How Plumbing Cameras Work

by James Nyffeler

Uses of Sewer Cameras

Sewer camera inspections are part of routine maintenance. Plumbing crews use plumbing cameras before or after sewer cleaning, or in the event of a pipe rupture, blockage, or sewage backup. Broken pipes can cause raw sewage to flow down the drain, threatening the health and safety of our communities. Depending on their size, these issues can become emergencies that require immediate resolution. It is a good idea for property owners to have their lateral pipes cleaned and inspected on a regular basis. This maintenance helps prevent small problems from turning into disasters.

Composition of sewer camera

  • HD camera head: mounted on a flexible guide head to capture HD images inside the pipe.
  • Controller: used to control the movement of the guide head and camera.
  • Traction cable: used to transmit the image signal captured by the camera and control the movement of the camera in the pipe.

The work process is outlined as follows:

  1. The operator places the plumbing camera into the pipeline through the entrance or inspection well of the sewer.
  2. The camera captures the situation inside the pipeline in real time and transmits the image signal to the display on the ground through the traction cable.
  3. The display allows the operator to view the situation inside the pipeline in real time. Such as cracks, blockages, corrosion and other problems.
  4. In this way, the inspector can clearly observe all the details inside the pipeline. So as to effectively evaluate the health status of the pipeline.

Sewer cameras offer the following advantages:

  • Safety: The primary advantage of plumbing cameras is its safety. As it eliminates the need for manual entry into the pipeline, thereby mitigating the risk of accidents.
  • Efficiency: Long distances of pipelines can be inspected expeditiously, providing instantaneous feedback.
  • Accuracy: The high-definition cameras employed in this system are capable of capturing detailed imagery, thereby enabling precise diagnostic assessments of any issues detected.

This technology finds application not only in sewer inspection but also in the inspection of large-caliber and complex-structure pipes, such as urban sewage pipes and gas pipes.

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