Express Sewer & Drain Blog

It is often difficult to determine how severe sewer pipe damage is and where pipe damage is located without the use of pipe inspection cameras. If your home’s subterranean sewer pipes have been compromised by intrusion, poor installation, or natural elements, then contacting a trained plumbing specialist to inspect your pipes is a crucial first step.

We are going to walk you through CCTV sewer inspection and outline the cost, time, and environmental benefits so you can decide if sewer camera inspection services are right for your needs.

What is a CCTV Sewer Inspection?

Closed Circuit Television Video (CTTV) sewer inspection refers to the process of using a camera to see inside of pipelines, sewer lines, or drains. CCTV cameras allow plumbers to see the root causes of sewer issues without needing to conduct more invasive methods like digging or removing walls or flooring to gain access to plumbing. 

These types of sewer inspections tend to be a more cost-effective way to pinpoint the location of sewer and pipe blockages.

CCTV video cameras can help homeowners find the exact cause of sewer damage, including:

• Root intrusion
• Earthquake damage
• Pipe cracking
• Offset joint pipes
• Corrosion
• Deterioration over time
• Poor installation or previous repair efforts
• Accidental puncturing
• Severe blockage

How Does a CCTV Pipe Inspection Work?

Each professional plumbing company may have a different CCTV pipe inspection process. At Express Sewer & Drain, we use equipment vans manufactured by CUES, the standard for closed circuit television video (CCTV) pipe inspection.

The robotic, remotely controlled CCTV cameras, supported by high-quality CUES software, are inserted through existing sewer entry points in pipes anywhere from 1.5” to 72” in diameter. The thorough self-propelled cameras can even inspect adjacent sewer laterals up to 80 feet.

Once the cameras are inserted, we are able to see a precise picture of your sewer pipe's condition so we can detect any severe damages located inside.

Our CUES cameras use the following functions to help us identify pipe damage areas:

• Automatic and remote (manual) focus
• Manual zoom up to 40x (optical and digital)
• Iris control
• Directional lighting capabilities for pipes anywhere from 6” to 48” in diameter

The CCTV inspection process is usually fast, and you'll have an answer about the repair solutions we suggest in no time. 

Why Should You Opt for a CCTV Video Inspection?

Using video equipment during preliminary inspections has many benefits to homeowners. Here are some of the reasons why you should go with a plumbing professional that uses CCTV video for inspections:

They Are Affordable.

Pipe repair experts can help homeowners dealing with damaged sewer lines identify the most affordable repair solution possible. In many cases, repairing the entire length of an underground sewer pipe is unnecessary. Repairs can then be focused on the damaged section only, reducing the cost – and the time – it takes to fix the pipe.

They Are Environmentally Friendly.

There is no digging involved in CCTV pipe inspections. This means that plants, shrubs, and other natural elements won't be affected in the inspection process. 

They Identify Problems Quickly.

You can ensure that a CCTV inspection will isolate the plumbing issue right away. This is because the cameras used for CCTV inspections can check the whole pipe, thereby reducing guesswork to allow plumbing professionals to identify root causes and issues.

In one visit, you can get expert advice on a solution for your pipe and make a plan to fix faulty pipework.

The only way to know what the best solution is for your damaged sewer pipe is by contacting a professional plumbing service in your community, who can use CCTV video inspection equipment to determine the exact extent of the problem.

Call Express Sewer & Drain For Your CCTV Inspection & Sewer Line Repair

As Sacramento’s trenchless pipe repair specialists, we use CCTV every day to run sewer inspections and evaluate pipe damage to provide members of our community with long-lasting repairs at the most affordable prices.

Contact our expert team at Express Sewer & Drain to help you deal with a damaged underground sewer pipe! We'll find the best restoration solution available and we may be able to save you thousands of dollars on your overall pipe repair costs.