Clogs and leaks can be a common plumbing problem, even for the most well-maintained of homes. While most issues may be solved with a plunger or drain cleaning, other problems may be difficult to detect until it’s too late. Sometimes you’ll need to call in for professional help, but the good news is that a plumber has the right tools to not only repair the problem but thoroughly inspect your plumbing.
How a Camera Inspection Keeps Your Plumbing Clean, Clear and Functional
A camera inspection works with a plumber attaching a waterproof camera to a sewer cable that is pushed into your plumbing. While the camera travels through your plumbing, the plumber can look inside your pipes to detect and potential problems. Your plumbing is complicated, and early detection is crucial to preventing most plumbing catastrophes. Nobody wants to deal with a busted pipe or backed-up sewage, and luckily with a camera inspection, you don’t have to. Here’s how a camera inspection can help you.
- It’s accurate. The best perk of a camera inspection is how precise it is. Since a plumber can now visually inspect your plumbing, they can spot exactly what and where the problem is. It’s a quick way to accurately diagnose the problem without the money-wasting trial and error.
- It can prevent future problems. A camera inspection can catch much more than a stubborn clog or leak. Plumbers can catch other issues such as cracks in the piping, pests, and other damages.
- It involves less labor. Plumbers used to have to dig to get at the sewer line or cut into the walls to access your pipes. Most sewer inspection cameras are fit to travel through large pipes or the smallest of drains.
When Your Plumbing Needs a Camera Inspection
Your plumbing can be complicated. Some issues happen on the surface, but everything is connected to your main sewer line, and the deeper clogs or leaks will need professional help. The trick is to know when you’ll need to call in a plumber. The good news is that there are plenty of warning signs to watch out for, including the following.
- Slow drains. If you’re having trouble with a sink, the issue may be a clog in your home’s plumbing. If it seems that several water fixtures won’t drain properly, then you most likely have a clog somewhere in your sewer line. A thorough drain cleaning with hot water and a mild detergent, or vinegar and baking soda may work, but if flushing each drain does nothing, then it’s time to call a plumber.
- Pests. Rats and bugs are never a good thing, but if your home is visited by these unwelcome pests, they may be coming from a crack somewhere in the sewer line. Cockroaches and rats can squeeze through even the smallest of gaps. If you suspect there’s a crack somewhere, it’s crucial to seal it immediately.
- Higher water bills. If it seems like your utility bills are higher than usual, the culprit could be a hidden leak. Because leaks can be small, a camera inspection will be able to accurately and quickly detect the source of the leak.
- Sewage backup. Sewage should go down your pipes, but if it winds up going the opposite direction, you’ll want to call a plumber immediately. If the sewage only backs up out of one drain, then it’s most likely isolated to that drain. If it seems like sewage backs up every time you flush a toilet or use a sink, then the problem may be much deeper in your sewer line.
- Foul odors. You shouldn’t smell sewage in or around your home. If you do, there’s probably a crack somewhere in the sewer line. A camera inspection will be quick to find where foul odors are coming from.
- Mold. If you smell something foul and musty, call a plumber immediately. Not only is mold toxic to your health, but it also needs excessive moisture to grow. If there’s mold growing in your home, there’s usually a leak that’s causing it.
- Greener, lusher grass. While your lawn may be looking good, it may be due to a leak in your sewer line or septic tank. Vegetation thrives off of raw sewage. Watch for pools of septic water that can form in your yard from a leaking sewer line.
Be Proactive with Your Plumbing
Keeping your plumbing clean, clear, and functional can be a challenge, but a camera inspection can help make it easier. Detecting problems early ensure your plumbing stays well-maintained and spares you the cost and trouble of much worse plumbing problems. Don’t wait until your pipes burst, call us today and schedule a camera inspection.
