Whether you’ve had recent foundation repair or noticed your water bills steadily increasing, you’ve found yourself in need of a hydrostatic test to know if there are any leaks in your plumbing.
Unfortunately, the hydrostatic test fails, indicating there is a leak.
Once it is determined that there is a leak or multiple leaks in your plumbing, a pinpoint camera test is necessary to find the exact source of the leak under your home.
This process utilizes a fiberoptic camera attached to a line fed through your pipes while a plumber continues to test and monitor how well each point of your plumbing holds.
At Jim’s Plumbing Now, we work with dozens of foundation repair companies across the Dallas and Fort Worth area to provide accurate testing and repair for your plumbing.
We perform multiple hydrostatic and pinpoint camera tests every week, and while we understand the process and importance of a pinpoint camera test, we want you to understand it too.
Any plumbing work can be costly, and the last thing you want is to be taken advantage of by a plumber trying to sell you services you don’t need.
So, before having any plumbing tests performed on your home, you must understand when you need one, what the process and purpose of the test are, and much more.
This article will outline what a pinpoint camera plumbing test is, the exact process of the test, what happens once the test is performed, and more. Then, you will know why a pinpoint camera test is necessary when leaks are detected in your plumbing and what to expect next.
What Is A Pinpoint Camera Plumbing Test? Purpose, Process, And More
As we’ve briefly outlined at the beginning of this article, a pinpoint camera test is the process of using a camera fed through your plumbing to detect the source of a leak.
A pinpoint camera test is necessary following a failed hydrostatic test.
When a hydrostatic test fails, it indicates a break somewhere in your plumbing, allowing water to leak out and intrude under your foundation. Then, a pinpoint camera test must be conducted to pinpoint exactly where the leak source is.
What Is The Process Of A Pinpoint Camera Test?
A pinpoint camera test is similar to a hydrostatic test as they both utilize plugging up your plumbing, filling the pipeline with water, and testing if the water holds.
First, the test ball is moved down the main drainage pipe to the first fitting or branch line. Then, the test ball is blown up to plug the system from the first fitting on.
The process of the pinpoint camera test consists of plugging the drainage system at various points and moving further and further into your plumbing system throughout the test. Starting near the perimeter of your home and moving inward allows the plumber to rule out where the leak is not.
Once the test ball has blocked the system at the desired point, the plumbing is then filled from the exterior using a water hose.
Similar to the hydrostatic test, if the water holds at that point, there is no leak. If the water drops, it indicates there is a leak along that line.
If no leak is detected at the first fitting, the test ball is then pushed further into the system to the next fitting or branch line, and the system is filled with water again. This process is then repeated until a leak source is found.
The camera follows the test ball down the plumbing. This allows the plumber to monitor where the test ball is and also see the water flow throughout the plumbing.
Sometimes, the camera can also show what is causing the leak. This can include
- Cracks in the piping
- Breaks at the fittings or branch lines
- Roots intruding into the piping
Visible signs of damage to the piping provide a clear indication and reasoning for the leak.
A pinpoint camera test can take anywhere from 2-4 hours on average but depends on the location of the leak and the size of the home.
What Happens Once The Leak Is Found?
After a pinpoint camera test is successfully conducted and the source of the leak is found, your plumber will provide you with a repair plan to fix the leak.
There are three common types of repair plans most plumbers offer. They are
- Tunneling from the exterior
- Interior breakout
- Rerouting the plumbing system
Most leaks found from a pinpoint camera test are repaired by tunneling around the exterior to get directly to the leak source. Then, the leak is repaired and inspected, and all dirt is returned to its original location.
It is crucial that with any plumbing repair, a professional licensed plumber.
A trustworthy plumber will also ensure that proper permits from your city are obtained before any excavation or repair starts. A secondary hydrostatic test will also be conducted following repair to ensure the leak is fully repaired and no other leaks are detected.
Once the leak is repaired, an inspector must also sign off that the appropriate materials and practices were used before dirt is returned to the tunneling.
If a plumber does not obtain a permit or have an inspector come out following repair, this is a major red flag.
How Much Does A Pinpoint Camera Test Cost?
Before paying a plumber to conduct a hydrostatic test and potential pinpoint camera test, you want to know how much it may cost so you aren’t caught off guard with a quote.
The average market price of a pinpoint camera test can cost anywhere from $600 – $1,200 depending on the company, the size of your home, and the time spent on the test.
Having a realistic idea of how much a pinpoint camera test will cost you before even calling a plumbing company helps you be educated and aware of whether you are being taken advantage of.
Understanding Pinpoint Camera Tests and When You Need One
Now that you know what a pinpoint camera test is, its purpose, how it works, and how much it costs, you are better educated on the importance of a pinpoint camera test and understand why they are essential when you need one.
A pinpoint camera test always follows a failed hydrostatic test. This test allows the plumber to see inside your plumbing and determine exactly where the leak is.
This process can take anywhere from two to four hours on average and can cost around $600 – $1,200 depending on your plumbing and the time required to find the leak.
Once the leak, or potential leaks, are found, the plumber will provide a repair plan including how the leak can best be repaired, the work required, cost, and timeline.
It is crucial that all work, from hydrostatic and camera pinpoint tests to repairing the actual leak, is performed by a licensed plumber and that the proper permits and inspections are obtained following repair.
At Jim’s Plumbing Now, all our technicians are licensed plumbers professionally trained to handle any plumbing issues you may have.
We work with multiple foundation repair companies across the Dallas and Fort Worth area, testing homeowners’ plumbing after their foundation is repaired to ensure the plumbing is intact.
We must perform dozens of camera pinpoint tests each week to find exactly where a leak is and provide homeowners with the proper repair plan to provide them with the best solution.
Have you noticed your water bills rising? Do you suspect there may be a leak in your plumbing?
Contact Jim’s Plumbing Now to schedule your pinpoint camera test with a plumber you can trust, and we’ll fix your plumbing issues the right way, right away.
