The Pros and Cons of Video Sewer Line Inspections

When facing a complex decision such as buying a home, who among us hasn’t resorted to the age-old list of “pros/cons” to help sort out the best approach. During the process of choosing a home inspections, it makes good sense to walk through pros and cons of a video camera sewer line inspection.

What is a video sewer line inspection?
Cameras have come a long way in recent years. With video sewer line inspections, a trained plumber threads a lengthy fiber optic cable with a tiny camera and light deep into your home’s main sewer line. While the camera winds through the drain line, the plumber looks for signs of pipe decay, poor joints and tree roots. A well-trained plumber will also review pipe’s general condition, assessing any sludge accumulation. At the same time the video is in progress, you are able to watch progress on a computer monitor. Upon completion, the plumber provide an indication of the overall condition of the line and potential repair needs that may be needed.

Savvy home buyers recognize that such inspections are a good bargaining chip when negotiating a sale price on a used home.

Pros
• Provides a visual assessment of a pipe that can be buried four or more feet underground.
• Allows you to see if tree roots have invaded the sewer line (a common problem in older Cincinnati neighborhoods or new homes with Weeping Willow and Sycamore trees)
• Permits you to see the extent of the damage from invasive tree roots (e.g., can the roots be cleared by hydro-jetting or chemicals ($) or does the sewer line need to be excavated and replaced ($$$)
• Assists with identifying the age of the tile, based on the material of which the tile is made (clay tile, iron, or PVC). Once the age of the tile is know, the expected life expectancy of the tile can be determined.
• Pinpoints the location of trouble spots, eliminating unnecessary excavation/landscaping repair.

Cons
• The camera only picks up images inside of the pipe, external cracks will not be captured on the video.
• Pipes must be flushed and flowing before use, otherwise it can be a challenge to get a clear picture in murky water.
• Video cam scam artists are out there. A video of your sewer line is an asset (an a valuable tool in negotiating a home’s final sale price), but beware of scammers trying to sell someone else’s video re-run to you.
• Senior citizens are easy targets for unscrupulous ‘handymen’ attempting plumbing. Be suspicious of questions along the lines of “are you widowed?” and “Is your husband home?”

 

Call or Contact  the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.

 

It’s not a movie you’ll want to make popcorn for, but it’s an award-winning way to solve a stinky situation.

If you are experiencing sewage backups at the lowest level drains in your home or business, Allied Reddi-Rooter’s drain camera can roll in the tightest spaces and identify blockage due to waste, foreign objects and tree roots. A video camera can also identify cracks in your tile or main drain line (typically from freeze-thaw action, excavation, old pipes or connections that have become loose over the years. Once the problem is identified, the professionals at Allied Reddi-Rooter can determine the best course of action to resolve the issue.

The Best Cincinnati Plumbers Use Video Cameras
At Allied Reddi-Rooter, our video equipment can search up to 400 feet of pipe, working within pipe diameters as small as 2 inches. To locate underground pipes, we use a transmitter that sends a signal from the camera head to an above-ground ‘signal reader’ tells the plumber where the line is, what direction it lies, and how deep the line is buried. In this way, we can determine exactly where your pipe is, and minimize the digging needed to repair the problem.

Water You Waiting For? If you notice signs of abnormal flow in your sewer or drain line (e.g., bits of brown chunks and toilet paper around a low-lying drain), call Allied Reddi-Rooter at 513-396-5300. We’re available 24/7 to help get your urgent water issues resolved quickly and cheerfully. Call for a free quote, or Contact us to receive a free quote.  We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.