
• Efficiency – CCTV is both cost effective and time effective when compared to other methods of looking inside drainage. The process of phishing a camera inside a pipe and finding the problem is quick and easy. There is much less labour work needed and excavating is not needed meaning it is more cost effective.

Based on our consultation with a variety of Sydney plumbers, an average CCTV drain inspection service can cost from $300 and range up to $1350. However, there are multiple reasons why the inspection service can vary in prices, but the general steps include:

1. Accessing the drain and inserting the cameras within the plumbing
2. Handling the CCTV to run through the piping system and inspecting for issues
3. Once finished with the inspection return the drainage as it was and create a report of the findings

If there were potential issues, obstacles or other concerns causing the job to be more difficult or harder to complete then more tools and labour will be needed which can increase the costs.