Sewer and drain inspections are a very important service for
plumbing and rooter companies to offer their clients. Inspections serve multiple purposes, they can
give the customer peace of mind that there will be no problem with the affected
drain or the complete opposite; inspections can allow them to see that a more
intrusive repair is necessary. Many
companies will offer drain camera inspections as a part of clearing a
drain. This is one of the best and most
accurate methods for arranging a check up inside your pipes.
It is not a good idea to use the drain camera on a drain
pipe that is plugged with sludge, food, grease or roots. Clearing the drain first is crucial to get a
good image and recording of the inside of a pipe. A quick way to spot a rip off plumber is when
he or she offers you a video inspection before the water is drained out of the
pipes. Cameras do not get a clear image
when there is still water in the pipes so if the drain isn’t clear they could
try to sell you almost anything. Another
tip on spotting a potential scam is when the plumber uses a drain cable that is
too small or even too short to actually clear the line. The water may go down but all the yuck
remains and you can expect a sales pitch about a broken pipe because of the “dirt”
in the line.
The best way to get a clean inspection is to use a jetter or
a drain cable with LOTS of water to flush the line before it is inspected. A jetter will cost more because it actually
scours the inside pipe walls and washes the sludge out of your drains. Think of the difference between rinsing a
chili bowl with the water half on versus rinsing that same bowl in Niagara Falls. Once the line has really been cleaned the
image on the monitor will show any imperfections in the pipes accurately, talk
about peace of mind.
Prices vary from company to company and city to city. The famous $99 drain cleaning companies may
offer the video drain inspections but beware of a small upfront cost with a
heavy charge for actual repairs. Rooter
companies may charge more to clear a drain up front and less to fix it
properly. Your best bet is to look for a
licensed plumbing company that offers plumbing and drain cleaning at a price
that fits into your budget. Since most
reliable and honest companies that are licensed charge more than a handyman,
and definitely more than do-it-yourself shows tell you, do not set your budget
too low or you will be setting yourself up for a half way job for half price.
Hope all this helps.
PlumbTruth
