Does anyone have info on buying a do it yourself sewer camera. I need to inspect about 50 ft of sewer pipe. I do not want to spend a lot of money for maybe a one-time event. Rental is also a possibility. Ebay has a cheap 45 ft one but I know nothing about their worth. These are $100 or so. Thanks
Sewer snake camera
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Not also. About the only practical approach.
Next best is hiring someone who owns the gear (and has experience using it).
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For $100, I don't think your going to get much......
I've wondered the same thing as well....I need to scope my sewer....but if you break down the costs.........
How much does a 75' snake cost?
How much does a decent video camera with light cost?
How much does the support electronics for something like this cost?
I have a hard time believing you buy one for $100 and it wont' break off and get stuck in your sewer the first time you use it.
Just spend the bucks and get a professional to do it.....in most cases they will also give you a copy of the video....
Ask around....if your flexible on schedule, you might be able to get it done when the plumber is not busy....
One thing to remember.....figure it will take him at least 30-45 min....not including travel time....also factor in what his equipment is worth....so I personally would not be upset if the price was $125-200.....
Which reminds me....I need to add that to my list......I've got some roots blockage at the street.....makes me wonder if I can get the county to fix it if the damage is past my sidewalk....
I've wondered the same thing as well....I need to scope my sewer....but if you break down the costs.........
How much does a 75' snake cost?
How much does a decent video camera with light cost?
How much does the support electronics for something like this cost?
I have a hard time believing you buy one for $100 and it wont' break off and get stuck in your sewer the first time you use it.
Just spend the bucks and get a professional to do it.....in most cases they will also give you a copy of the video....
Ask around....if your flexible on schedule, you might be able to get it done when the plumber is not busy....
One thing to remember.....figure it will take him at least 30-45 min....not including travel time....also factor in what his equipment is worth....so I personally would not be upset if the price was $125-200.....
Which reminds me....I need to add that to my list......I've got some roots blockage at the street.....makes me wonder if I can get the county to fix it if the damage is past my sidewalk....
Thanks, I thought what I saw was an "el cheapo" that would not survive or work. Ralph
Thanks for the reply I believe you and the other member are correct to steer me away from a bad solution. Ralph
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Compare this basic professional unit to what ebay is offering
http://www.mytana.com/catalog/?m=product_detail&pc=2&c=2&p=256&tmp=/products/cart.php
http://www.mytana.com/catalog/?m=product_detail&pc=2&c=2&p=256&tmp=/products/cart.php
You are best to hire a professional that will do the job, due to they are going to recognize things better, than you can, when they are running it down the pipe. From there, they can make the decision and give you a choice in the next step. Majority of the drain issues seen, is if there are trees in the yard, their roots will seek moisture, especially like last Summer, where plumbing companies saw more issues with roots, due to the drought across the nation.
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$6595 for the 'basic system'.......?
Yea....it's going to take a few drains to pay for that puppy.....
To me, $150/hr would be a bargain....
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You can defiantly get less expensive set ups. I was just making a comparison with a cheap $100 throw away Chinese product on ebay or harbor frieght.
Greg is quite right. There are two parts to test equipment. The equipment and the person using the equipment. An inexperienced person using a sewer camera probably would not even know what they are looking at.
I use Infrared equipment on a regular basis for non destructive evaluation. Without my extensive knowledge of how roofs are put together The equipment would be worthless.
As far as cost goes, my IR camera cost $33,000.00
A decent sewer inspection camera probably costs $ 15,000.00 or so with accessories.
$100 dollars fills your gas tank, depending on your truck.
Needless to say, I would not even leave the house for $200.00
I use Infrared equipment on a regular basis for non destructive evaluation. Without my extensive knowledge of how roofs are put together The equipment would be worthless.
As far as cost goes, my IR camera cost $33,000.00
A decent sewer inspection camera probably costs $ 15,000.00 or so with accessories.
$100 dollars fills your gas tank, depending on your truck.
Needless to say, I would not even leave the house for $200.00
Yeah, I'm secretly a plastic surgeon hoping to get some business
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Hey that was DIGI !!! was that a dude or a chick. his highlighting was driving me NUTS :wallbash:
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My wife highlights her hair ......
Thanks Professor, I was going to suggest 4 lbs. or so of Comp C-4 or a 40 pound shaped charge. I think that's more on the order of what was required from the sound of it. Good pictures of clogged Galvanized pipe if they were yours. I cut a length of 2 inch out at my sisters house that looked like that, and my Dad, who is 93, sat out side the bathroom saying, "But he was a professional Plumber" "But he was a professional Plumber"
I said "Dad, being professional only means that you make your living at it, it does not mean you know what you are doing"
I said "Dad, being professional only means that you make your living at it, it does not mean you know what you are doing"
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37 Posts
how about this.
Has anyone suggested contacting the utility or public works department or whatever branch of your municipality handles sanitation and flood control for the city. Often it is a service they will gladly perform for you. And they are skilled. Rooter guys told my son his lateral went uphill where it passed underneath a mature orange tree and the tree would have to come down to replace the line. What a crock It was backed up to that point but the hairball of roots was 90 foot from the house, 60 feet past the tree. I went up just as the were getting to the part of destroy the tree roots and halted the job. Retrenched around the tree. Glued 7 sections of abs together and let them sit for a week to cure 1000 percent and then dropped it in the ditch like a solid pipe with enough flex to sweep around the tree. At its widest about 4 foot from original.put a large wrench on 90 under fdn of house to align with new 2 way cleanout and bam, few hundred later new sewer lateral. Point being, give the city a call and ask. It can't hurt.(capped old with cement)
Has anyone suggested contacting the utility or public works department or whatever branch of your municipality handles sanitation and flood control for the city. Often it is a service they will gladly perform for you. And they are skilled. Rooter guys told my son his lateral went uphill where it passed underneath a mature orange tree and the tree would have to come down to replace the line. What a crock It was backed up to that point but the hairball of roots was 90 foot from the house, 60 feet past the tree. I went up just as the were getting to the part of destroy the tree roots and halted the job. Retrenched around the tree. Glued 7 sections of abs together and let them sit for a week to cure 1000 percent and then dropped it in the ditch like a solid pipe with enough flex to sweep around the tree. At its widest about 4 foot from original.put a large wrench on 90 under fdn of house to align with new 2 way cleanout and bam, few hundred later new sewer lateral. Point being, give the city a call and ask. It can't hurt.(capped old with cement)
Thanks Dudley, No they have not. A very good suggestion. I ran a cheep snake in and do not believe I have a major problem. Thanks, Ralph
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FYI, Roto-rooter out here only charges 95 bucks to run a camera.
Unfortunately, you're tossing up whether or not you'll get any information out of that. I used them for my rental because our shop doesn't have a camera, and the answer I got out of them was "Yeah it was kind of murky so we couldn't really see anything"
What the @$^@? Unfortunately I was using a property manager at the time and he went ahead and paid the bill. I'd have told them to go pound sand.
Anyway : What's more useful in my opinion is to have a locate done on the line. They can trace the line out through your yard and once the locator won't push through any farther, they can mark it within a foot and you know where your problem is. Dig it up, figure out what's wrong and fix it. A lot simpler than what a camera can tell you about a clogged line. That is unless they can clear it first, then send the camera to see where the issue WAS.
Unfortunately, you're tossing up whether or not you'll get any information out of that. I used them for my rental because our shop doesn't have a camera, and the answer I got out of them was "Yeah it was kind of murky so we couldn't really see anything"
What the @$^@? Unfortunately I was using a property manager at the time and he went ahead and paid the bill. I'd have told them to go pound sand.
Anyway : What's more useful in my opinion is to have a locate done on the line. They can trace the line out through your yard and once the locator won't push through any farther, they can mark it within a foot and you know where your problem is. Dig it up, figure out what's wrong and fix it. A lot simpler than what a camera can tell you about a clogged line. That is unless they can clear it first, then send the camera to see where the issue WAS.
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