There is practically no work or trade, both at home and in the professional environment, wherein certain circumstances our access area is a confined space, where visibility and accessibility are severely obstructed.
In these and many other cases that we will mention next, an inspection or boroscope camera provides the ideal solution, not only because it makes the task easier, but also because it avoids having to carry out expensive dismantling work or resorting to specialized personnel.
Although the trade has inspection chambers specially designed for sewage work, ventilation ducts and various applications in the aeronautical industry, the simplest and most economical equipment can provide satisfactory results in a wide range of situations.
Only one camera with a flexible cable long enough (for example, 120 mm) is enough for a good range, provided with a powerful LED light in the head, a screen resolution of 320 x 240 pixels (or 640 x 480 pixels in models) more complex that offer video recording), connectivity to a computer to view the images on our monitor and process them, save or print them for later use and, if possible, include useful accessories such as a magnet, a mirror and a hook.
Some boroscópios, in addition to these requirements, have a cable and submersible head, which makes the instrument is perfectly suitable for work in wet environments and underwater.
The multiplicity of uses of an inspection camera of these characteristics is notorious because it allows us to visualize, for example:
- Electrical and plumbing installations in inaccessible places (walls, ceilings, floors, etc.)
- Places located behind or below objects that are difficult to move (for example, furniture, refrigerators, washing machines, etc.)
- Heating/air conditioning ducts or around a heat exchanger
- Interior of pipes and artifacts such as water heaters, kitchens, etc.
- The arrangement of cables connected to the back of the equipment
- Hidden leaks and leaks
- Presence of moss or other obstructions in storm drains
- Insect and rodent infestations
- Hidden sensors in the engine of a car
- Around corners or through small holes
- Recover small magnetic objects, such as nuts, bolts, washers, screws, as well as personal items such as rings, small bracelets, jewelry, etc.
An inspection camera is also extremely useful in welding, painting and general mechanics workshops to perform inspection tasks in search of defects, for example, surface defects, porosities, cracks, corrosion, burrs, delaminations, bumps, leaks, losses of protective coatings, deformations and wear.
Situations that require pipeline camera inspection
1- Find the cause of a waterlogging
The pipe camera inspection is used to find out why a pipe is clogged. The expert will look for traces of abrasion and corrosion that show that the installation is weakened. A pipe inspection by the camera will be ideal to know its state and estimate if it is necessary to carry out work.
When the piping shows cracks or is broken in a specific place, the expert can understand why the water is not draining in the right way. Visualize the state of the sewers will inform him about the causes of the problem of his client. A liner can be decided to remedy the situation without starting long and expensive work.
A network inspection dripping by the camera is a good technique to identify subsidence and infiltration. This device capable of moving in all the pipes will offer quality images that will then be exploited. A state-of-the-art inspection camera inspection with a screen reveals if roots are interfering with the normal flow of the pipeline.
2- The verification of the septic tank
When the septic tank overflows or no longer evacuates, it will be necessary to know the exact reason to be able to act accordingly. A pipe camera inspection is required to learn more. This professional tool will be convenient to know if the septic tank needs to be thoroughly cleaned. A pipeline camera inspection for a state check with the screen will be the key to understanding the origin of the obstruction.
The canalization inspection by the endoscopic camera makes it possible to know if the septic tank is full. A purge and a complete cleaning can then be programmed. If a malfunction exists, this tool that allows viewing the interior of the septic tank will be the key to the right intervention.
3- Inspection of the sewer system
All sewage from the house passes through the sewers, so it is important to be able to keep them in the best condition. If a plug is created in the network, it will prevent the normal evacuation of water. They can even go up in housing, which is particularly unpleasant.
An endoscopic camera channeling inspection from our plumbing company in Brussels will help to know the exact condition of the sewers. It is introduced by one end and then is piloted with remote control for real exploration.
Thanks to a good length of cable, it is possible to go very far in the pipeline. The pipeline camera inspection will allow studying the entire sewer system. The professional who intervenes in the capital of Belgium will be able to find what hinders the normal use of the sewers.
4- The search for leakage
When a certain amount of water is discovered around a sanitary installation, a leak can be envisaged. A pipeline camera inspection for a leak search will be a way to find the starting point of this problem very precisely. Offering clear images of piping, our plumber will understand what the problem is and plan an intervention.
With 360-degree viewing, it will be easy to check every inch of a pipe for cracks or problems that may explain the leak. Finding a small leak will prevent the problem from getting worse and cause much greater damage.
5- The search for poor workmanship
When the piping has been installed incorrectly, leaks will occur. Problems with the flow of water will indicate that a larger problem is causing plumbing problems. A pipeline camera inspection will verify if the installation was done in the best conditions.
The pipeline camera inspection for a fault-finding allows realizing the defects. When our licensed plumber gets the pictures, he can figure out what’s causing the problem. By accurately locating the problem area, he will be able to put in place the necessary work for quick restoration.
6- Obtain a complete plan of the drainage network
When building a dwelling, a complete tracing of the drainage network is necessary to know how sanitary facilities are to be connected. The pipeline camera inspection will allow us to create this plan and be able to carry out the construction in the best conditions.
7- A verification inspection after the works
When an unblocking has been done, or a leaking plugging has been done by our team of professional plumbers on Brussels, it is important to check the result. A pipeline camera inspection for waterproofing will then be useful to assure the customer that everything is perfect and that he can once again enjoy his sanitary facilities.
A pipeline camera inspection for a screened status check is one way to ensure that work has been done properly. We offer serenity to all inhabitants of the Brussels area through this stage.
Practical examples
The application of some of the uses mentioned above will allow us to appreciate more clearly the versatility of the inspection cameras. We must bear in mind, however, that none of these instruments is designed for applications in humans or animals, and certainly, its use in these cases can be dangerous. With the proviso, the possibilities of application in the industrial sector, commercial and within the area of institutional research, development, inspection, instruction or works of artisans or mere amateurs, are endless. Let’s see some concrete examples in which an inspection camera will save us time and money.
Example 1: How to recover a small object that fell through the bathroom sink?
The moment we see that a useful object such as a key to a lock, for example, falls through the drain of the lavatory can be devastating. Calling a plumber could involve considerable waiting time and the disbursement of an onerous sum, especially if it is an emergency situation or during non-commercial hours, such as at night or on weekends. Rather, we can try to recover the lost key on our own.
Generally, unless it is a very particular construction, the drains of a lavatory are connected to the water pipe through the tube whose shape we see in the figure below.
That is to say, that tube creates a “trap” or siphon, where very possibly our key has been trapped. If the microscopic head does not enter the drain, we must remove it. If it is a metal part, we simply make a lever movement with a suitable screwdriver until it is removed. If it is screwed, we use the screwdriver to loosen the screw.
Once we are sure we can access the drain hole with the borescope, we connect the magnetic accessory to it, turn it on and carefully slide the cable down the drain. As soon as we visualize the key, we simply point the magnetic attachment towards it until it sticks to it. We turn off the camera, remove the cable from the drain and we will have our key recovered.
We only need to replace the drain cover and we will see how easy and economical it was to be able to solve a problem.
We can use a very similar procedure to remove other small metal objects from any other type of drain, for example, from the bathtub or a kitchen sink, patio, etc. or even a toilet or grid, thanks to the submersible feature of the cable and the camera head.
If the object is not metallic, then we can use the hook accessory, which is also usually included with the inspection camera or boroscope.
Example 2: How to extract dead rodents from a ventilation duct?
If in our home or place of work we perceive a foul odor that comes from the roof and worsens over time, it is most likely that there is some vermin or dead rodent trapped somewhere in the network of ventilation/air conditioning ducts. It is not strange that these animals inhabit this type of structures, since they are cool in summer and warm in winter, and also, not only offer protection against predators, but they are also close to food sources inside the home or place of work.
Therefore, if we suspect that there is a dead animal in the pipeline network, an inspection camera will allow us to check it easily.
We simply place ourselves in the area where the smell is strongest (our first “inspection” tool, before using the camera) and with a screwdriver remove the closest grids. Then we turn on the boroscope and insert the cable through the hole where the grid was.
We may need to try other places and remove other grids. Finally, when we have located the dead animal, we attach the hook element to the inspection chamber to bring the animal closer to the grid. When it is within our reach, we turn off the camera, remove the cable from the area, put on protective gloves and deposit the animal in a garbage bag. Finally, sprinkle the area with disinfectant.
We can use this technique also to extract nests of birds hidden in other pipelines, gutters, drains, or chimneys, for example.
Example 3: Why is it convenient to use a boroscope in a car?
Both professional mechanics and amateurs find great use in an inspection chamber because they can thoroughly examine all the components of a car, either directly introducing the boroscope head in the spark plug holes, in the exhaust pipe, the tube of the radiator, etc., or by directing the head towards areas of difficult access, such as the lower part of the chassis or the sector of the board below the steering wheel; all without the need to adopt uncomfortable positions or to have to slide ourselves under the car.
With a boroscope we can inspect, among others:
- Valves to verify the corrosion, integrity and normal wear of the joints.
- Pistons and piston rings to check wear and losses.
- Welding, castings and any type of gasket, lines and fuel tank, as well as exhaust lines to assess their condition.
- Interior of lower panels and body in search of rust and damage.
What is even more attractive is that we can take images and keep a visual record based on these images, both for personal control and, if we are mechanical, to share it with clients, in a way that allows them to have a clear understanding of repairs or necessary corrective measures in the maintenance of your vehicle.
As we have seen, these are just a few examples of how much we can do with an inspection camera. The panorama expands if our house is built with the dry system (“drywall”) and we want, for example, to install telephone wiring, Internet, a home theater system, etc. behind the walls.
For this, nothing better than to introduce the inspection camera through an existing opening, or through a small pilot hole in the wall made with a drill, to “see” what is behind the drywall and be able to lay the cables in the right places, thus achieving that our environments are free of visible cables, safer and with greater aesthetics.
With these ideas, surely we can extend the uses of an inspection camera to another great variety, determined mainly by our imagination and our experience.
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