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How Endoscopes Are Used in Plumbing

How Endoscopes Are Used in Plumbing

Unlocking the Power of Plumbing Endoscopes: The Benefits, Uses, and Best Practices

A plumbing endoscope is basically a long, snake probe with a tiny camera at the end. It allows plumbers to have a real-time look at what's going on in your pipes. Plumbing inspection cameras are equipped with bright LED lights that illuminate the inside of the pipe to reveal any cracks, clog sources, or structural problems. 

Sometimes plumbing cameras include a radio transmitter inside the camera that records the underground depth and precise physical location of any defects or obstructions in the pipe. This allows plumbers to accurately diagnose problems and present cost-effective treatment or repair options for their customers. 

Plumbing endoscopes can save a lot of time and money because usually, the alternative is to dig up the whole pipe to see where it’s leaking - a very labor-intensive and destructive process.

Advantages of using endoscopes in plumbing

Plumbing endoscopes take photos and video of the insides of any pipes that you insert them in so they can give you a lot of information about the health of your plumbing system. Plumbers use these tools to get to the root of the problem faster and also to spot issues before they would otherwise be noticed - for instance you can inspect your drain pipes and see if they are filled with roots before you even have a leak. This can give you some time to prepare your budget for what can be an expensive repair. Plumbing endoscopes also locate the problem quite accurately so the plumber knows where to dig and saves time and money by not digging up other areas - this is especially important if the leak is under a foundation. The more accurate the diagnosis, the quicker the fix can be employed; and that also means a safer work area.

How endoscopes are used in plumbing

Pipes can get clogged for many reasons including tree root infiltration; a broken, cracked, or collapsed pipe; major blockage of grease, sediment, or paper; or sagging pipes, causing buildup & eventual blockage. Pipe inspection cameras can help a plumber make an accurate diagnosis of an expensive problem without invasive and destructive inspection. Some may question, “is a pipe inspection camera worth it?” but keep in mind the alternative is to dig up the whole pipe to see where it’s leaking - a very labor-intensive and destructive process that can be quite expensive.

The role of digital endoscopes in plumbing

A sewer inspection camera is a tiny and flexible camera attached to a cable, much like a drain snake (there are snake cameras for plumbing too). Sewer camera inspection services can use the snake with camera to get to the point in a pipe where a clog or break may exist in the hopes they can remedy the problem with as little invasive behavior as possible. Instead of digging up the whole pipe, the plumber can just dig up where the leak or break is. Often, a digital endoscope includes a monitor, or digital screen, where the plumber sees the live view from the camera and can record photos or video to a memory card.

Choosing the right plumbing endoscope

The camera plumbing inspection cost can vary depending on who you call and also the type of property you have as well as if it’s commercial versus residential, but they tend to range between $125 and $1,000, which is much less than the labor to dig up an entire underground pipe. They typically vary in diameter and length as well as the size of the monitor that you see the camera live-view in. If you are in the market for the right plumbing endoscope make sure it is designed to fit in the diameter of pipes that you need to inspect. Some plumbing endoscopes have exchangeable probes so you can use them for small or large-diameter size pipes.

Maintaining and caring for plumbing endoscopes

It’s fairly easy to take care of a plumbing camera. They can get dirty and wet on the job so it’s important to clean and dry them off. Take extra care to use a clean microfiber cloth when you are wiping the lens part of the scope so it doesn’t get scratched. Don’t use any solvents to clean the lens that is stronger than isopropyl alcohol. If you are sure everything is dry and clean, store the plumbing endoscope in its case out of direct sunlight.

Training and certification for plumbers using endoscopes

Operating a plumbing endoscope is fairly simple, but it can be more difficult to insert the probe into certain pipe systems than others depending on how the pipes are configured. Identifying what problems exist inside the plumbing is really where the need for a professional plumber comes into play. It can be dirty and disorienting inside a sewage pipe so you want a trained plumber to have eyes on the scope monitor looking for any issues. Also, it takes some training and knowledge to locate where exactly the problem is located in the pipe system relative to the ground it is under - this will help accurately determine where to dig a hole if that is necessary.

 Why Plumbers Should Use Endoscopes

Plumbing endoscopes allow plumbers to accurately diagnose problems and present cost-effective treatment or repair options for their customers. Plumbing endoscopes can save a lot of time and money because usually, the alternative is to dig up the whole pipe to see where it’s leaking - a very labor-intensive and destructive process. Plumbing endoscopes are a very valuable tool for any modern-day plumbing operation. Teslong makes a range of plumbing endoscopes for different sizes of pipes and lengths. Purchase a Teslong endoscope today! Whether you want a simple USB scope, wireless WiFi model, endoscope camera for Appleendoscope camera for Android, or a complete stand-alone unit, Teslong makes an plumbing inspection camera to suit your needs.

 

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