CCTV Drain Inspections The Hills District

CCTV is a vital resource used in plumbing to identify the issue within drainage systems. Rather than speculating or excavating plumbing lines, plumbers now use CCTV drain cameras to accurately find the problem.The CCTV equipment consists of a submersible camera attached to a flexible cable, which is pushed into the pipes. The camera sends a live feed of the pipe’s interior directly to the technician. This real-time video can also be captured for later analysis, helping the plumber diagnose the issue with confidence.CCTV technology is incredibly useful and is regularly used in the following applications:

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 CCTV is inserted into sewer systems, drainage expert can find a vast range of various obstructions.

The most common things and objects that drainage specialists identify when using CCTV are: –

• Tree roots– The growth from tree roots within pipes can be extremely difficult to handle. Root systems find water and expand within the pipe system. When this happens, tree roots can clog or break plumbing systems, and CCTV hopes to locate early. –
• Solid Masses – Flushable wipes and other solid masses which get flushed down a sewer line may not break down. When this happens, clogs are more likely to occur, so CCTV will help finding where such items. -Food scraps, oils and grease – CCTV can be employed for kitchen sinks where fats, oils, and grease (FOG) tend to build up.
• Sewage buildup – CCTV sewer inspections are conducted when there is a blockage or a problem within sewage pipes. A drainage professional must inspect the system and find out what is causing a blocked drain or additional concerns.
• Cracks and holes – For repairs and general maintenance, CCTV serves as an ideal solution to detect cracks as well as holes in pipes without excavating. – Collapsed or damaged pipes – When a drainage line has collapsed and broken, then CCTV becomes an efficient and cost-effective way for identifying these concerns.

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.