Tips for Using a Sewer Inspection Camera Properly

Tips for Using a Sewer Inspection Camera Properly

Utilizing a sewer pipe inspection camera can revolutionize the way you approach stubborn clogs and concealed drain issues, but possessing the finest equipment is merely half the battle. To really maximize your investment, you require intelligent methods and maintenance. Utilize these vital tips to keep your camera in prime operating condition and provide shining images every time.

1. Never Use Short, Fast Motions

One of the most common mistakes when using a plumbing camera in a drain or sewer is moving too fast in an effort to be able to turn the insertion probe around corners and bends. What you are more likely to end up doing is damaging the sewer camera lens even further. Instead of this, you must push slowly and carefully along the sewer pipe or drain. This way, you will not have a sewer inspection camera that will malfunction, which would need repairs that would cost you hundreds of dollars to accomplish.

2. Never Use Force with Your Sewer Camera

As much as a sewer pipe inspection camera is made to endure most of what you will encounter in the sewer or drain, you will still need to be as delicate and as gentle as possible. You should never use force in any situation. Through the use of force, your pipe camera lens and cable can be badly harmed, thereby resulting in costly repairs and downtime that deprives you of income from other sewer inspection projects.

3. Don't Keep the Sewer Camera Under Water All the Time

Though a sewer inspection camera is designed to go into an area that is used for nothing other than to transfer water from one place to another, that does not automatically mean that it is completely waterproof and resistant.

Regardless of whether you have an open-reel sewer camera or a closed-reel sewer camera, the sewer inspection camera tubing is water-resistant, but you do not want to keep it saturated in any fluid, and absolutely not for an extended period.

Second, sewer cameras should be stored in a dry and shaded location away from direct sunlight when not actually in use on a sewer and drain cleaning job. This is because if you don't, the steady sun rays will crack your lens on your sewer camera and any adhesive backing material.

4. Always Stand Beside the Drain Opening

When you are busy with the procedure of placing a sewer pipe inspection camera, you will have to make sure that you are always positioned beside the drain through which it is going.

You will also have to be kneeling beside the drain opening as you do this drill. Otherwise, you will be damaging the plumbing camera by pushing it into the drain. Apart from that, you also need to keep your hand held close to the drain hole or sewer so that while pushing the forward insertion probe, your hand does not move backward. Reeling can cause kinks and damage your sewer camera if you stand to insert the tube.

5. Avoid exposing your Sewer Inspection Camera to Heat

The other safety feature you need to remember in your sewer inspection camera maintenance is not to expose it to over 80 degrees C or 176 degrees F of heat.

You cannot do this because your sewer camera can be severely damaged. None of your plumbing cameras should be exposed to unusually extreme temperatures. All the same, you must take a look at your individual unit's manual so that you are able to determine what the heat resistance requirements of your unit are so that you are able to determine exactly when you need to take it out so that you are able to protect it.

Conclusion

Becoming a master at maintaining and operating your sewer pipe inspection camera with locator translates into fewer expensive repairs, longer equipment life, and improved inspections. Treat it gently, be patient, and handle it like the valuable tool that it is. It will pay you back with years of consistent, top-of-the-line performance.