Why Do Plumbers Use A Camera In Your Pipes?

You know those exciting spy movies where they use a little camera through the air duct to see what the bad guys are up to?

Well, plumbing may not be as sexy as that, but we do also use cameras – most often for detecting plumbing leaks in your pipes.

Cameras Save You Money On Labour

Perhaps you’ve been visited by a plumber in the past who guesses about the issue and then starts cutting into drywall or digging up your lawn to try to find the problem.

Firstly, you’re looking at some ugly repairs, but you also need to realize that all that time they spend looking for your plumbing problem is time they’re billing you for.

When Peoria Plumbing Pros answers your call for service, we bring along the right gear to get the job done quickly – and one of our favourites is the snake camera.

Cameras Can Spot Issues Early

Our camera allows us to not just find the source of your current problem, but also potential issues that can arise in the future.

By scoping your pipes from the inside, we can easily spot cracks that are developing, deterioration, blockages and leaks.

It’s a great perspective to have, and it’s so non-invasive and quick that it’s an excellent form of preventative medicine for your home plumbing.

What Causes Plumbing Problems?

Plumbing problems are most often caused by blockages – sometimes from within the home, and sometimes from backflow from the city sewers.

Other issues can include tree roots that shift or compress pipes, or perhaps old pipes that have crumbled over decades of use.

The great news is that a camera snaked through your pipes allows us to see and diagnose all of these issues, enabling us to make the smallest of cuts or holes in your home to repair the problem.

When Should You Use A Camera?

Homeowners often have a plumbing check-up yearly, so that we can come in and catch issues before they’re the cause of huge insurance claims, and this is a great time to have a camera scope your pipes.

However, there are a few other specific times you’ll catch us pulling out the camera, as you’ll see below.

1. When Your Plumbing Is Backed Up

A backed-up plumbing system most definitely requires scoping to get to the root of the problem, because there’s a lot of pipe running through your home.

One overflowing fixture can be easy enough to figure out, but imagine when you have several all at once – this can mean a backup from the main sewer line itself.

2. When Your Drain Is Clogged

Clogs can be an easy fix, once you know what you’re dealing with and where they’re located.

This is why your plumber is going to want to measure how far away the problem is, because that will help them figure out their course of action in fixing it.

As well, the nature of the clog can help them decide which tool will handle it with the least amount of damage to your pipes.

3. Before You Buy A House

One of the most important times to have a plumber bring by his camera is when you’re buying a new house.

Home inspections often only deal with the structure itself, and don’t include a plumbing check; however, plumbing issues are some of the most stressful and costly for homeowners, so booking a plumber to inspect your potential new home is a must.

Once you have all the information, you can make your decision about whether to buy, or whether you need upgrades done before closing. Alternately, it allows you to negotiate the price if work needs doing, and the camera can help your plumber price the job accurately.

Contact Peoria Plumbing Pros

If one of these three examples describes your situation, you should call us to have a look.

We’ll be able to show you any issues so you can see for yourself before we even start the repair job.

Call now to schedule your appointment for a plumbing inspection, or reach us on our 24-hour emergency line for immediate service.

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