Pipe Inspection & Locating Equipment - Professional Tools, Canadian Stock
Professional pipe inspection cameras, magnetic locators, utility locating equipment, and laser levels - available in Canada through Cleanflow, your Winnipeg-based utility supply company. Whether you are diagnosing a blocked drain line, locating buried utilities before excavation, pinpointing a pressurized water leak, or verifying grade on a pipeline installation, you will find the right professional-grade tool here.
Free shipping on orders over $199, with no duty or brokerage fees across Canada and the USA.
Sewer & Drain Inspection Cameras
Stop guessing what is inside the pipe. Inspection cameras show blockages, breaks, and root intrusions in real time, so you dig once, fix it fast, and avoid costly rework.
We carry cameras across the full range of pipe sizes and job types:
- Forbest 3388ET Long Range Sewer Camera — 200-ft cable, 4" to 10" pipes, 10" LCD, 512Hz sonde. Best for municipalities and heavy-use sewer inspection.
- Forbest 4188XX All-in-One Sewer Camera — 200-ft cable, 23mm detachable camera head, 512Hz sonde. Best value for contractors needing full 200-ft capability.
- General Pipe Cleaners Gen-Eye Micro-Scope3 — 100-ft pushrod, 1.5" to 4" lines, 7" LCD, built-in Wi-Fi. Best for plumbers diagnosing residential drain lines fast.
- Forbest 3188S Sewer Camera — 65-ft portable camera, 7" LCD, 4-hour battery. Entry-level model for backup or occasional use.
Magnetic Locators
Locate buried iron and steel objects before you dig. No transmitter, no signal source, no setup. Magnetic locators detect the passive magnetic field of ferrous objects underground.
What they find:
- Manhole covers, valve boxes, and curb stops
- Property markers and survey pins
- Well casings and septic tank lids
- Cast iron pipe, steel drums, and buried hazmat containers
Cleanflow is a Canadian stocking dealer for Schonstedt — the #1 magnetic locator brand among surveyors and utility professionals in Canada.
- Schonstedt GA-52Cx — field-standard unit. Waterproof, single-hand operation, detects to 16 feet.
- Schonstedt MAGGIE — entry-level Schonstedt with 7-year warranty. Same accuracy at a lower price point.
Pipe & Cable Locators — Locate Non-Ferrous Utilities Before Excavation
Plastic water mains, copper pipe, gas lines, and telecom cable cannot be found with a magnetic locator. Multi-frequency pipe and cable locators trace these lines by injecting a radio frequency signal and following it with a receiver.
- Schonstedt u-LOCATE+ — three active frequencies (33kHz, 82kHz, 512Hz sonde), 19-ft depth, IP65 waterproof, 20-hour battery. Online training included.
- Forbest FB-R2012 Sonde Locator — 512Hz wireless handheld locator for locating sewer cameras after inspection. Dual display modes, noise control.
Water Leak Detection
When a leak exists, but you do not know where it is, and breaking ground is not an option yet, acoustic leak detection finds it.
- General GR-LE Gen-Ear LE Water Leak Detector Kit — amplifies the sound of pressurized water escaping through concrete, walls, and pool decks. Complete kit: headphones, ground sensor, and SAM module. Used by municipalities for non-destructive water main leak pinpointing.
Laser Levels & Automatic Levels
For grade verification, pipe slope confirmation, and excavation layout on pipeline installation projects.
- Line Site self-leveling laser levels — broad coverage, rugged build. Base and deluxe packages available.
- Nikon automatic levels — 24x and 28x magnification for surveying and construction.
- David White Digital Theodolite with laser plummet — precision angular measurement.
Marking Products
After locating underground utilities, accurate surface marking prevents repeat locates and protects excavation crews. Seymour Professional Grade inverted marker paint, Aervoe spot markers, and Krylon marking sticks are stocked for field operations.
Who Needs Pipe Inspection & Locating Equipment?
- Municipal water and sewer departments — inspecting aging infrastructure and locating buried utilities before excavation
- Plumbing contractors — diagnosing drain blockages, root intrusions, and pipe breaks without destructive digging
- Civil contractors and surveyors — verifying grade, locating utilities, supporting pipeline installation
- Facility and property managers — identifying leak sources in commercial buildings without breaking floors
- Home inspectors — documenting drain line condition during real estate transactions
Which Tool Do You Need?
Match your job to the right tool before you order.
| YOUR SITUATION | TOOL NEEDED |
|---|---|
| Diagnosing a blocked or broken drain in a 1.5" to 4" pipe | Gen-Eye Micro-Scope3 - compact, Wi-Fi, 100-ft pushrod |
| Inspecting municipal sewer 4" to 10", 200-ft runs | Forbest 3388ET or 4188XX - long-range with 512Hz sonde |
| Locating iron/steel: manholes, valve boxes, markers | Schonstedt GA-52Cx or MAGGIE magnetic locator |
| Locating non-ferrous: plastic, copper, gas, telecom | Schonstedt u-LOCATE+ multi-frequency pipe & cable locator |
| Pressurized water line leaks through the concrete | General Gen-Ear LE acoustic leak detector |
| Grade verification for pipeline installation | Line Site or Nikon automatic level; David White theodolite for precision |
How Pipe Inspection and Locating Work Together
Most drain and utility jobs involve two questions: what the problem is and where exactly it is. Inspection cameras answer the first. Locating equipment answers the second.
Here is how each tool type works:
- Sewer camera + sonde: Push the camera down the drain. The built-in sonde transmits a 512Hz signal from inside the pipe. Walk the surface above with a sonde locator to find the exact dig point.
- Pipe and cable locator: For buried lines never inspected - water mains, gas, telecom. Transmit a radio frequency onto the line from above ground. The receiver traces it along the surface.
- Magnetic locator: No signal source needed. Detects the passive magnetic field of iron and steel objects underground - manholes, valve boxes, property markers, and well casings. Fast and simple for ferrous targets.
Not every job needs all three. The decision guide below helps you match the right tool to your situation.
What to Know Before You Buy
A few quick checks before ordering will save you from getting the wrong tool for the job.
- What pipe size and length are you working with? Camera systems are rated for specific diameters and cable lengths. A compact drain camera built for 1.5" to 4" lines will not work in a 6" or 8" sewer main.
- Is the material ferrous or non-ferrous? Magnetic locators only detect iron and steel. For plastic water mains, copper pipe, or HDPE service lines, you need a pipe and cable locator, not a magnetic locator.
- Do you need active or passive locating? Passive mode picks up signals already present on a line (power, radio). Active mode injects a signal from a transmitter for a stronger, more precise trace. Most utility locates need active mode.
- How deep is the target? The Schonstedt u-LOCATE+ reaches 19 feet. Most magnetic locators work to 16 feet. Know your target depth before choosing a model
- What sonde frequency does your camera use? Most Forbest cameras transmit at 512Hz. The FB-R2012 sonde locator and Schonstedt u-LOCATE+ are both 512Hz compatible. Confirm frequency before adding a locator to an existing camera.
Not sure which tool is right for your job? Contact our team, and we can help you confirm the right model.
Order Pipe Inspection & Locating Equipment from Cleanflow
Cleanflow Utility Supply Company is a Canadian-owned distributor supplying professional-grade pipe inspection and locating equipment to plumbers, contractors, municipalities, and utility crews across Canada and the United States.
Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, we ship to all Canadian provinces and US states. We offer free shipping on orders over $199 within Canada, with no duty or brokerage fees.
We are an authorized stocking dealer for General Pipe Cleaners, Schonstedt, Forbest, Nikon, and Line Site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of pipe inspection and locating equipment does Cleanflow carry in Canada?
Sewer cameras, magnetic locators, pipe/cable locators, acoustic leak detectors, laser levels, and marking products. Brands include Forbest, Schonstedt, and General Pipe Cleaners.
What is the difference between a magnetic locator and a pipe/cable locator?
Magnetic locators only detect ferrous (iron/steel) objects. Pipe/cable locators use radio frequencies to trace non-ferrous utilities, including plastic pipe, copper, and gas lines with tracer wire.
Which Forbest sewer camera is best for municipal sewer inspection?
The Forbest 3388ET (200-ft cable, 10" LCD, 512Hz sonde) for 4" to 10" lines. The 4188XX is the mid-range option at a lower price, with the same cable reach and sonde capability.
Can the Schonstedt u-LOCATE+ locate plastic water mains?
Yes, with a tracer wire or sonde. The u-LOCATE+ operates on 33kHz, 82kHz, and 512Hz - all compatible with standard tracer wire on plastic and HDPE water service lines.
What is an acoustic leak detector, and when do I need one?
Acoustic leak detectors amplify the sound of pressurized water escaping a pipe through the surrounding material. Used when a leak exists, but its exact location is unknown without excavation.
Does Cleanflow ship pipe inspection equipment across Canada?
Yes. All equipment ships from Winnipeg. Free shipping over $199 with no duty or brokerage. We also ship to the USA.
Do I need a sonde locator if my sewer camera already has a sonde transmitter?
Yes. The sonde transmits a signal from inside the pipe - you still need a compatible locator on the surface to receive it and mark the camera position above ground.
Can sewer inspection cameras be used in pressurized water lines?
No. Sewer cameras are built for unpressurized drain and waste lines. For pressurized water mains, use an acoustic leak detector to locate faults without entering the pipe.