Why use a drain camera for a blocked drain?

Most plumbers can clear a blocked drain simply by feeding a plumber's eel or auger down the drain till it hits the clog and then letting it work until it clears a path through the blockage. This is very effective but the issue with this method is that it is only short-term.

Finding out what caused the blocked drain goes a long way toward making sure it doesn’t reoccur over and over in the future. A drain camera is the best tool for doing this as it provides a clear picture of the blockage and anything else going on in your drain system.

Benefits of using a drain camera

The specially designed drain camera is fed along the problem area of pipe, both before and after the drain has been cleared to provide information on what blocked the drain, as well as the best way to clear it and prevent it from happening again.

The camera can also identify the precise location of the issue, which enables targeted repairs or pipe relining services to be carried out where necessary.

Often we find other problems during our drain inspection such as cracks or partial blockages which would probably have gone unnoticed until the drain clogged up again.

Blocked drains are frequently caused by irregularities in the pipe surface which lead to debris catching as it travels past, which in turn collects more substances gradually filling the whole width of the pipe. The drain camera can pinpoint these potential snags allowing preventative maintenance to be carried out.

Another common cause of blocked drains is tree root intrusion. This is the result of small cracks or breaks in the pipe which allow nutrient-rich water to escape the drain. Nearby trees and plants can seek out this food and water source, working their root systems into the pipe through the crack. Once in the pipe, the roots can quickly grow to fill the space, often growing along the pipe for metres. As you would expect not much will pass through a tree root-filled drain so it quickly clogs up.

Unfortunately, clearing the drain only offers a temporary fix as the roots soon return through the crack.

The drain camera can be used to find and repair the damaged section of the pipe using pipe patching or pipe relining.

Ask your plumber or drainage specialist about a drain camera inspection today.