What Is a CCTV Drain Survey? How It Works and What It Costs

A CCTV drain survey is the quickest and most accurate way to see the condition of your underground drains. Whether you already have a problem or want to avoid one, it gives you a clear, detailed look inside the pipes without digging anything up. Here’s how it works, what it can find and what it costs with us in Stockport.

What is a CCTV drain survey?

We push a specialist waterproof camera through your drains from a manhole, gully or other access point. The camera sends live pictures back to a screen, so our engineer can check the structural condition of the pipe as it goes. There’s no disruption to your property, and you’re welcome to watch.

What can a camera survey find?

• Cracks and fractures
• Displaced or open joints
• Tree root ingress
• Scale, fat and debris build-up
• Partly or fully collapsed sections
• Poor previous repairs
• Sags or dips in the pipe where water sits

How it works

The drains need to be clear first

To get a clear picture, the drain has to be running, or at least reasonably clean. If it’s blocked, we unblock it first. If your drains are cleaned regularly, we can usually survey them straight away.

If the blockage can’t be cleared

Occasionally a blockage or obstruction can’t be cleared. In that case we can only survey the drain if it isn’t charged (full of water). If the camera can’t see, we’ll explain the options, which sometimes means excavating at the problem point.

What you get

We’ll show you the footage, explain what we’ve found and tell you honestly whether anything needs doing. If the drain is fine, we’ll say so. If you need a formal written report, for example for insurance, a house purchase or a landlord, tell us when you book.

When is a survey worth doing?

• A drain keeps blocking
• There are smells you can’t get rid of
• You suspect a cracked or collapsed pipe
• Before a new driveway, extension or other building work
• Before buying a house, because a standard homebuyer survey usually doesn’t look inside the drains
• Before agreeing to a big repair quote

We’ve written more about drain surveys when buying a house.

How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?

It depends on the size of the property and whether we’re already there to clear a blockage:

• Free CCTV camera check with every unblock, where applicable
• Written CCTV report added after an unblock: £80 + VAT
• CCTV drain surveys: priced from a starting price that depends on the size of the property
• Drain tracing: from £250 + VAT, including mapping
• Commercial sites: from £220 + VAT

When we clear a blockage, we’ll usually have a look with the camera where needed as part of the job. The £80 + VAT is for a full report on top of that. See our CCTV drain survey page for full details.

What happens if a defect is found?

We’ll explain the options. A single crack or open joint can often be sealed with a no-dig patch repair. We do patch repairs only. Collapsed or badly damaged sections usually need excavating and replacing. Some problems, like scale or roots, can be cleared with jetting or drain unblocking equipment.

Book a drain survey

We carry out surveys across Stockport and the surrounding areas. Call 07375 521027 or WhatsApp us to book.