Q. Do you have financing available?
A. Financing is available for the purchase of equipment.
Please call us at 641-472-7643
Please call us at 641-472-7643
Q. Why is remote imaging important?
A. Any time you need to see what is not easily accessible or show your customer what you see... remote imaging makes it possible. In this information age, remote vision systems are designed to enhance your company's ability to document or verify conditions within a structure.
Whether it’s inside a chimney, air ducts, vents, or any structure for repair, verify cleanliness, check on the ability to contain the products of combustion, find cause or origin damage assessment, remote vision becomes a vital part of checking on the ability to contain the products of combustion, find cause or origin damage assessment, remote vision becomes a vital part toward these NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) goals.
A picture can say a thousand words, but the right picture taken in the right place can be worth thousands of dollars!
Whether it’s inside a chimney, air ducts, vents, or any structure for repair, verify cleanliness, check on the ability to contain the products of combustion, find cause or origin damage assessment, remote vision becomes a vital part of checking on the ability to contain the products of combustion, find cause or origin damage assessment, remote vision becomes a vital part toward these NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) goals.
A picture can say a thousand words, but the right picture taken in the right place can be worth thousands of dollars!
Q. What happens if equipment breaks or needs repair?
A. If your unit was built from 1999 to the present, we can fix it, but as with electronics, many variables dictate this answer.
We've been repairing units for customers that are over 20 years old. As technology changes, we can sometimes upgrade the unit with a new camera or recording device. But we have kept the same cable connectors for 26 years, so most units are compatible.
We've been repairing units for customers that are over 20 years old. As technology changes, we can sometimes upgrade the unit with a new camera or recording device. But we have kept the same cable connectors for 26 years, so most units are compatible.
Q. What type of warranty is available?
A. 90 days is the standard for electronics such as the LCD screens and recorders, but we offer one-year parts and labor on the controller and the camera. Cables are not covered.
Plus, the Warranty is voided if you don't use a Stabilizer (Whisker, Mini-whisker, Mini-whisker and Whisker Combo, or Blowfish) and a locking type of rod (ex: Torque lock, ButtonLok, or Kwick lock).
Plus, the Warranty is voided if you don't use a Stabilizer (Whisker, Mini-whisker, Mini-whisker and Whisker Combo, or Blowfish) and a locking type of rod (ex: Torque lock, ButtonLok, or Kwick lock).
Q. When is a still image better than video?
A. For day-to-day operations, techs find that having a photo of a concerned area is much better than none at all. If the end result is to place an image onto a report, then digital stills work well
Q. When should I record a video while scanning?
The question for many is, will the client watch the entire video, or do they need just the areas of concern to them. Video is always a good backup if the tech is working through subrogation or a third-party documentation process. Remember to keep an original on file at your office if you give a client a DVD of the chimney!
Q. What kind of Rods do you suggest or can be used with Chim-Scan®?
A. Our cameras are compatible with Chim-Scan’s Kwik-Lock rods, Ro-Vac Button lock, and Torque Fit Rods.
They do NOT work with Euro Flex or Fiberglass screw together rods.
If you have Rods, please tell us what kind when ordering to get you the correct adaptor.
They do NOT work with Euro Flex or Fiberglass screw together rods.
If you have Rods, please tell us what kind when ordering to get you the correct adaptor.
Q. What type of Stabilizer is the best to use?
Butterfly dampers: Use the mini whisker or a modified Wakefield prefab brush on top and the blowfish on the bottom.
Masonry chimney: Use whisker on top or blowfish.
Thimbled chimneys: The 3” wheels on top of the camera, the camera, then a blowfish.
Chimneys with multiple offsets: Whiskers on top of the camera and a blowfish behind the camera or double blowfish.
If the chimney has a cap, place the whisker on top.
Masonry chimney: Use whisker on top or blowfish.
Thimbled chimneys: The 3” wheels on top of the camera, the camera, then a blowfish.
Chimneys with multiple offsets: Whiskers on top of the camera and a blowfish behind the camera or double blowfish.
If the chimney has a cap, place the whisker on top.
Q. What rods should we use to raise or lower the camera?
The camera comes with a Kwik-lock Rod male on it. This rod has been designed to provide full control of the camera so that you can turn it left or right. Plus, the rods themselves are either nylon or PVC-based. This means much less memory than Poly rods, meaning the rods will remain straight instead of bowing all the time, making scanning much easier.
Common Troubleshooting Questions
Troubleshooting Guide
Blue Screen:
If you can't find the answer here, please call us at 641-472-643
- Trouble shutting the lid. Don't force it.
- Check the lid groove to see if there's anything in it.
- If the date and time stop working, it's time to change the batteries
- Be sure that the SD card ‘clicks’ into place.
- Make sure SD is Unlocked – see small yellow tab on the left side.
- To remove the SD card, push it in so it ‘clicks and then pops out a bit. DON’T just pull it out.
- Clean off your SD card every day.
- USE stabilizers on the camera ALL THE TIME!!!!
- Make sure there's nothing on the reeler when you close the case.
Blue Screen:
- Check the 1AMP fuse
- Flip the SD Bypass switch to see if you have an image. If you don’t check the camera/cable connections.
- Check the Cam1/Cam2 Switch (if you have it) (Cam 2 is for autofocus tilt cameras and Lighthouse)
- Check the AFT/Combo switch (if you have it)
- Check F9 on the keyboard for video overlay screen and not blue (if you have a keyboard)
- Make sure ALL cables are connected before sending the camera up the chimney.
If you can't find the answer here, please call us at 641-472-643
Q. Lost image on screen?
A. All units have a 1-amp fuse that protects the circuit.
If you have a lost image, check the fuse and your cable connectors to see if they are correctly plugged together.
Also, check to see your power cord has come unplugged from the unit. If it's not pushed in all the way, you can lose the image.
Next, check to make sure your monitor is on AV1.
If none of these work - give us a call at 641-472-7643
If you have a lost image, check the fuse and your cable connectors to see if they are correctly plugged together.
Also, check to see your power cord has come unplugged from the unit. If it's not pushed in all the way, you can lose the image.
Next, check to make sure your monitor is on AV1.
If none of these work - give us a call at 641-472-7643
Q. My camera image is grainy?
In large flues and smoke chamber areas, this can be a problem. Generally, this happens when there isn’t enough light. Either turn up the light level on the controller or use an add-on exterior LED light source.
FYI - for Auto Focus cameras built after 1997, a light upgrade is available. We replaced the old screw-in bulbs with a LED light ring.
FYI - for Auto Focus cameras built after 1997, a light upgrade is available. We replaced the old screw-in bulbs with a LED light ring.
Q. Having trouble getting the camera up thru clean out doors or thimbles?
Watch Chim-Scan AFT Camera through a Thimble on our Video page and...
Ask about our “Thimble kit”!! This uses two 1/2” starter rods, then adds eight 5/8“white rods and grey Kwick Lock (K.L) Rods. If you're going through regular fireplace dampers, use a ½” rod for flexibility to start, then switch to the 7/8” grey K.L. rods.
In larger fireplaces, like those seen at Crackerbarrel ® Restaurants, the gray rods will control the camera and maneuver through the larger dampers.
Ask about our “Thimble kit”!! This uses two 1/2” starter rods, then adds eight 5/8“white rods and grey Kwick Lock (K.L) Rods. If you're going through regular fireplace dampers, use a ½” rod for flexibility to start, then switch to the 7/8” grey K.L. rods.
In larger fireplaces, like those seen at Crackerbarrel ® Restaurants, the gray rods will control the camera and maneuver through the larger dampers.