A homebuyer survey looks at the building, and the surveyor usually only lifts the covers. A camera survey travels through the pipes between the chambers and shows cracks, displaced joints, roots, sunken sections and deformed pipe.
Insurers usually want evidence of a defect and its cause before agreeing to repairs, and buyers can use the findings when negotiating. Where a drain keeps blocking, the camera shows what is catching the debris.
What the work covers
Pipes jetted before the camera goes in if grease or silt would block the view.
Each accessible run inspected between chambers, with the distance shown on screen.
Each defect logged by its distance from the starting chamber so it can be found from the surface.
The material, size and direction of flow of each run recorded.
Remedies such as a patch repair, a liner or excavation noted against each defect.
Questions people ask
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
It depends on how many runs and chambers there are, whether the pipes need cleaning first and how easy the covers are to reach.
Should I get a drain survey before buying a house?
It is worth considering for older properties, homes with mature trees close by, or houses with extensions over a drain. The findings can support a price renegotiation if defects are found.
Will my insurer accept the survey?
Insurers set their own evidence requirements, so check with them first. The survey shows the defect, its location and the likely cause.
What if there are no inspection covers?
The camera can sometimes enter through a gully or rodding eye. If there is no access point, one may need to be created.
Can the survey find a leak?
It can show cracks, open joints and displaced sections where water is likely to escape. It does not measure how much water is lost.