What a CCTV drain survey is
A small waterproof camera with its own lights is fed along the drain on a flexible rod, from a gully, chamber or rodding eye. It sends a live picture to a screen, so you can see what we see as we go. We note where along the run each fault sits, so a repair can be planned rather than guessed at. Our guide to what a CCTV drain survey shows explains what the pictures mean.
What a survey can find
A drain is a buried pipe, so most problems are invisible until something goes wrong. A camera can show:
- Cracked or broken pipe
- Tree roots that have entered at a joint
- Joints that have opened or slipped out of line
- Crushed or collapsed sections
- A section that has lost its fall, leaving water standing in the pipe
- Heavy scale or grease build-up
- An object or collapse that is causing the blockage
When it is worth doing
Book a survey if a drain has blocked more than once or twice in a year, if you can smell drain odours but cannot find the source, if there is a wet or sinking patch of ground along the line of a drain, or if you are about to build an extension or lay a driveway close to one. Damaged drains can also let pests in, which is a good reason not to leave a problem unchecked. Buying a house? See pre-purchase drain surveys.
_mosaic.webp?v=2)
_mosaic.webp?v=2)
How the survey works
We open the nearest access point, and if the pipe is dirty we clear it first so the camera can see. Then we run the camera along the drain, in whichever direction gives the clearest picture, and talk you through what appears on the screen. When we have finished, we explain what we found, whether it needs repairing now or can be watched, and what the options are. You can ask for a written report if you want something to keep or to pass to a solicitor or insurer.
What a camera cannot tell you
A survey shows the inside of the pipe on the day, and that is all it shows. It cannot see through a pipe that is full of water or silt, which is why a dirty drain may need jetting first, and it cannot test how strong a pipe is. A very tight bend or a collapse can stop the camera getting further along the run. When that happens we tell you what we could and could not see, rather than leave you assuming the rest of the drain is fine.
What affects the price
The length of drain to be surveyed, the number of separate runs, and how easy the access points are to open all matter. If the pipe needs jetting first so that the camera can see, that is part of the job. A written report, or an out-of-hours visit, will also change it. We confirm a price before we start.
What happens after you call
You speak to the team. Tell us what the drain has been doing and where the access points are, and we agree a time. On the day we survey the drain, show you the findings on screen, and explain what we recommend and why.