What’s the next best method? Can you push a scope through a toilet without removing it? What do you guys do?
Toilet has to be removed and even that won’t always work if there are too many bends on the way out or the toilets are back to back. Definitely can’t put a camera down the toilet. You can sometimes go through a roof vent but that can be tricky if there are bends or on multiple story houses (making the bend at the base is tough as the camera will just coil up in the vertical section of pipe as you push it).
When you’re stuck having people flush toilets and run plumbing can help “float” the camera out.
The sewer guys I work with carry all kinds of angle grinders, chisels and other tools to break in. Definitely carry replacement caps for when you destroy the one you are removing.
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Thanks Matt.
You cannot
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Thanks Martin.
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Jacob, what material is the clean out plug cap? Screwed in or a sealed cover?
For stubborn cast iron caps you place a cold chisel on one edge of the nut, tap it firmly counterclockwise using a ball-peen or other hammer type. Continue taping until the stuck cleanout plug is loose enough to turn with a wrench. Typically I would move the chisel to another location on the square head, in a clockwise fashion, say every 5 taps. Been some time sense I repaired or replaced 4 inch drain pipe.
No.
The Plumber that does all my scopes has had to cut out many clean-out plugs, we’ve also had to remove toilets and have even scoped through the vent as Matt mentioned.
When performing sewer scope inspections you just never know what kind of conditions you’re going to be up against until your into to it.
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Yeah, lot of times the scope guy pulls up to a new house, finds a cleanout with a plastic cap, runs the camera and is gone in 15 minutes. Other times? It can literally take hours. I send out a notice that we’ll try for 20 minutes to locate an access point but after that they will be billed a minimum travel charge and need to contact a plumber directly. Just too many times cleanouts have been covered over by decks or basement bathrooms or were left out altogether on older homes.
The sewer scope thing is honestly a necessary evil for my company. I barely make any money on it and it’s a huge headache at times but to compete in my Oregon market we pretty much have to offer it. Generally the same with radon testing but that is a bit more profitable.
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Interesting. I have done a few radon tests so far since opening my business. I only have 1 radon monitor currently. I am on the fence about getting a sewer scope and training.
On one hand, if you charge 250 to 400 for a scope and you can get 2 to 8 of those done a day, that’s extremely good money and not too much time involved. Also, unlike radon, I don’t have to leave it their for 2 days before I can make money with it again.
On the other hand, if most clients don’t have accessible cleanouts, then I can’t do business, unless I remove a toilet etc. Then I am making myself liable for whatever may happen.
If I decide to do it, I won’t charge the client if I can’t get to the cleanout. I’ll just have to refer them to a plumber.
Nice job getting it launched!
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That’s about 2-3X the going rate in my area. We charge 125. I’ve seen new areas get that much until there is some competition. Also, the cameras are expensive for good equipment. All the pros I see have the Rigid with 100 or 200’ cable reels and a locator. Last time I checked, it was about 8K to get all setup. And having only one camera can hurt you if/when it’s in for repair. There are cheaper cameras available but they don’t hold up well to the day to day use. Especially going down jacked up old concrete and clay pipes.
I might have mentioned this before but let me know if you’re looking from some more radon machines. I have a bunch of Sun Nuclear 1028s I’m going to sell. They’re kind of a no-frills machine but they get the job done.
Thanks Ryan!
Damn! How much do you charge for your radon tests?
We were at $165 for a long time but with the slowdown I’ve been running at 125 as a “special”. The sewer/radon thing is nothing I expect to make too much money on but it really helps keep inspections coming in the door since agents and buyers only need to make one call/email. I have all my radon machines paid for and just paid off the vehicle my tech drives around so lowering the price $40 doesn’t really hurt.
Nice! I charge 250 for radon testing and I have gotten a few. Since radon testing is all I offer for business, should I lower my price by 50 or 100 dollars to see if I get a lot more business? At that point I’d have to get 1 or 2 more monitors. My ultimate goal is earning 2k per week in radon testing. Although that doesn’t seem possible lol.
I live in Utah. Do you have any recommendations for a high paying ancillary service I should add?
I’d definitely do some research and see what the going rate is for anything you offer. From hanging out here and talking with people all over the nation there seems to be A LOT of variation in prices in different markets. Radon and sewer scopes seem to be the main add-ons.
Thanks Matt.
Do you offer radon testing for other HIs? I have a retired HI that does all of my radon tests, he charges me $100, and I charge my client $150. He places them all, which saves me a trip and I picked them up during my inspection and drop them off to him, he lives a mile away from my office so it’s no inconvenience.
I don’t have to worry about recalibrating the machines, getting recertified etc. and he enjoys the $400-500 “walking around” money.
Get a few HIs that want this done and that will help your bottom line.
Hi Dave! I’ve only done tests for homeowners so far. I have contacted realtors although I don’t think that helps too much. Becoming “the guy” for a home inspector sounds difficult. How do I convince them to let me make the money on something they can easily do themselves?
Isn’t Ohio a Regulated State for Radon testing?
Seems to me you are breaking the COC and Protocols of the process!