CCTV drain surveys & no-dig repairs, across the UK
Camera-based drain surveys, homebuyer surveys and trenchless drainage repairs. Ask for a clear written report you can act on.
View servicesGet a quote
Tell us what you need. We'll pass your request on straight away. No obligation.
See exactly what's happening in your drains
A CCTV drain survey is a quick way to find the cause of a drain problem, or to check that a system is sound. The camera shows the fault, and a report sets it out. Relining or a patch repair can then fix many faults without digging.
What is a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey is a camera inspection of your underground drains and sewers. The engineer feeds a waterproof, self-levelling camera through the pipes, and it records their condition on video. That way, each fault can show up on screen, with its position along the pipe, and nobody has to dig.
How a CCTV drain survey works
- 01
Access & set-up
First, the engineer finds a good access point, usually an inspection chamber. They then set up the camera on a crawler or push rod.
- 02
Camera inspection
Next, the camera travels the full pipe run. It records the pipe's condition, its fall and any defects. While the camera moves, the surveyor watches the live feed and notes anything that needs a closer look.
- 03
Defect coding
Ask the surveyor to log each finding against the WRc/MSCC standard, with its distance along the pipe and how serious it is. That coding turns raw footage into a report insurers and lenders know.
- 04
Report & advice
Finally, you should get the footage and a clear report. Ask the engineer when it will be ready. It should say what to fix first, so you know what to do next.
How much does a drain survey cost?
There's no single price. The cost depends on the size of your system, how easy it is to reach, and the type of survey you need. There's no obligation, so send us your postcode. Then ask for a written quote before any work starts.
See what a survey includes →Why choose CCTV Drain Experts
- Ask for WRc/MSCC-coded condition reports from a camera survey
- Ask for a written report you can share with insurers, buyers and solicitors
- No-dig repair options where the pipe allows — relining and patch repairs
- One short form, whether you need a survey, a report or a repair
Areas covered
This site covers major UK cities and the areas around them. Find your city below, or send your postcode and we'll check.
London
Since London mixes Victorian sewers, period homes and dense new building, drain problems are common and often complex. Old clay pipes, shared drains and tree-lined streets lead to roots, cracks and repeat blockages.
Drain surveys in London →Birmingham
Because Birmingham's homes range from Victorian terraces to post-war estates and new suburbs, its drains vary just as much. A camera survey shows what is below ground, so nobody has to guess.
Drain surveys in Birmingham →Manchester
Manchester's dense Victorian terraces and fast new building put real strain on its drains. A CCTV survey is a quick way to find the cause of a problem in older shared systems.
Drain surveys in Manchester →Glasgow
Glasgow's tenements and sandstone terraces often share complex drains below ground. A camera survey takes the guesswork out of finding faults in these older, linked systems.
Drain surveys in Glasgow →Leeds
Leeds has back-to-back terraces and suburban semis, while its new estates bring drain quirks of their own. A camera survey gives you a clear answer.
Drain surveys in Leeds →Liverpool
Liverpool's Victorian terraces and older homes often hide ageing clay drains. Because a CCTV survey works from inside the pipes, it shows their true state with no digging.
Drain surveys in Liverpool →Edinburgh
Edinburgh's tenements, Georgian terraces and conservation areas call for a careful look at the drains, with no digging. A camera survey does just that.
Drain surveys in Edinburgh →Sheffield
Sheffield's hills and older homes put extra demands on its drains. A CCTV survey can show falls, blockages and damage that the slope may hide.
Drain surveys in Sheffield →Bristol
Bristol's Victorian terraces, harbourside conversions and hilly suburbs bring a wide range of drain problems. A camera survey gets straight to the cause.
Drain surveys in Bristol →Leicester
Leicester's Victorian terraces and suburbs sit on heavy clay that moves with the seasons. Since the ground shifts, it often cracks and displaces drains.
Drain surveys in Leicester →Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton's Black Country terraces and interwar homes sit on heavy clay and ground shaped by past mining. Both can crack and displace drains, while roots add to the damage.
Drain surveys in Wolverhampton →Southampton
Southampton mixes Victorian terraces, post-war homes and waterside conversions, and much of it is low-lying. That brings high water tables and ageing pipes, and a camera survey can show both.
Drain surveys in Southampton →Stoke-on-Trent
Since Stoke-on-Trent's dense Potteries terraces sit on ground marked by past mining, cracked and displaced clay drains are a common fault there.
Drain surveys in Stoke-on-Trent →Nottingham
Nottingham's Victorian suburbs sit on mixed sandstone and clay. Ageing drains, tree roots and everyday blockages are the usual suspects.
Drain surveys in Nottingham →Oxford
Oxford's period homes and low-lying riverside ground make high water tables and ageing drains the main problems. A camera survey can confirm both.
Drain surveys in Oxford →Bradford
Bradford's hilly streets of stone Victorian terraces put steep falls and ageing stoneware drains at the heart of most surveys. The camera shows where a run has failed.
Drain surveys in Bradford →Coventry
Coventry mixes surviving Victorian terraces with large post-war rebuilds, all on heavy clay. That gives a wide spread of drain faults, and a camera survey can sort them out.
Drain surveys in Coventry →Reading
Reading has low riverside ground, while its streets mix dense Victorian terraces with new-build estates. That brings high water tables, ageing pipes and build-over problems.
Drain surveys in Reading →Frequently asked questions
What is a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey is a camera inspection of your underground drains. The engineer feeds a waterproof camera through the pipes, and it records their condition on video. It can show blockages, cracks, roots and collapses, and where they are, with no digging.
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
There is no single price. The cost depends on the type of survey (home, homebuyer or commercial), and on the size of the system and how easy it is to reach. Send us your postcode and a few details. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
Do you cover my area?
This site covers major UK cities and the areas around them. If you are unsure, check the Locations page or send your postcode and we'll check.
Will I need to dig anything up?
Not to find the problem, since surveys use the access points you already have. If the drain then needs a repair, ask whether a no-dig method such as relining would work.
Can a drain be repaired without digging?
Often, yes. Relining or a patch repair can fix many faults from inside the pipe, so your drive, garden and floors stay as they are. That usually costs less than digging, too.
How quickly will I get my report?
It depends on the engineer and the job. Ask when your written report will be ready before you book, and ask for the footage as well.
Is urgent drainage help available?
There's no promise of a 24/7 call-out. For urgent flooding, sewage backing up or a full blockage, say it is urgent in the job details box. We'll pass your request on straight away.
Need a drain survey or repair?
Tell us what you need and where you are, and we'll pass your request on straight away. There's no obligation. Ask for a written quote, then decide.