Author: Christopher Holder

Many homeowners are concerned about the condition of their home’s sewage pipes. Without regular inspections and cleaning, these pipes may become damaged or cause costly problems.

One solution is to hire a contractor like Sewer Inspection Los Angeles to perform a sewer scope inspection. Here’s what to expect from this non-invasive service:

Sonar technology offers a powerful tool for assessing a sewer system. It uses sonar to produce a precise image of the inside of pipes by sending sound waves and detecting their echoes. The echoes are converted into electrical signals that can be analyzed by the equipment. This data is then interpreted by software to create a high-resolution map of the pipe’s interior. Using this mapping, technicians can spot problems like blockages and leaks. This helps to keep the sewage system running smoothly, minimizing overflows and other hazardous issues.

Conventional inspection methods require professionals to enter the pipe and manually check its condition, a process that is dangerous and time-consuming. With the introduction of robotic camera systems, however, this process has been streamlined and made much safer. These robots can move quickly through the pipes, taking pictures and identifying problems as they go. They can also identify the location of problems, which eliminates the need for invasive excavation. This makes them an excellent choice for routine sewage inspections, helping to minimize risky clogs and overflows.

Unlike laser profiling, which acquires a profile above the waterline, sonar technologies can scan the walls of a pipe while it is in motion. A transducer mounted to the probe emits sound waves that strike a pipe’s interior surface and then bounce off of them. The resulting echoes are converted into push variations that can be analyzed by the system’s signal processor. This process eliminates unwanted noise, enhances echoes and extracts useful information from the reflected signals.

This information is then displayed on a screen in the form of an image or graph. This can be read by an operator with headphones or a display and can help to locate objects, identify their position and depth, determine the relative velocity of the object and its movement, and even estimate its shape. It can also be used to create a 3D model of the pipe’s inner surface, which is helpful for understanding its condition and planning future maintenance and repairs.

Sonar can be combined with CCTV to create a more comprehensive view of the condition of a pipe. This allows engineers to work more proactively by evaluating flow capacity, predicting failures, and performing what-if analyses. In addition, it can be used to verify that the work done by contractors meets expectations, especially in the case of post-cleaning sonar assessments.

Video Camera Inspection

The plumbing system in your home carries fresh water to fixtures and removes waste, but it can be hard to know what’s going on behind the scenes. If you suspect a problem, you may need a plumber to snake a camera into your drain lines and take a look. Video pipe inspection is an efficient way to find blockages and determine the cause of leaks or structural damage to your pipes.

A plumber can insert a waterproof camera into your sewer lines via the cleanout access point or manhole. They will then float the camera through the pipeline and record its condition as it moves along. The footage can help a plumber to locate problems such as broken or misaligned joints, bellied pipes, and obstructions.

The camera equipment typically includes a high-definition camera with LED lights to illuminate the interior of the pipe. The technician will have a monitor to view the live feed and will also be able to record the footage for future reference. The resulting report will provide the plumber with valuable information to assess your sewer line’s condition and recommend any necessary repairs or maintenance.

When the inspector views a clog or other obstruction, they will mark its location with a paint marker. This lets the plumber know where to dig for a repair. A clog or obstruction often occurs where the pipe meets another pipe or where the slope of the pipe changes.

Over time, the soil around a pipe can compact or move, which can cause the pipe to “belly.” This will reduce its ability to carry waste and can result in a clog or failure of the joint or section of the pipe.

Leaks and structural damage in your sewer line can be very dangerous to your health and property. A video pipe inspection can help a plumber identify the source of the problem so that it can be repaired quickly and easily.

If you’re buying a new home, having a thorough sewer inspection can help you avoid costly repairs later on. Older homes with clay sewer pipes can experience damage or cracks in their lines that might not be visible to the naked eye. A visual inspection can also identify any issues with Orangeburg pipes, which were commonly used in homes built before the 1940s and are known to fail within 10 years.

Equipment Setup

The first step in a sewer scope inspection involves identifying suitable entry points into the pipes. These are typically maintenance holes or cleanouts that offer a direct route to areas of interest, such as suspected problem spots.

Then, the team will remove any existing caps or covers at these points to gain access to the piping. If a particular problem area is suspected, the inspector may decide to perform a toilet pull. This process involves removing a specific toilet close to the problem area, scoping through the drain, and then reinstalling the toilet with a new wax ring. While this is an extra cost for the customer, it allows the plumber to reach the trouble spot without causing significant damage or mess to the home.

Once the technician has gained access to the pipe, they will insert a camera attached to a flexible rod into the pipeline. As the camera moves through the pipe, it will relay video images to a monitor for your plumber to view. This gives the plumber a complete picture of the condition of the piping, including any cracks, clogs, or other problems.

A visual inspection can also reveal other conditions that might need attention, such as a tree root intrusion that’s causing a leak or a crack in the line. The inspector will be able to see all this on the monitor and explain next steps.

Generally, the inspection takes an hour to perform and will give your plumber a clear view of the condition of your sewer lines. It’s an excellent way to detect problems before they become costly repairs or cause a major backup.

Adding a sewer scope inspection service to your list of offerings can help you expand your customer base and increase your revenue potential. While the initial investment can be steep—the price for a quality camera system is about $5,000 to $10,000—your added services can quickly pay off with increased customer satisfaction and repeat business. Moreover, you can add this ancillary service to any of your regular plumbing services, making it easy for customers to schedule maintenance and repair.

Access Point Identification

Inspecting the condition of underground pipes requires special tools and equipment. One method is to conduct a sewer camera inspection. This involves inserting a small, waterproof camera into an entry point on the home’s plumbing system. The camera is guided through the pipes, providing a live feed of their condition to a monitor on the surface. This provides valuable information to inspectors, who can identify potential issues such as cracks, corrosion, or blockages.

The first step in a residential or commercial inspection is to determine the access points for insertion of the camera. Depending on the situation, this may involve removing a toilet, drain, or manhole cover. Once the access point is located, it is cleaned to remove any debris that could interfere with the inspection.

Once the access point is clear, the inspector can begin the process of running the camera through the sewer lines. Depending on the condition of the pipe, this can take up to three hours for a standard inspection. It can also take longer if there is a lot of debris or damage that needs to be removed from the line.

As the camera moves through the pipes, it captures high-definition video footage of its interior. This allows inspectors to see the state of the pipes, and it helps them find any potential problems such as clogs, cracks, or root intrusions. The cameras also record the location of any issues, allowing them to be addressed in an effective and efficient manner.

Another benefit of sewer camera inspection is that it is non-invasive and does not require excavation or trenches. This helps to save time and money for homeowners, business owners, and property managers. It also helps to protect the environment, as it reduces the amount of debris that is dug up and transported to landfills.

A regular schedule of sewer line camera inspections can help prevent future issues and minimize the cost of repairs. By identifying and addressing problems in their early stages, they can also be avoided altogether. A proactive approach to sewer line maintenance can save homeowners and businesses a lot of headaches, money, and stress in the long run.