At one time the only way to figure out what was wrong with a damaged or faulty drain pipe was to snake a wire down it and feel around, taking your best blind guess, or to just dig the whole thing up to inspect it, a big mess to say the least! Now things have improved thanks to modern technology, and we can quite easily look deep inside a pipe to assess the situation!

CCTV drainage surveys are a process in which a specially designed camera is sent down the drain to make an up-close inspection. The camera is able to send a feed of live footage to a screen monitored by plumbers who can examine the pipe’s interior up close! If this sounds like it might help your plumbing problems, just ring up the experts at Thunder Plumbing to come visit your home and deploy their cameras down your pipes to figure out what the problem is and to offer up a solution! 

Some of the most common problems they are liable to find in your drainage system include:

Tree Root Infestation – We love our trees, but if we let them grow to close to our pipes there is bound to be trouble! Tree roots are the leading cause of drain blockages and damage to pipes, they grow down as the seek water and put pressure on the pipes which causes cracks to grow through, after which they expand causing more breakage and blockages. A CCTV survey report will show you exactly what is happening down there, and a course of remedial action can then be accurately decided upon.

Drain Blockage – Pipes degrade and crack over time, allowing mud and dirt to seep in and fill them up. Couple that with the grease and fat we allow to wash down our sinks and pretty soon you have a big sticky mess that water can no longer pass through so it backs up, leaving you with a big sticky mess in your kitchen! A CCTV survey can identify these problems quickly and allow the plumber to choose the best solution.

Broken Connections – The earth shifts over time, even if we don’t usually feel it happening. Seismic events and the vibrations of nearby heavy construction can cause the connections between pipes to come loose, and even break completely, allowing the water to leak out into your grounds, and dirt and debris to enter the pipeline. If you look out on your garden to find it resembles a swamp, then you probably have broken connections in your water system. Once again, a CCTV drain survey will quickly and accurately discover the source of the problem so repairs can be made! Click here for common features you will find in a townhouse community.

Collapsed Sewer – Over time the weight of the ground above your sewer, especially if it is not drained properly making it wet and even heavier, can put enough pressure on your sewer to collapse it. This is a very serious problem because of the environmental concerns due to the toxic nature of sewage. Your best option here is to send in the CCTV drain survey to see how bad things are, and what might be done to stem the unpleasant tide!

Damaged Pipes – As we have already discussed, tree roots, shifting ground, foreign materials from sinks, and other disturbances can weaken and even break pipes. No material will last forever, including old-style metal pipes and their newer plastic replacements, they are bound to degrade, deteriorate, and eventually disintegrate to the point where they crack or rupture. Your CCTV drain survey will give you a worm’s eye view of the problem!

The CCTV drain survey process is now used by Australia’s local governments because of its effectiveness. This is one camera that doesn’t take pretty pictures, but it will make you smile!