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#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
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Video inspection of sewer lines
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6
weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. My proper -- for some unknown reason -- does not have a curb vent. It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. So, I suspect that is where the problem is. There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. |
#2
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 4, 6:10*pm, "BetaB4" wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. *I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. *Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? *For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. *Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. *I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. *I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of *drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. *The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. *But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. *My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. *My proper -- for some unknown reason -- * does not have a curb vent. *It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. *The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. *The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. *The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. *I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. *That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. *So, I suspect that is where the problem is. *There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? *I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Who have you called and what was the price quote? Joe |
#3
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:10:13 -0400, "BetaB4" wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? snip Most of the tool rental places here in NE Ohio rent this gear. It's not cheap, but probably cheaper than hiring a plumber to do it. Don't have any personal experience with the gear myself, but the rental folks are usually pretty helpful. HTH, Paul F. |
#4
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Video inspection of sewer lines
Paul Franklin wrote in
: On Thu, 4 Jun 2009 19:10:13 -0400, "BetaB4" wrote: I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? snip Most of the tool rental places here in NE Ohio rent this gear. It's not cheap, but probably cheaper than hiring a plumber to do it. Don't have any personal experience with the gear myself, but the rental folks are usually pretty helpful. HTH, Paul F. We had a similar problem. I think it was a crack in the original (1929) clay pipe near/under the oak tree. We had the 20 feet replaced with plastic pipe for $2900. Then we asked that the town inspect and if necessary correct the street pipe/lateral to our home that was the town responsibility. The same sewer company we hired works for the town, and the town had something in the street replaced too. So far so good, the work was only completed a few months ago. Just about every house on our street/neighborhood has had similar work done. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid |
#5
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. My proper -- for some unknown reason -- does not have a curb vent. It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. So, I suspect that is where the problem is. There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Whether or not you get to see inside the line, you are likely to need to locate the line to dig and repair it so I would concentrate on that first. If it goes under a tree 45 feet out, you do not need a video camera to fix it. Don Young |
#6
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 4, 7:10*pm, "BetaB4" wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. *I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. *Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? *For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. *Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. *I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. *I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of *drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. *The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. *But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. *My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. *My proper -- for some unknown reason -- * does not have a curb vent. *It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. *The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. *The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. *The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. *I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. *That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. *So, I suspect that is where the problem is. *There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? *I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Well, it certainly sounds like the tree could be the problem. Use some rock salt and kill the roots encroaching on the pipe. Google 'rock salt roots". R |
#7
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 4, 8:59�pm, "Don Young" wrote:
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. �I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. �Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? �For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. �Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. �I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. �I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of �drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. �The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. �But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. �My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. �My proper -- for some unknown reason -- �does not have a curb vent. �It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. �The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. �The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. �The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. �I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. �That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. �So, I suspect that is where the problem is. �There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? �I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Whether or not you get to see inside the line, you are likely to need to locate the line to dig and repair it so I would concentrate on that first.. If it goes under a tree 45 feet out, you do not need a video camera to fix it. Don Young- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. if you cant find rocksalt softener salt should work too. ever notice how grass dies if exposed to rocksalt? I have been doing this for over 10 years and its worked great. do about 4 times a year, with special attention in spring just before trees leaf out. 25 pounds of rock salt is really cheap |
#8
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Video inspection of sewer lines
BetaB4 wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, ... What makes you think that you can see through sewage? Video is impractical because first you would have to flush the system with clear water. What you want is a sonar probe. But why? You will still have a clog that has to be fixed. Try the "roto-router" approach and maybe you'll be lucky and not have to dig up the whole thing. |
#9
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 5, 10:25*am, RickMerrill
wrote: BetaB4 wrote: I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. *I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, ... What makes you think that you can see through sewage? Video is impractical because first you would have to flush the system with clear water. What you want is a sonar probe. Industry standard is the Ridgid video. But why? You will still have a clog that has to be fixed. Try the "roto-router" approach and maybe you'll be lucky and not have to dig up the whole thing. A sewer line is rarely filled. The video camera snakes have bright LED lights on the end. If you get to a point where you can't see anything, you've found the blockage, right? R |
#10
Posted to alt.home.repair
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. My proper -- for some unknown reason -- does not have a curb vent. It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. So, I suspect that is where the problem is. There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. Of course, you won't know how to use it, or what you're looking at when you see it, or what to look for, but you will save some bucks. Oh, but then, you'd have to start renting it out to recoup your outlay, or try to sell it for at least what you got for it, and maybe make a few bucks. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. Steve |
#11
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"RicodJour" wrote in message ... On Jun 5, 10:25 am, RickMerrill wrote: BetaB4 wrote: I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, ... What makes you think that you can see through sewage? Video is impractical because first you would have to flush the system with clear water. What you want is a sonar probe. Industry standard is the Ridgid video. But why? You will still have a clog that has to be fixed. Try the "roto-router" approach and maybe you'll be lucky and not have to dig up the whole thing. A sewer line is rarely filled. The video camera snakes have bright LED lights on the end. If you get to a point where you can't see anything, you've found the blockage, right? R Apparently, no one has used one of these. On the camera end, they have nozzles that take high pressure water and spray it onto the walls of the pipe, like a power sprayer. This flushes goo ahead of the camera, or just cleans out spots the camera wants to get a better look. If the pipes are installed correctly, the poop runs downhill, and there's a clear field of vision. I watched the guy do mine, and I was amazed at the small amount of fluid in the line. Mine had a root which they snipped. But at the same time, they will jet the whole line, cleaning off the pipe walls, and leaving you with a whole lot better system. Of course, they don't do it cheap or for free, as these machines cost quite a bit, and their time is worth something, what with the truck, and the insurance, and the licenses, and all that. Steve |
#12
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Video inspection of sewer lines
Paul Franklin wrote:
Most of the tool rental places here in NE Ohio rent this gear. It's not cheap, but probably cheaper than hiring a plumber to do it. Thanks. I took your suggestion and I called all of the tool rental places I can find in my area. Unfortunately, they all said that they do not have that type of equipment to rent. Most said it's because the cost of the equipment itself is so high, and I assume there is not enough demand for it as a rental for them to recover their costs. |
#13
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Video inspection of sewer lines
bob haller wrote:
Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. Thanks. I already have rock salt from this past winter so I'll do that. It can't hurt. But I still may end up doing the video routine one way or another so I can see for sure what's going on. |
#14
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Video inspection of sewer lines
RickMerrill wrote:
Try the "roto-router" approach and maybe you'll be lucky and not have to dig up the whole thing. I did do the "roto-rooter" routine -- twice. Actually, I paid the plumbing company that I use to come out twice in two weeks and they cleared it out both times. After that, I had the town clear it out two more times in about a 2-week period and that worked both times. It is not presently clogged, and there is still some uncertainty (according to the town people) about what may be causing the problem and/or where the problem is located. |
#15
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 5, 4:45*pm, "BetaB4" wrote:
bob haller wrote: Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. Thanks. *I already have rock salt from this past winter so I'll do that.. *It can't hurt. *But I still may end up doing the video routine one way or another so I can see for sure what's going on. This begs the question, if the rock salt clears up the problem (I'm giving 2:1 odds it will), how much are you willing to spend to satisfy your curiosity? R |
#16
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Video inspection of sewer lines
SteveB wrote:
Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. After my original post, I did try going to ebay to see if they were available for sale, what they cost, etc. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. I was surprised to see this type of obnoxious comment from you, 1) because I don't recall you being that type of poster on this newsgroup in the past, and, 2) because you don't know me, and you have no idea about who I am or whether this has anything to do with me trying to be cheap (which it doesn't). |
#17
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Video inspection of sewer lines
BetaB4 wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? I contacted the city after two of four sewer blockages at our condo. The second time, they came out and ran a camera up from their main sewer line and up ours. They determined that our line was "in bad shape", but gave no other details. Right after that, they installed a clean out at the edge of our property, so that we would, in the future, only have to go that far to remove obstructions. After that, the condo hired a plumber to scope it, and I watched while they did it - could see pretty plainly that the bottom of the cast iron line was gone. One guy fed the line into the sewer and watched the monitor while the other tracked the probe, using something that looked like a metal detector and sounded when it was over the camera....the line has markings for distance, so's one will know where the blockages are. My son has an underwater camera for fishing that he raves about....haven't seen it, don't know how it would work, but here is a link on some.... http://www.aquavu.com/store/ |
#18
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Video inspection of sewer lines
I forgot to mention....bug the city to install a clean out at the edge
of your property and make sure that their line is located and clear. |
#19
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Video inspection of sewer lines
RicodJour wrote:
On Jun 5, 4:45 pm, "BetaB4" wrote: bob haller wrote: Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. Thanks. I already have rock salt from this past winter so I'll do that. It can't hurt. But I still may end up doing the video routine one way or another so I can see for sure what's going on. This begs the question, if the rock salt clears up the problem (I'm giving 2:1 odds it will), how much are you willing to spend to satisfy your curiosity? I am not sure about that. I called the plumbing company that I usually use and they said they don't actually do it themselves, they have an outside company do it. They gave me the name of the company that they use, but it's one of those deals where you call the guy and then he calls you back when he can. I checked out that company's website and I'll probably call them tomorrow morning and see what they say. I am trying to get some general information here about my options and whether there are any relatively inexpensive or creative ways to get a look at the inside of the pipe on my own. If the clog returns, my next step will probably be to ask the town if they have the video equipment and if they will do a visual check of the main line since they keep having to come out and clear whatever is causing the blockage. But, if they say they can't or won't do that, then maybe I'll pay someone to do it. If I could buy the equipment for a couple of hundred bucks (which I now know I can't), I would probably just buy it and do it on my own out of curiosity and because I could probaly use the same equipment in the future. I know that doesn't exactly answer the question, but that's the basic answer. Now, what would really be cool would be if there was some computer techie of doing this kind of like a home-made science experiment. For example, what if I could buy some type of low-end video camera input device that I could connect to my laptop computer, and then attach that and an LED light to the end of the drain snake and take a look. I think that would be cool, but I guess that's just a dream and not a realistic option even if it would just be as an experiment. |
#20
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... RicodJour wrote: On Jun 5, 4:45 pm, "BetaB4" wrote: bob haller wrote: Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. Thanks. I already have rock salt from this past winter so I'll do that. It can't hurt. But I still may end up doing the video routine one way or another so I can see for sure what's going on. This begs the question, if the rock salt clears up the problem (I'm giving 2:1 odds it will), how much are you willing to spend to satisfy your curiosity? I am not sure about that. I called the plumbing company that I usually use and they said they don't actually do it themselves, they have an outside company do it. They gave me the name of the company that they use, but it's one of those deals where you call the guy and then he calls you back when he can. I checked out that company's website and I'll probably call them tomorrow morning and see what they say. I am trying to get some general information here about my options and whether there are any relatively inexpensive or creative ways to get a look at the inside of the pipe on my own. If the clog returns, my next step will probably be to ask the town if they have the video equipment and if they will do a visual check of the main line since they keep having to come out and clear whatever is causing the blockage. But, if they say they can't or won't do that, then maybe I'll pay someone to do it. If I could buy the equipment for a couple of hundred bucks (which I now know I can't), I would probably just buy it and do it on my own out of curiosity and because I could probaly use the same equipment in the future. I know that doesn't exactly answer the question, but that's the basic answer. Now, what would really be cool would be if there was some computer techie of doing this kind of like a home-made science experiment. For example, what if I could buy some type of low-end video camera input device that I could connect to my laptop computer, and then attach that and an LED light to the end of the drain snake and take a look. I think that would be cool, but I guess that's just a dream and not a realistic option even if it would just be as an experiment. did you check harbor freight? |
#21
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 5, 5:23*pm, "BetaB4" wrote:
Now, what would really be cool would be if there was some computer techie of doing this kind of like a home-made science experiment. *For example, what if I could buy some type of low-end video camera input device that I could connect to my laptop computer, and then attach that and an LED light to the end of the drain snake and take a look. *I think that would be cool, but I guess that's just a dream and not a realistic option even if it would just be as an experiment. Ridgid's SeeSnake Micro is fairly cheap, and it can go up to 30' with extensions, but the cost of the extensions would probably quintuple the price and you'd still be 15' short, sounds like. R |
#22
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Video inspection of sewer lines
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#23
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Video inspection of sewer lines
BetaB4 wrote:
I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. We had a video inspection last year when a sewer line on our property started taking forever to drain, it cost us $250 and was worth every penny. Because of the video inspection we didn't have to take the plumber's word for what was wrong, we could see the collapsed pipe and the tree roots for ourselves. As they knew exactly what was wrong (and where) they gave us a fixed-price for the job, no surprises. Since whatever is wrong with your sewer line is a recurring problem IMO paying two or three hundreds bucks for a video inspection is money well spent. |
#25
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Video inspection of sewer lines
charlie wrote:
"BetaB4" wrote in message Now, what would really be cool would be if there was some computer techie of doing this kind of like a home-made science experiment. For example, what if I could buy some type of low-end video camera input device that I could connect to my laptop computer, and then attach that and an LED light to the end of the drain snake and take a look. I think that would be cool, but I guess that's just a dream and not a realistic option even if it would just be as an experiment. did you check harbor freight? Thanks. I just checked and here's what I found so far: http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...mera&Submit=Go I have a feeling that the next time I have to get a clog cleared out in my sewer line, they're going to say they found some kind of cheap video camera in there. :-) |
#26
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Video inspection of sewer lines
RicodJour wrote:
Ridgid's SeeSnake Micro is fairly cheap, and it can go up to 30' with extensions, but the cost of the extensions would probably quintuple the price and you'd still be 15' short, sounds like. Thanks. I looked it up and here's short video they have that describes it: http://www.ridgid.com/seesnakemicro/video/ Looks interesting, but you're probably right baout the cost and being 15-feet short etc. |
#27
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"bob haller" wrote in message ... On Jun 4, 8:59?pm, "Don Young" wrote: "BetaB4" wrote in message ... I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. ?I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. ?Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? ?For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. ?Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. ?I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. ?I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of ?drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. ?The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. ?But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. ?My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. ?My proper -- for some unknown reason -- ?does not have a curb vent. ?It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. ?The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. ?The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. ?The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. ?I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. ?That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. ?So, I suspect that is where the problem is. ?There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? ?I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Whether or not you get to see inside the line, you are likely to need to locate the line to dig and repair it so I would concentrate on that first. If it goes under a tree 45 feet out, you do not need a video camera to fix it. Don Young- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Why dig if the trouble is tree roots? just buy some rock salt, mix with hot water in a washtub, and let it go down the sewer. do before going to work for the day so it can sit in the line. it will kill the roots buit not the tree, is cheap and effective. if you cant find rocksalt softener salt should work too. ever notice how grass dies if exposed to rocksalt? I have been doing this for over 10 years and its worked great. do about 4 times a year, with special attention in spring just before trees leaf out. 25 pounds of rock salt is really cheap Not really on topic BUT what would this do in septic system? |
#28
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... Paul Franklin wrote: Most of the tool rental places here in NE Ohio rent this gear. It's not cheap, but probably cheaper than hiring a plumber to do it. Thanks. I took your suggestion and I called all of the tool rental places I can find in my area. Unfortunately, they all said that they do not have that type of equipment to rent. Most said it's because the cost of the equipment itself is so high, and I assume there is not enough demand for it as a rental for them to recover their costs. No. It's because of bozos that don't know how to use the equipment and screw it up. Ever wonder why MOST rentals don't rent welding equipment? Or if they do, they have a $5,000 deposit? Home plumbing ain't rocket surgery, but someone who understands it will ferret out a problem a WHOLE lot faster than someone who's poking around with rented equipment. Cleanout? What's a cleanout? Steve |
#29
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... SteveB wrote: Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. After my original post, I did try going to ebay to see if they were available for sale, what they cost, etc. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. I was surprised to see this type of obnoxious comment from you, 1) because I don't recall you being that type of poster on this newsgroup in the past, and, 2) because you don't know me, and you have no idea about who I am or whether this has anything to do with me trying to be cheap (which it doesn't). You must be new here. I've been here for many years. There are times when you need to go to a pro and pay the man what he wants. Lawyers, surgeons, and plumbers come to mind. YMMV. Every time I have had a major plumbing problem I couldn't fix, I called the pros, and every time, they came and fixed it. Every time, it was beyond the scope of my experience or tools. And every time, I was happy to give the man a check, and know the problem was solved. You seem to like the experimentational approach. Steve |
#30
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"DGDevin" wrote in message m... BetaB4 wrote: I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. We had a video inspection last year when a sewer line on our property started taking forever to drain, it cost us $250 and was worth every penny. Because of the video inspection we didn't have to take the plumber's word for what was wrong, we could see the collapsed pipe and the tree roots for ourselves. As they knew exactly what was wrong (and where) they gave us a fixed-price for the job, no surprises. Since whatever is wrong with your sewer line is a recurring problem IMO paying two or three hundreds bucks for a video inspection is money well spent. Very good advice. |
#31
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"SteveB" wrote in
: "BetaB4" wrote in message ... SteveB wrote: Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. After my original post, I did try going to ebay to see if they were available for sale, what they cost, etc. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. I was surprised to see this type of obnoxious comment from you, 1) because I don't recall you being that type of poster on this newsgroup in the past, and, 2) because you don't know me, and you have no idea about who I am or whether this has anything to do with me trying to be cheap (which it doesn't). You must be new here. I've been here for many years. There are times when you need to go to a pro and pay the man what he wants. Lawyers, surgeons, and plumbers come to mind. YMMV. Every time I have had a major plumbing problem I couldn't fix, I called the pros, and every time, they came and fixed it. Every time, it was beyond the scope of my experience or tools. And every time, I was happy to give the man a check, and know the problem was solved. You seem to like the experimentational approach. Steve I like your approach (hire a pro). However, the last time I hired a plumber (the best in town, they said) was for a small leak from the body of my Moen kitchen faucet. $225 and weeks of futile attempts later, this newsgroup suggested I call Moen, since there lkely was a known problem with the faucet (vacuum breaker). I did, was offered a free part, but took the new faucet for $50 plus 2-day shipping. Plumber had offered to put in the new faucet if the last "fix" didn't work, and required only mild prodding by spouse to do so. After many yearly rotorooter attempts, we finally gave in to the sewer digger and had the 70 year-old clay sewer pipe replaced by modern plastic. Plus the town paid to have the lateral fixed. SO far so good. We'll find out in a few years if this fix was worth our $2900 for the 20 feet or so of pipe. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid |
#32
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in
: wrote: I forgot to mention....bug the city to install a clean out at the edge of your property and make sure that their line is located and clear. Will do. They have actually been very easy and freindly to work with, so I may end up working that out with them. One thing they did say was that their existing main sewer line is probably old "terra cotta"(sp?) so it cannot be detected directly with a metal detector. So I guess to locate the line they would have to run something into the line that a detector could pick up. My street was actually all marked out already for gas lines, water lines, etc. by the State because they were repaving most of the street and redoing curbs nearby about a year ago. My property is one of 4 in a row and the other 3 have green marking for where the curb vent is located. Mine shows no green markings. Terra cotta is clay pipe. Similar to the mediterranean style (orange) roof tiles. It is very good, but somewhat brittle. Plus, tree roots can find the seams and grow in, thus cracking the stuff. It's what my sewerline (1929, so now 80 years old) was made of. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid |
#33
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in
: I have a sewer line that has been clogging up several times over the past 6 weeks or so, and I would like to be able to figure out exactly what's going on. I know one option is to pay someone to come out and do the video inspection, but I have heard that can be fairly expensive. Does anyone know of any less expensive ways that I can do this myself? For example, are there any tool rental places that rent the equipment to do a video inspection? The actual situation with the sewer line is a little complicated and hard to explain. Basically, the line clogs at around 45 feet past where the sewer line runs out of the house. I know this from my own efforts at trying to unclog it and having a 50-foot snake that hits a clog at around 45 feet. I also had a plumber come out and clear the line twice in a two-week period, and both times it took about 45 feet of drain snake before they hit and cleared the clog. The town's sewer department came out and cleared the main line twice in two weeks after that, and they too agreed that the clog is out there somewhere. But everyone, including them, is unclear about exactly where my line goes and where the main line goes. My property is one of 4 attached 2-family duplexes in a row. My proper is and end-unit duplex and my line appears to go out to the beginning of a main sewer line rather than tying into a main line that goes in both directions from where my line ties into it. My proper -- for some unknown reason -- does not have a curb vent. It is possible that it used to have a curb vent but the vent is now located under a roadway after the roadway was widened a long time ago. The other 3 attached properties have curb vents and appear to tie into the main line in a T-type fashion. The only maps the town has of where the main lines are pre-date when these buildings were built, so no main lines are shown on the map. The maps are from 1937 and the buildings were built after that. I am not really posting this part to try to get people to figure out where the main line is, or even to try to figure out what the problem is. I'm just including that to give an idea that there is something goofy about the whole setup. That's why I would like to see if I can do some kind of low-cost video inspection of the line -- assuming that there is some way for me to do that. And, yes, there is one tree about 40-feet down the street in front of another property and above where the main line goes. So, I suspect that is where the problem is. There are no other trees or bushes in the area. So, the bottom line question is, does anyone know of any low-cost ways to do some kind of video inspection of the sewer line? I doubt that there is any way other than to pay someone to do it, but I thought I'd ask just in case. Find out what company the town uses for sewer work. Ask that company whether they want to give you an estimate for the costs of your part of the fix, and whether they can get the town to fix what the town should. Worked for us, although we stumbled across the company first, promised them the work, then asked them to see whether the town should fix their portions. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid |
#34
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 6, 7:42�am, Han wrote:
"SteveB" wrote : "BetaB4" wrote in message ... SteveB wrote: Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. After my original post, I did try going to ebay to see if they were available for sale, what they cost, etc. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. I was surprised to see this type of obnoxious comment from you, 1) because I don't recall you being that type of poster on this newsgroup in the past, and, 2) because you don't know me, and you have no idea about who I am or whether this has anything to do with me trying to be cheap (which it doesn't). You must be new here. �I've been here for many years. �There are times when you need to go to a pro and pay the man what he wants. �Lawyers, surgeons, and plumbers come to mind. YMMV. Every time I have had a major plumbing problem I couldn't fix, I called the pros, and every time, they came and fixed it. �Every time, it was beyond the scope of my experience or tools. �And every time, I was happy to give the man a check, and know the problem was solved. You seem to like the experimentational approach. Steve I like your approach (hire a pro). �However, the last time I hired a plumber (the best in town, they said) was for a small leak from the body of my Moen kitchen faucet. �$225 and weeks of futile attempts later, this newsgroup suggested I call Moen, since there lkely was a known problem with the faucet (vacuum breaker). �I did, was offered a free part, but took the new faucet for $50 plus 2-day shipping. �Plumber had offered to put in the new faucet if the last "fix" didn't work, and required only mild prodding by spouse to do so. After many yearly rotorooter attempts, we finally gave in to the sewer digger and had the 70 year-old clay sewer pipe replaced by modern plastic. �Plus the town paid to have the lateral fixed. �SO far so good. � We'll find out in a few years if this fix was worth our $2900 for the 20 feet or so of pipe. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Over 10 years ago plumbers wanted 8 grand to replace the line from house to street, not including the line under my basement then there was the cost to replace a retaining wall, driveway, and sidewalk let alone landscaping. thats why I went the rock salt route....... incidently theres a new approach that saves digging. they clean it out, put like a sock in it, expand and cure with with very hot water. leaves a seemless liner and saves digging. its pricey but depending on depth and what the line is under it might be worth it. our line is over 8 feet deep at street..... and for the OP the tree over the line would have to be cut down, so add that cost and the loss of a mature tree to the costs...... rock salt is cheap. but reportedly not good for septic tanks........... google rock salt & septic tanks. salt water is heavier than regular water, it drops to the bottom of the tank stirs the sludge which can clog the drain field..... a untrained person attempting to use a lage snake runs a big risk, if the snake breaks off then instant digging and line replacement..... line must be snaked and roots trimmed before camera inspection |
#36
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Video inspection of sewer lines
bob haller wrote:
(snip) and for the OP the tree over the line would have to be cut down, so add that cost and the loss of a mature tree to the costs...... You don't kill the tree, you re-route the line. BTDT. -- aem sends... |
#37
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Jun 6, 4:23�pm, aemeijers wrote:
bob haller wrote: (snip) and for the OP the tree over the line would have to be cut down, so add that cost and the loss of a mature tree to the costs...... You don't kill the tree, you re-route the line. BTDT. -- aem sends... Depends on location of tree, and size of tree. A trees root area is larger than the drip line outside permiter of branches plus say 25%'' digging too close can kill injur or make the tree unstable in wind...... plus the line must have enough fall, normally that 1/4 inch per foot all of these constraints make re routing the line difficult to impossible in many cases |
#38
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"Han" wrote in message ... "SteveB" wrote in : "BetaB4" wrote in message ... SteveB wrote: Watch on ebay and try to find a system at a bargain price. After my original post, I did try going to ebay to see if they were available for sale, what they cost, etc. HIRE A PRO, YOU CHEAP *******. I was surprised to see this type of obnoxious comment from you, 1) because I don't recall you being that type of poster on this newsgroup in the past, and, 2) because you don't know me, and you have no idea about who I am or whether this has anything to do with me trying to be cheap (which it doesn't). You must be new here. I've been here for many years. There are times when you need to go to a pro and pay the man what he wants. Lawyers, surgeons, and plumbers come to mind. YMMV. Every time I have had a major plumbing problem I couldn't fix, I called the pros, and every time, they came and fixed it. Every time, it was beyond the scope of my experience or tools. And every time, I was happy to give the man a check, and know the problem was solved. You seem to like the experimentational approach. Steve I like your approach (hire a pro). However, the last time I hired a plumber (the best in town, they said) was for a small leak from the body of my Moen kitchen faucet. $225 and weeks of futile attempts later, this newsgroup suggested I call Moen, since there lkely was a known problem with the faucet (vacuum breaker). I did, was offered a free part, but took the new faucet for $50 plus 2-day shipping. Plumber had offered to put in the new faucet if the last "fix" didn't work, and required only mild prodding by spouse to do so. After many yearly rotorooter attempts, we finally gave in to the sewer digger and had the 70 year-old clay sewer pipe replaced by modern plastic. Plus the town paid to have the lateral fixed. SO far so good. We'll find out in a few years if this fix was worth our $2900 for the 20 feet or so of pipe. -- Best regards Han email address is invalid Like I said ........ I just adjusted the new Moen controls on our new showers. A very simple thing involving two screws that would have cost at least $100 for a pro to do. I can install a complete toilet rebuild in about thirty minutes. What would it cost for a plumber to do that? Know how to let the sand out of the input valves on my toilet's apparatus. But for the big stuff, unless you're a plumber, don't risk it. Steve |
#39
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Video inspection of sewer lines
"BetaB4" wrote in message ... wrote: I forgot to mention....bug the city to install a clean out at the edge of your property and make sure that their line is located and clear. Will do. They have actually been very easy and freindly to work with, so I may end up working that out with them. One thing they did say was that their existing main sewer line is probably old "terra cotta"(sp?) so it cannot be detected directly with a metal detector. So I guess to locate the line they would have to run something into the line that a detector could pick up. My street was actually all marked out already for gas lines, water lines, etc. by the State because they were repaving most of the street and redoing curbs nearby about a year ago. My property is one of 4 in a row and the other 3 have green marking for where the curb vent is located. Mine shows no green markings. Learn to use a witch. Two pieces of straight baling wire, 14" long, bent at a 90 at 4". Hold them one in each hand, loosely, with them pointing forward. Walk around. When you walk over a line, the two will swing inward to parallel to each other. It works, and I've used it for decades. Don't do it around Mormons. They think you're the devil. Steve |
#40
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Video inspection of sewer lines
On Fri, 5 Jun 2009 18:24:22 -0400, "BetaB4" wrote:
RicodJour wrote: Ridgid's SeeSnake Micro is fairly cheap, and it can go up to 30' with extensions, but the cost of the extensions would probably quintuple the price and you'd still be 15' short, sounds like. Thanks. I looked it up and here's short video they have that describes it: http://www.ridgid.com/seesnakemicro/video/ Looks interesting, but you're probably right baout the cost and being 15-feet short etc. Someone flushed their little puppy down the toilet and the fire department used their camera to find him and help him out. A little boy was the one who in trying to give the baby puppy a bath in the toilet, though a good rinse would be the thing to get the soap out of his fur. Oh Boy! You didn't loose a puppy down there did you? |
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