Why A Pipe Inspection Camera Is The Best Type Of Inspection Camera For Plumbing Work

While you can buy relatively inexpensive inspection cameras to look in drains or through holes in the wall, they're not the best tools for inspecting pipes and sewer drains. Instead, you need a pipe camera that has a long tube that can advance the camera dozens of feet into the pipe. Plus, a pipe inspection camera is more durable and sturdy so you get clearer video of the inside of the pipe. Here are some additional useful features of a pipe camera.

It's Self-Focusing And Self-Leveling

Newer pipe cameras create color video that makes identifying cracks and tree roots easy, but your customers will have a difficult time understanding what they see unless the video is clear and as steady as possible. While the picture will be somewhat jerky because the camera is pushed through the pipe, when the camera self-levels itself it's easier to make sense of what you see. You and your customers can track the bottom, tops, and sides of the pipe to better assess the damage that's found.

Video Can Be Stored Or Transmitted

While you can watch the video in real time as you push the camera through, a good pipe camera allows you to store the video so you can give the customer a copy. The camera may even have Wi-Fi capability so others can watch the video live on a smartphone while the inspection is in progress.

A Transmitter Can Be Fitted On The Camera

Once you insert the camera into the drain, you can lose track of its location underground. You may know how many feet it's advanced, but the direction of the pipe and its depth are a mystery. If the camera finds a crack, this information won't do much good if you still have to dig up the yard to find the damaged area. That's why pipe cameras have transmitters on them. When you find part of the pipe you want to work on manually, you can locate it by moving a detector over the yard until it picks up the signal from the camera. Then, you can mark the exact spot of the damage and you'll even read its depth so you know the best way to dig down and reach the pipe.

Pipe cameras are rugged since they work in harsh environments and they have ample cable that can be wound on a roller and pushed through the yard for easy use. If you work on plumbing or if you just provide inspection services, a pipe or sewer camera is what you need. Other inspection cameras have their place, but they don't have the necessary features to reach pipes deep underground and return high-quality video.