My old way of checking for blockages was a total comedy of errors

Back when I started, my method for checking a flue was basically just shining a flashlight up there and squinting. I'd get soot in my eye half the time and miss things. The real turning point was a job in Bellingham about three years ago. I was sure a chimney was clear, but the homeowner called back two days later saying their living room was filling with smoke. I rushed over, and after a real check with a proper camera, found a huge bird's nest about eight feet up that I'd completely missed. I felt like a total fool. Now I won't even think about calling a job done without running my inspection camera the whole length. It cost a bit, but it saves so much trouble and embarrassment. Has anyone else had a 'how did I miss that' moment that made you change your routine for good?

3 comments

3 Comments

ross.angela11d ago

Totally get that. I once cleared a drain and swore it was good, only to have the sink back up the next day. My old snake missed a wad of hair wrapped around a bend. Bought a better scope after that and found the same mess in half the houses on the block. Never making that mistake again.

julia_fisher2811d ago

Half the houses on the block had the same problem? That seems like a huge stretch, ross.angela. I've lived in my place for ten years and never needed a camera for the pipes. Most clogs are just simple fixes with a plunger or a basic snake from the hardware store. Spending all that money on a fancy scope feels like overkill for a problem that might not even exist. People jump to the worst case scenario too fast instead of trying the easy stuff first. I'd only consider that kind of gear if I had a major, ongoing issue that a plumber couldn't even figure out.

umab3510d ago

Did you see that article about old neighborhoods having the same pipe layouts?