10 Professional Tips for Maintaining Your 6.8mm and Blue 5.2mm Push Cables in 2025
Push cables are important to carry out different plumbing tasks. This makes the equipment a key consideration for plumbers.
Push cables help plumbing professionals to inspect the interior of a pipe. This can be considered the lifeline of a drain inspection camera. However, poor care results in expensive repairs or replacement.
Ineffective storage lowers the lifespan of push cables. This article discusses key professional tips for maintaining the 6.8mm push cable and the blue 5.2mm push cable.
Push Cables: Understanding Different Types
The two main types of push cables are:
- 8mm push cable: This type of push cable possesses a diameter of 6.8mm, which is used for exploring the interior of the pipe. This is used to inspect long-distance pipes.
- Blue 5.2mm push cable: This form of push cable is thinner compared to the 6.8mm push cable. Due to higher flexibility, this cable is used for exploring small-diameter pipes and tighter bends.
Here is the comparison between these two types of push cable.
| Features | 6.8mm push cable | Blue 5.2mm push cable |
| Flexibility | Medium | High |
| Suggested pipe diameter | 2″ to 6″+ | 1.5″ to 4″ |
| Distance capacity | Up to 200 ft | Up to 100 ft |
| Application | Sewer lateral inspections | Kitchen/bathroom lines |
Table 1: 6.8mm Push Cable vs Blue 5.2mm Push Cable
Maintaining Push Cables the Right Way
Want to retain the integrity and longevity of the push cables? Let’s find out 10 expert tips for push cable maintenance.
1. Cleaning After Each Use
After every use, a plumber needs to clean the push cable. A microfiber cloth can be used for wiping down the tool.
There is a high chance of the buildup of grease or grime. You need to remove them to prevent buildup. A mild detergent can be used for better cleaning.
2. Ignoring Sharp Bends and Kinks
A 6.8mm push cable can be damaged if you tightly wrap it around the reel. Avoid it so that the push cable can last longer. This accounts for preventing the breakage of the internal wire. The push strength of a cable can be lowered if you bend it too sharply.
3. Conducting Damage Inspection Every Week
Push cables are subject to damage after being used for a long time. This indicates that professionals must carry out a proper inspection of this tool.
A push cable must be inspected weekly to identify leaks, abrasions, nicks, etc. Any fault identified must be acknowledged immediately. To avoid any kind of injury, plumbers must wear gloves while inspecting cables.
4. Lubricating Daily
Cleaning and drying are not enough to maintain a push cable. There is a need for lubrication so that the efficiency of the tool is increased.
Daily lubrication prevents the formation of rust on a push cable. Well, choosing the right lubrication agent is important. Like, silicone-based lubrication is ideal for the blue 5.2mm push cable to enhance its flexibility. Petroleum-based products must not be used in lubrication to avoid degradation of push cables.
5. Storing in a Dry Environment
Do you store push cables under direct sunlight? If so, change this habit immediately. Also, humidity results in corrosion in push cables. This reduces the efficiency of a cable.
It’s better to store push cables in cool and dry places. Extreme temperatures and direct sunlight should be avoided. Here are some key storage conditions and their impact on push cable longevity.
| Environment type | Risk level | Suggested action |
| Hot vehicle in summer | High | Using insulated cases |
| Unventilated damp shed | High | Adding silica gel packs |
| Climate-controlled shop | Low | Suitable for long-term storage |
Table 2: Storage Conditions and Their Impacts on Push Cable Longevity
6. Using Compatible Equipment
Maintenance becomes challenging when you use low-quality equipment in a drain camera. This also increases the chance of malfunctioning, and you have to bear costly repairs.
Mismatched parts can cause damage to a push cable. To avoid this, plumbers should use manufacturer-approved reels, connectors, and cameras.
7. Ignoring Over-Pushing
Rough usage of a 6.8mm push cable can account for its damage. Hence, you must avoid it. Ignore forcing cables around tight bends or obstacles. There is a high chance of separation of internal cables if you force them. Instead, let the camera head guide the way.
8. Rinsing with Fresh Water After Dirty Tasks
Plumbers use drain inspection cameras to perform several dirty tasks. If not washed properly, there is a high chance of contamination of the reel and reel box. Hence, this must be prevented.
A push cable must be rinsed every time you engage in any dirty task. This increases the lifespan of the plumbing tool.
9. Ensuring Monthly Checking of Connector Points
To ensure a top-notch performance of push cables, camera heads, and reel connectors must be tightened. The desired outcome is not achieved if these connector points are loosened.
A monthly inspection of connector points can offer fruitful results, and a plumber can work effectively. While inspecting a blue 5.2mm push cable, give a thorough check of the connector points. This helps in preventing electrical disconnection during drainage inspections.
10. Replacing if Performance Drops
A 6.8mm push cable or a blue 5.2mm push cable might appear in a situation where there is no scope for repairing, and it should be replaced. Some of the key considerations are excessive memory, loss of push strength, etc. Here are some of the warning signs that indicate the replacement of push cables.
| Symptom | Probable cause | Suggested action |
| The camera is not pushing beyond 20 feet | Internal kinks | Shortening or replacing cables |
| Signal dropout | Damaged internal wiring | Checking the connectors (Replace if needed) |
| Unusual stiffness | Wear or material fatigue | Replacing with a compatible model |
Table 3: Warning Signs of Push Cables
Need for Proper Maintenance
Push cables contribute to the higher productivity of the plumbers. Therefore, the professionals must treat the tool with care. Here are the top advantages of proper maintenance.
- Improvement of the lifespan of the tool
- Increase in the efficiency of the inspection
- Enhancement of jobsite reliability
To Conclude
Plumbers can execute professional inspections when they take care of push cables. Some of the top expert tips are cleaning after each use, monthly inspection of damages, regular lubrication, etc. The lifespan of the tool is increased when it is maintained properly.
Planning to Replace Push Cables to Improve Inspection?
Consider a well-known plumbing equipment supplier to obtain quality tools. This improves your performance, along with reducing mistakes. Well, proper maintenance is important to achieve better outcomes.
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