Why You Need a CCTV Drain Survey
Guesswork leads to expensive mistakes. Our high-resolution CCTV drain cameras allow us to inspect the inside of your underground pipes without any excavation. We identify exactly what is causing your drainage issues so we can recommend the most cost-effective and permanent solution.
- Home Buyer Surveys: Don’t inherit broken drains! Get a full structural report before purchasing a property.
- Recurring Blockages: Find out if tree roots, displaced joints, or collapsed pipes are causing your drains to back up.
- Build-Over Agreements: Required by Thames Water when building an extension near public sewers.
- Pest Control: Identify access points where rats or rodents may be entering through damaged pipes.
How Our CCTV Survey Works
We use industry-leading push-rod cameras and crawler units to provide crystal-clear footage and professional reports. This ensures that no defect, root ingress, or collapse is missed during our inspections. We also provide full WRC-approved condition reports with video evidence and recommendations.
Our expert engineers feed the camera into your drainage network via existing access points (like manholes), meaning there is absolutely no digging required. We watch the live footage on our monitors and log any issues instantly.
We insert a flexible, high-definition camera into your drainage system via an access point.
Our engineers monitor the live feed on a screen, recording the footage and noting the exact location.
You receive a comprehensive WINCAN report outlining the structural condition of your pipes.
FAQs for Homebuyers & Residential Properties
1. How much does a CCTV drain survey cost in my area?
Our pricing is fully transparent. A standard “Look & See” survey to diagnose recurring blockages or bad smells starts from £168 (ideal for single domestic properties). If you are buying a property, our comprehensive Homebuyer Survey, which includes a WRC-approved technical report and drainage maps, starts from £225. We provide fixed-price quotes with no hidden fees.
2. Why do mortgage lenders and insurance companies insist on a drain survey?
Standard building surveyors do not inspect underground drainage. If you purchase a property with collapsed pipes, severe root ingress, or subsidence issues, you could inherit repair bills exceeding £5,000. Lenders and insurers require our Homebuyer Survey because it produces a WRC MSCC5 standard report—the official industry benchmark—proving the structural integrity of the drainage system before you exchange contracts.
3. What are the common signs that I need a CCTV drain inspection?
You should book an inspection if you notice recurring issues such as slow-draining sinks, foul sewage smells indoors or outdoors, localized damp patches on walls, gurgling sounds from your plumbing, or unexplained rodent infestations. Rats often enter properties through compromised clay pipes. A camera survey is the only way to definitively find the source.
4. What is a Build-Over drain survey, and do I need one for my extension?
If you are planning an extension, a new build, or any structural work within 3 metres of a public sewer, local water authorities (like Thames Water) legally require a “Build-Over Agreement.” To get approval, you need a pre-construction and post-construction CCTV survey. We use sonar drain tracing to map the exact depth, condition, and direction of the pipes so your project can get Building Control sign-off without delays.
5. Can you map the drainage assets for large-scale commercial sites and new developments?
Yes. For developers, schools, and industrial site handovers, we provide comprehensive asset mapping. Our engineers can survey large-diameter culverts and complex manhole networks. We provide detailed CAD drawings and schematic layouts alongside the WRC-coded technical report, ensuring your site is fully compliant with environmental and safety regulations.
6. Can your cameras navigate small domestic property drains?
Absolutely. We have been serving local communities in Hertfordshire since 1986 and understand the local infrastructure intimately. The aging sewer network, often laid in heavy clay soil, is highly prone to root intrusion and ground movement. Our cameras are specifically calibrated to navigate these older, tighter clay pipe systems safely and effectively.
7. Will a commercial drainage survey cause disruption to my business operations?
We understand that businesses cannot afford downtime. Our CCTV drain surveys are highly efficient and non-invasive. We typically access the network via existing manholes or rodding eyes, meaning there is no excavation or major disruption required. If needed, we can schedule commercial audits during off-peak hours to ensure zero impact on your staff or customers.
8. What happens if the survey discovers a collapsed pipe or severe defect?
We are a full-service drainage company, meaning we fix what we find. If our survey identifies a structural defect, we will provide a clear, fixed-price quotation for the repair. Whenever possible, we use “No-Dig” technology (structural pipe lining or patching) to repair the pipe from the inside. This often allows us to fix the issue on the same day without digging up your car park, driveway, or garden.
9. How long does a standard CCTV drain survey take?
For a standard domestic property, a CCTV drain inspection usually takes between 1 to 2 hours. Larger commercial sites, complex build-over surveys, or full topographical drain mapping will take longer depending on the size of the network and the number of manholes that need to be accessed.
10. What exactly is included in your WRC-Approved Technical Report?
We provide a comprehensive, industry-standard data pack. This includes a PDF technical report detailing pipe materials and flow directions, official WRC defect coding (graded 1 to 5), high-definition video footage via a secure cloud link, high-resolution still images of any defects, and a schematic site plan of your drainage system.