Many people ask us what a drain camera survey is and what’s involved. Essentially, the survey is a thorough inspection of your drains by a drainage engineer. The engineer guides a CCTV camera through the pipes from above ground. They review the footage, make recordings and take photos, then produce an illustrated report covering their findings and potential next steps (repairs, for example).

CCTV cameras designed for drain inspections are ‘incredibly useful tools’, remarks one survey equipment supplier, not least because they make it possible to see pipework that’s inaccessible to people. The cameras are on wheels, so they crawl through drains with ease. They’re even fitted with LED lights to illuminate their environment.

Drain cameras are attached to cables, enabling them to be fed into drains and controlled remotely. They rotate, pan and zoom in as required. High-quality, colour footage is relayed to monitors, so drainage experts can see exactly what’s happening and identify issues.

CCTV drain surveys can be invaluable in many situations. They enable you to:
~ Find out what’s causing drainage issues
~ Check the condition of drains – something that’s particularly important when buying/selling/renting out properties
~ Locate and map drains – a drainage plan may be needed when planning building work, for instance
~ Check if drains are made of problematic materials such as pitch fibre
~ Give drains a ‘health check’

‘A drainage survey is not completed as a part of your standard building survey when buying a home,’ explains Homebuilding & Renovating magazine. That’s why it’s sensible to get a homebuyer’s drain survey too. In fact, mortgage and insurance providers may insist on one.

The drain survey can protect your interests – if it uncovers serious issues, you have the opportunity to negotiate a lower price for the property or withdraw from the sale.

CCTV drain surveys show what your drains are made of, plus the pipework’s layout and condition. They can also reveal issues such as:
~ Drain obstructions – caused by invasive roots, say
~ Damage – cracks, loose connections, collapsed drains, etc.
~ Wastewater leaks
~ Rodent infestations

Absolutely! Without a CCTV drainage survey, you wouldn’t know what’s happening in your drainage system. Surveys help you to keep your drains working properly and nip problems in the bud.

As the Designing Buildings database points out, effective drainage ‘is necessary to avoid flooding and other damage’, as well as to protect you from hazardous substances found in wastewater. So it’s always worth getting a CCTV drain inspection instead of leaving things to chance.

Drainage survey prices have decreased as CCTV equipment has become more readily available. The exact cost will depend on factors such as the drainage system’s size and whether or not you want the drains mapped. But the average price of a survey is £250, says MyJobQuote. Basic camera checks (just to locate blockages, say) cost less.

CCTV drain surveys can actually save you money by alerting you to issues before they become major, costly-to-fix problems.

CCTV drainage surveys are often completed in just one or two hours. More time may be needed if you have a large, complex drainage system, but overall this service is efficient and non-disruptive.

Yearly drainage surveys can help you to keep on top of any problems and extend your drain’s lifespan. Why not combine them with drain cleaning, another key aspect of drain maintenance?

Getting a CCTV drain survey is easy – simply contact us to book yours. We work in Bath, Bristol, Melksham, Chippenham, Weston-Super-Mare, Devizes, and beyond.