📹 CCTV Drain Survey: What It Shows & What It Costs

Last updated: February 2025

Drain keeps blocking. You've had it cleared three times this year. £150 each time. It blocks again within weeks. You're throwing money away.

Or: you're buying a house. Surveyor says "get drainage checked". You think "is that really necessary?"

Here's what CCTV drain surveys actually show, what they cost, and when they're worth it (vs complete waste of money).

What A CCTV Drain Survey Actually Is

A camera on a cable pushed through your drains. That's it. Records video. Shows what's inside your pipes.

What the camera can see:

• Collapsed sections
• Cracks and breaks
• Tree root ingress
• Offset joints (pipe sections misaligned)
• Fat buildup
• Foreign objects stuck in pipes
• Pipe material and condition
• Exact location of problems (depth, distance from access point)

What you get:

• Video recording (USB/link—you can watch it)
• Written report explaining findings
• Photos of problem areas
• Recommendations for repairs
• Cost estimates for fixing issues found

When A Survey Is Worth It

✅ Absolutely get survey if:

• Buying a house (especially pre-1960): Old drains collapse. £400 survey finds £15,000 repair before you buy. Negotiate price or walk away.
• Drain blocks repeatedly: £180 survey finds cause. £600 repair fixes it permanently. Better than £150 x 10 unblocks.
• Selling house and buyer's surveyor recommended it: Get it done. Shows transparency. Might find nothing (good news to share).
• Slow draining (chronically): Not blocked but sluggish? Could be partial collapse, root ingress, or fatberg forming.
• Subsidence/settlement visible: Drain collapse causes ground movement. Survey finds drain damage before structure gets worse.
• Planning extension/building work near drains: Know where drains are, what condition, before you dig.

❌ Skip survey if:

• One-off blockage that cleared easily (probably just paper/hair—no survey needed)
• Brand new property (less than 5 years old—drains should be fine)
• Buying modern house with builder's warranty covering drains
• You already know there's a problem AND you're getting it fixed anyway (survey won't tell you more)

What The Survey Finds (Real Examples)

Problem 1: Tree Root Ingress

Roots from garden tree grew into drain joints. Survey shows roots visible in pipe, causing partial blockage. Will get worse.

Fix cost: £600-2,500 (root cutting + relining or excavation)

Problem 2: Collapsed Section

Old clay pipe collapsed 2m down. Sewage leaking into ground. Survey pinpoints exact location and depth.

Fix cost: £1,200-4,500 (excavate and replace section)

Problem 3: Offset Joint

Two pipe sections don't line up properly (ground settlement). Creates snag point where waste catches. Causes recurring blockages.

Fix cost: £450-1,800 (dig up and realign)

Problem 4: Fatberg

Years of fat/grease buildup coating inside of pipe. Reducing diameter from 100mm to 50mm. Eventually will block completely.

Fix cost: £180-400 (high-pressure jetting clears it—no excavation needed)

Problem 5: Channel Missing

Inside manhole, the channel (curved base guiding flow) has broken away. Waste pools instead of flowing. Smells, attracts rats.

Fix cost: £350-800 (rebuild manhole channel)

How The Survey Works (What To Expect)

1. Access points:

• Engineer locates manholes/inspection chambers
• OR removes toilet to access drain directly
• OR uses external gully (drain at ground level)

2. Camera insertion:

• Flexible cable with HD camera and light on end
• Pushed through drain, recording as it goes
• Counter measures distance (knows exactly where problems are)
• Can rotate camera to see all angles

3. Survey time:

• Single drain run: 30-60 minutes
• Full property: 2-3 hours

4. Report:

• Delivered within 24-48 hours
• Video link + written report + photos
• Recommendations and cost estimates

Pre-Purchase Surveys: What Buyers Should Know

When to get one:

• House built before 1970 (old clay/pitch fiber pipes)
• Large trees in garden near house
• Previous subsidence on survey
• Seller disclosed previous drain issues
• "Character property" (translation: old and probably has problems)

What to do with results:

• Clean bill of health: Proceed with purchase confidently
• Minor issues (£500-1,500 repair): Ask seller to fix or reduce price
• Major issues (£3,000+ repair): Negotiate significant price reduction or walk away
• Collapsed drains: Get quotes for repair, renegotiate, ensure mortgage lender is informed

Insurance Claims: When You Need Survey Evidence

Insurers want proof:

• Subsidence claim? They'll want CCTV to show drain didn't cause it (or did)
• Repeated drain issues? Survey proves it's not your fault (tree roots from neighbor, etc.)
• Damage to property from drain leak? Survey shows how it happened

Survey cost usually covered by insurance if claim valid. Keep receipts.

DIY Drain Cameras: Do They Work?

£50-150 Amazon cameras:

• Good for: Finding dropped items (wedding ring down sink)
• Bad for: Actual drain surveying (low quality, can't measure distance, miss problems)

Professional equipment:

• HD cameras with proper lighting
• Distance counter (records exact location of defects)
• Push rods rated for 50m+ (reach entire drain run)
• Recording equipment
• Cost: £8,000-15,000 (that's why survey costs £180+—equipment isn't cheap)

Verdict: DIY camera might satisfy curiosity. Won't satisfy surveyor, insurer, or mortgage lender. If you need a survey, get professional one.

What Happens After Survey Finds Problems

Minor issues (jetting can fix):

• Book jetting service (£150-380)
• Problem solved same day

Major issues (excavation needed):

• Get 2-3 quotes for repair
• Check if no-dig relining possible (cheaper than excavation)
• Plan work (drains unusable during repair—need temporary arrangements)
• Typical timeline: 2-5 days for excavation and replacement

Structural issues (collapse, subsidence):

• Notify buildings insurance immediately
• Structural engineer assessment may be needed
• Don't delay—collapse gets worse, costs escalate

Need CCTV Drain Survey?

National Drainage Dispatch: 0333 600 0990

HD camera equipment. Full video + written report. Same-day surveys available. Pre-purchase surveys (24-hour turnaround). Insurance-grade reports. Repair quotes provided if issues found.

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