Learn More About How We Can Help You

CCTV Drain Camera Inspections

Can stormwater pipes be located?

Some stormwater pipes can be easily inspected with a CCTV drain camera, some partially inspected and others not at all. We never know which ones will be successful until we try. This is due to the type of material used and how well the stormwater drain was originally put together.

Drain cameras will not go around a 90° stormwater bend and straight tees. They will go around two 45° bends that form a 90°change of direction and they will go around 45° junctions.

When we cannot use a camera we use an electric eel to locate the stormwater pipes. We put a signal in the form of a pulse into the metal cable of the electric eel. We then use our locator to follow the pulse signal.

If you need stormwater pipes located contact us today 0448844911

Pipe locations

Can Plastic water pipes be located?

In 50% of cases it is possible to locate plastic water pipes. Some pipes can be located by inserting special plastic coated, metal wire into the pipe. However, this largely depends on the size of the pipe, the location of the pipe, the number of fittings in the pipe and immediate access to sections of the pipe.

It is possible to find plastic  irrigation pipes and solenoid valves by connecting a device that creates an electronic pulse onto wires in the irrigation control box.

When looking for small diameter plastic pipes in walls, a small mini probe camera would be inserted by removing nearby power points.

If you need plastic pipes located contact us today 0448844911

What can effect the process of locating water pipes under slabs or below ground?

If a metal pipe is touching the reinforcing steel in the slab, the signal from the pipe locator can be dispersed and lost. If the pipe has completely broken, the signal from the pipe locator can be very hard to find.

Moisture in tree roots can cause the signal to jump from a pipe into the roots.

Locating plastic pipes under slabs is quite hard. This is where plumbing experience plays a more important role than electronic locating equipment.

If you need pipes under slabs located contact us today 0448844911

Plumbing Inspections

How important are plumbing approvals for selling houses?

It is very hard to sell a building or a house with unapproved plumbing, gas fitting or drainage installations in Canberra. When a pre-purchase inspection is done, the inspector will note the differences between what is shown on the plans and what actually exists.  Conveyances’  will check building records in the government files to see if any plumbing permits have been started but not completed.

Buyers should never buy a house with unapproved plumbing work unless they intend to bulldoze or renovate straight away. Buying such houses will void your insurance if your house suddenly erupts in flames or if it floods. It exposes buyers to litigation if someone is injured too.

We can help sellers get approvals for unfinished or unapproved plumbing, gas fitting and drainage. It can be done quickly, but it may be expensive. The government fees for permits, plans and inspections can be more than a thousand dollars. The costs of these fees are out of our hands. Before any inspections, all work that is not up to the current standards must be rectified.

Some work that is known to have been done, but cannot be inspected, is covered in this process. The plumber who signs off on the approval is responsible for this uninspected work. Therefore, you may be asked to sign a letter asking you to take full responsibility for anything that goes wrong for an indefinite period. Alternatively, the plumber will take responsibility but have an additional charge built in to cover the costs if something bad occurs in the future.

We always recommend that home owners use licensed plumbers for all plumbing work and ensure those plumbers’ seek government approvals at commencement of the work. The cost of doing it at this stage is a fraction of the cost of trying to do it just before selling.

If you need plumbing approvals to get the sale of your house through contact us today

How important are pre-purchase plumbing inspections?

Buyers should never buy a house with unapproved plumbing work unless they intend to bulldoze or renovate straight away. Buying such houses will void your insurance if your house suddenly erupts in flames or if it floods. It also exposes buyers to litigation if someone is injured.