[Chris_Luttrell]

Hey Guys, what are your Pro Tips for using an inspection camera?

Not brand specific, but how you deal with things like stuck heads, getting around difficult bends without kinking the rod, maintenance, getting past obstructions, pushing long distances, and any other advice you might have for newbies.

If it's ok with management, I'll run a contest and after a few weeks I'll draw the name of a contributor, and the winner gets a $100 Amazon Gift card and a stylish Hathorn ball cap. ;-)

Does that work?

 

[OpenSights]

Dawn dish soap.

 

[hewhodigsholes]

I'll cut a slit in a length of pex tubing and slide it over the rod to attempt to free a stuck head. Otherwise it's locate and excavate.

10 mil tape wrapped around the head can help it get past a difficult bend. Other times I'll tape it to a small jetter hose and drag it through a long or twisting run.

Probably my best pro tip is go slow in cast, and if you have the slightest doubt that it'll make past that bend or hole, don't even try.

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

This is great stuff guys, many thanks!!

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

Anyone have a work around for the dreaded 4" Cast P Trap?

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

I'll cut a slit in a length of pex tubing and slide it over the rod to attempt to free a stuck head. Otherwise it's locate and excavate.

10 mil tape wrapped around the head can help it get past a difficult bend. Other times I'll tape it to a small jetter hose and drag it through a long or twisting run.

Probably my best pro tip is go slow in cast, and if you have the slightest doubt that it'll make past that bend or hole, don't even try.

For sure, and the slower you go the less likely you are to kink the rod!

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

Dawn dish soap.

Al kinds of situations where this would come in handy.

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

I'll cut a slit in a length of pex tubing and slide it over the rod to attempt to free a stuck head. Otherwise it's locate and excavate.

10 mil tape wrapped around the head can help it get past a difficult bend. Other times I'll tape it to a small jetter hose and drag it through a long or twisting run.

Probably my best pro tip is go slow in cast, and if you have the slightest doubt that it'll make past that bend or hole, don't even try.

The tape is great idea. I've heard of guys tying a string to the head so they can turn it in the direction they want to go.

 

[Debo22]

Flush a toilet, when you see the water passing the camera head start pushing.

 

[MACPLUMB777]

Make a circle with the push rod, that then allows you to rotate camera head by turning first one way a few turns then back

 

[hewhodigsholes]

Anyone have a work around for the dreaded 4" Cast P Trap? View attachment 132392

Sawzall and a repipe! 😆 I'd hesitate to send a $12k rig through any trap, but if I had to I'd probably try the jetter trick.

The tape is great idea. I've heard of guys tying a string to the head so they can turn it in the direction they want to go.

We use the electrician "mule tape" for this purpose.

 

[OpenSights]

Make a circle with the push rod, that then allows you to rotate camera head by turning first one way a few turns then back

Done that…. But I don’t recommend it….

 

[sparky]

Anyone have a work around for the dreaded 4" Cast P Trap? View attachment 132392

Hydraulic cement,a libral amount

 

[dhal22]

Anyone have a work around for the dreaded 4" Cast P Trap? View attachment 132392

Ridgid Microreel............ We've got 3 of them.

 

[jakewilcox]

Don’t try to put your camera through a p-trap. It either will kink the rod going in or it will get stuck on the way out. You need to install a clean out of you want to do that.

I also find the shotgun shell type signal generator on the end of some kind of rodder or even sewer rods to be helpful for locating.

Water flow in the pipe helps. I do this a lot especially when I have a client around so that they can see bellies and pooling, also broken joints.

Go slow. And if you force it, you will break it.

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

Some great advice guys, keep it coming!

How do you guys get a camera down long lengths? Like 200' plus?

 

[dhal22]

Pull it with my jetter.

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

Pull it with my jetter.

Nice, do you jet the length and then camera on the pull back?

 

[dhal22]

Sorry, pull the camera while jet is under power. Just tape the camera to the jet hose and away you go.

 

[Chris_Luttrell]

Some great advice guys, keep it coming!

How do you guys get a camera down long lengths? Like 200' plus?

Does anyone flush a cord down to the next cleanout and then pull the camera down the line?