Sewer Scope Horror Stories

1

I am starting my learning path with sewer scoping- going to sign up for the Krumm class soon. There are a lot of good pros to getting into this service posted here.

Would like to hear some horror stories- things that go wrong and hopefully how to fix them. That seems to be my biggest hesitation to take on this service.
Cheers

1 Like
2

I’ve done very few scopes on my own have probably watched a few thousand be performed over the years during my inspections.

There’s a big line between plastic and cast iron pipe (changed in the mid-1970s in my area). Breaking the brass cap off the old cleanout is a whole other ballgame from unscrewing a plastic plug. The lines themselves are also much harder on cameras so when you’re new you might to find someone to sub out the older ones to.

Locating cleanouts can be a major hassle too. Or even just getting in them once you do locate them. Homeowners do all kinds of dumb things like putting sinks or toilets over them. I’ve seen those poor guys struggle through my entire inspection trying to get in.

Horror story? People flushing the toilet when the cap is off a vertical line :slight_smile: The guys I worked with carried a Y-fitting to screw in after they took the cap off.

2 Likes
3

I also don’t offer this service, and have seen plenty of home scopes take nearly as long as my general inspection. Can’t imagine adding that to my service offering.

What area you work in and the age of the housing stock may change the outcome.

1 Like
4

Mostly septics in my area and all the septic companies do them. Wasn’t worth my time to even think about it.

5

That’s a good one Matt- that seems like an important lesson best not learned through experience.

6

I’ve done over a thousand sewer scopes, they can be a significant revenue booster. About 1 in 10 will be a PITA, the other 9 will be quick. We see mostly older building so it’s a real treat to see a PVC cap. A few things I learned (some the hard way)

  1. Watch lots of videos on breaking off caps, there is a safe way to do it, suck it up and dive in, we break more off then wrench off in my area, you get use to it. First one will scare you.
  2. Warn people when you are doing it, don’t flush until you are ready and know the way the water is going.
  3. Inspect the plumbing and take pictures before doing the scope. If you are breaking the cap off a cast iron system and the stack is cracked somewhere you may be asking for trouble.
  4. Know when to walk away, even some plumbers won’t attempt some access points (they will make one) if they are under a tub or behind walls.
  5. Slabs suck for sewer scopes
  6. If you are lucky enough to be in an area with no house traps the vent stack is a good choice but if your area has house traps they are a no go
  7. Towels, buckets, rubber gloves, stock them (have backups, you will run out and still have a job to go)
  8. Stock caps (plastic compression, fitsall, fernco, 3 inch, 3.5 inch, 4 inch)
  9. Carry a drop cloth, some basements are finished, and the cap is behind the TV
  10. Always take a walk outside and look for access there.
  11. Hit record every time, even if you don;t provide the video
  12. If drains are backed up…do not open it
  13. If there is a grinder pump in the basement, don’t open the sewer access (my associate did this just as I yelled don’t…too late)
  14. Be ok getting dirty, bring a change of clothes.
  15. As soon as you can afford it, buy a second camera, one with a different line, not all cameras work in all drains the same

I am sure there are more but these come up to mind quick. That said, yes we do them and have no plans to stop, my camera prints money.

7 Likes
7

Why do slabs suck?

8

Slabs suck because the clean out is always is a horrible spot. Under the kitchen sink, under the tub, in a bedroom closet, behind the boiler in a closet…that’s why.

2 Likes