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
CCTV drain surveys in Swansea
Older houses in Uplands, Mount Pleasant, Brynmill and Sketty often still have their original clay pipes with mortar joints. The camera travels each length and records cracks, displaced joints and root entry.
On the hillsides of Townhill and Mayhill, runs down to the sewer in the road below can be long and steep. In shared houses in Brynmill and Uplands that keep blocking, a camera run after jetting shows whether a defect is catching waste.
Get a quote in SwanseaDrain surveys around Swansea: what affects the job
A homebuyer survey looks at what can be seen from the surface. A camera survey before exchange shows defects inside the pipe while there is still time to ask the seller.
Mature trees in Sketty, Derwen Fawr and Mumbles send roots into cracked joints. The survey shows how much of the pipe they fill, which decides between cutting them out and relining.
Welsh Water asks to be told before building over or within 3 metres of its sewers or lateral drains. A survey records where the pipe runs and its condition.
If the camera finds the pipe sound after jetting, the cause lies in what goes down the sinks and toilets. A defect found on the run points to a repair.
Areas of Swansea we cover
- Townhill and Mayhill SA1
- Uplands and Brynmill SA2
- Sketty and Derwen Fawr SA2
- Killay and Dunvant SA2
- Mumbles and West Cross SA3
- Bishopston and Caswell SA3
- Gowerton and Penclawdd SA4
- Morriston SA6
- Llansamlet SA7
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 Swansea
- 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, steep runs to the sewer on hillside streets such as Townhill and Mayhill
CCTV drain surveys in Swansea: questions
Do I need a CCTV drain survey when buying in Swansea?
It is optional. It is most useful for older houses, houses with large trees nearby and properties with past blockages.
Can a survey show who is responsible for a damaged pipe?
It records where the damage is, which shows whether it sits on your own length or on a shared one that Welsh Water looks after.
What does Welsh Water need for a build-over application?
Welsh Water’s guidance sets out what it asks for. A survey shows where the pipe runs and its condition before work begins.
CCTV drain survey in Swansea
Send the address, why you need the survey (a purchase, an extension or a drain that keeps blocking) and where the manholes or inspection chambers are.
This service is carried out by Fixwise Property Services, a Dragon Multi-Trade brand.