When a drain survey is worth booking
- Buying an older house, or one with large trees nearby
- An extension planned over or close to a drain
- An insurer asking for evidence of drain damage
- The same drain blocking every few months
- A sunken patch of paving or lawn along a drain run
Drain surveys in Cardiff
On the terraces of Canton, Roath and Cathays, the drain behind the house often serves several homes. The camera shows where it runs and whether it is sound, which matters before a side-return kitchen extension is dug.
In Llandaff, Cyncoed and Whitchurch, runs out to the road are longer and pass under drives and patios. Roots, cracked clay pipes and sags where the ground has settled are the defects most often found there.
Get a quote in CardiffCardiff drain surveys: extensions, trees and shared lets
Welsh Water asks to be told about building over or within 3 metres of its sewers and lateral drains. A survey before the foundations are dug shows the pipe’s line and condition.
A drainage and water search ordered by a buyer’s solicitor shows whether a public sewer is recorded within the boundary. That matters where an existing extension sits over the shared drain.
A mortgage valuation does not inspect the drains. A survey before exchange records each length and shows where the pipe joins the shared run.
In Cathays and Plasnewydd, a survey after repeated blockages shows whether a pipe defect or tenant waste is the cause. That decides whether the answer is a repair or a word with the tenants.
Areas of Cardiff we cover
- Cathays CF24
- Roath and Plasnewydd CF24
- Canton CF11
- Llandaff CF5
- Whitchurch and Rhiwbina CF14
- Heath and Llanishen CF14
- Cyncoed and Penylan CF23
- Pontprennau CF23
- Radyr and Morganstown CF15
What a survey 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.
How a drain survey is carried out
- Lift the covers
Inspection covers are lifted and the drain is jetted first if it is too dirty for the camera.
- Run the camera
The camera is pushed through each run on a rod, with the distance from the chamber shown on screen.
- Log the findings
The size and material of each pipe are logged, with each defect located and captured as a still image.
What the price depends on in Cardiff
- How many runs and chambers the drains have
- Whether the pipes need jetting before the camera goes in
- How easy the inspection covers are to reach
- Whether there is an access point or one needs to be made
- Long runs under drives and patios in Llandaff, Cyncoed and Whitchurch
CCTV drain surveys in Cardiff: questions
Will Welsh Water need to know about my extension?
Its guidance asks to be told about building over or within 3 metres of its sewers and lateral drains. Welsh Water decides what it needs in each case.
What does a drain survey record?
The condition of each length between manholes, defects such as cracks, roots and sags, and how far along the run each one sits.
Is a survey worth it on an older semi in Whitchurch?
It is worth considering if large trees stand near the drain line, the drains have blocked before or you plan to build over them.
Booking a drain survey in Cardiff
Tell us the address, the reason for the survey and whether the drain runs under an extension, a patio or a neighbour's garden.
This service is carried out by Fixwise Property Services, a Dragon Multi-Trade brand.