One of the most important aspects of plumbing is the accurate examination of the pipe’s condition before beginning work. An incorrectly assessed pipe can lead to issues like accidental leakage of gases and accidental injuries during work.
For example, say the pipeline had a jutting section or a corroded part. In this situation, you could end up getting infected due to the corrosion or abrasion from the jutting section. This is where pipe inspection camera heads come in.
These tools help plumbers avoid injuries and improve the efficiency of their operations. Let’s explore more about them below.
What Are Pipe Inspection Cameras and What Are the Camera Heads?
Pipe inspection cameras are waterproof tools that are used to study pipelines, drains, and sewers.
- Stationery/Rotating Camera Head: observes the blockages, damage, or other issues in the pipelines
- Flexible Cable: used to make the camera navigate
- Cable Wheel: used to store the flexible cable
- Display Monitor: used by plumbers to view the blockages, damage, or other issues in the pipelines
- Battery Case: Provides backup to the pipe inspection cameras
- Guide Wheels: help the camera navigate.
The types of pipe inspection camera heads used include:
- Pushrod Camera Heads, which are waterproof and are attached at the end of a push rod or flexible cable
- Drain Camera Heads, with LED lights around, are attached at the end of a flexible cable and are used to study issues like leaks or cracks inside drains
- Rigid Inspection Camera Heads, mounted on the end of a rigid or inflexible tube, are used to study and inspect pipes
- Pan-and-tilt Heads are attached at the end of the push rod cable and capture images from multiple angles.
How Are Modern Camera Heads Revolutionizing Pipe Inspections?
Modern camera heads are changing the way plumbers approach pipe inspections in the following manner:
High-Definition (HD) and 4K Imaging
One of the first features that makes pipe inspection camera heads stand out is their high resolution. You’ll find resolutions starting from 720p onwards, all the way to 4K. This will allow you to see all the issues in the pipeline, like cracks, corrosion, and blockage detection.
Identifying cracks will help you repair or replace those pipes at the earliest, and help you avoid costly repairs. It will also ensure that you do not get exposed to dangerous chemicals or fluids when replacing them.
Identifying corrosion will help you understand which areas of the pipe to replace or operate in carefully. It will also help you avoid infections, since you will wear PPE gloves when dealing with these areas.
Identifying blockages will help you avoid injuries later on. That’s because you will be able to carry the right tools, like saws and so on, before entering the pipeline.
Self-Leveling Features
The self-leveling feature of pipe camera heads ensures that they always remain in the same position when inspecting a pipe. This is made possible due to a camera sensor that floats within a liquid inside the housing.
The floating sensor will ensure that you can view a straight image or record a steady video, irrespective of which way you move the camera. This will ensure that you can study the issue without any unwanted disturbance.
For example, say you’re viewing a large waterlogged pipeline under a sewer with a 38mm inspection camera head before it’s repaired. The self-leveling operation will ensure that you can study the damage in a stable manner.
You will be able to communicate about the areas of the damage with the people who will fix the pipe to avoid further damage.
Pan-and-Tilt with Zoom Capabilities
Pan and tilt pipe inspection camera heads with zoom capabilities ensure that you can view possible issues in greater detail. These camera heads are used to study lateral connections and junctions in narrow pipes.
You’ll also find them being used in big or complex pipeline systems.
For example, say a small portion of the pipeline has a crack. You can use the pan and tilt camera head’s zoom feature to see this crack in greater detail.
LED Illumination and Adjustable Lighting
Most pipe inspection camera heads have powerful LED light rings or flood lamps. These lights will allow you to view the dark or poorly lit areas clearly. That’s why plumbers use these lights in areas like underground pipes.
Viewing these poorly lit areas ensures that plumbers do not form an incorrect impression of the pipeline’s condition. For example, they can avoid misdiagnosing a big crack as a small one, and prevent unnecessarily costly repairs later on.
Data Integration with Software
Finally, modern pipe inspection camera heads can be integrated with sewer inspection software for real-time data. These software applications will allow you to generate pipe inspection records and also mark affected areas easily.
For example, these cameras can help you capture data on cracks recorded during a pipeline inspection.
Sharing the pipe inspection records helps you stay compliant with regulations stipulated by bodies like NASSCO.
On the other hand, these software applications will let you store the reports as well. You can use these old reports as a reference for training other plumbers on pipe inspections.
What Benefits Do Plumbing Professionals Enjoy Due To These Camera Heads?
Plumbers enjoy the following advantages when they use modern pipe inspection camera heads, as seen in the table below:
| Benefit | Impact |
| Faster diagnostics | Reduces time spent identifying issues |
| Less invasive procedures | Reduces the need for guesswork or premature excavation |
| Better client communication | Clients share videos to build trust and transparency |
| Increased job accuracy | Reduces return visits or misdiagnosed problems |
| Compliance and documentation | Ideal for insurance and municipal reporting |
Table 1: Advantages of Using Pipe Inspection Cameras
Wrapping Up
Camera heads for pipe inspection are quite useful for accurate diagnosis of pipelines and sewers. This accurate diagnosis will help you avoid unwanted issues, speed up the inspection process and bolster client trust.
Are You Ready To Level Up Your Pipe Inspection Methodology?
Get in touch with a reputed manufacturer or supplier to source high-quality camera heads for pipe inspection today!
