Cameras help to pinpoint sewer line problems - big time

Yes we can peer into out-of-the-way places deep in the recesses of your sewer pipes!

At Boden Plumbing we use cameras to inspect and even videotape sewer lines. They're a real lifesaver - or at least a time and money saver, not to mention a true headache preventer, when it comes to pinpointing problems and coming up with the most effective repair strategies.

It used to be that if your plumbing was clogged, you would call your plumber and he (or she!) would come and snake the line. If all was right with the World, it would be a simple clog and rootering the line would clear it. If, however, the cable came back with pieces of root on it, things were not so hunky-dory.

If there are roots in sewer pipes, it means the pipe is cracked or broken somewhere along the line. A plumber can use the snake or other tools to clear away as many of the roots as possible, but once a pipe is compromised roots will continue to find their way in. Forever. Snaking out the line will be a periodic requirement.

And decisions about how best to repair or manage the damage are difficult - BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT THE HECK THE PROBLEM IS.

But that was then, this is now.

Our cameras function very similar to a snake. On the tip there is a small infrared camera that transmits a video feed of the interior of the pipe. We can save the feed to a video cassette or simply use the camera to inspect on the day. The camera equipment also indicates distances which means if we do see a break we'll know where along the line it occurs. No digging up the whole darned yard to repair one short length of pipe. So, yeah, these cameras are a life saver.

We like them because they take the educated guess work out of our equation. We've repaired and replaced a lot of sewer pipes and we're good at deciding how best to proceed, but we like to know we're taking the most efficient and cost-effective route to a solution. Plus, you can watch the video with us live. You see what we see. It makes our job of explaining options that much easier.

So good stuff. Keep in mind that because we can save the inspection to a tape, the camera is also a great tool for documenting the condition of sewer pipes when you're buying or selling a house.

If you have any questions, just give us a call. We're here to help.