UK drainage services
CCTV Drain Surveys
A high-resolution camera inspects your drains and sewers in full colour. You then get a fully coded condition report and plain-English recommendations.
What is a CCTV drain survey?
A CCTV drain survey is a camera inspection of your underground drains and sewers. We feed a waterproof, self-levelling camera through the pipework and record its exact condition on video. As a result, we can locate, measure and code every defect precisely — without any digging.
Because a blocked or failing drain is rarely visible from the surface, a CCTV drain survey sends a specialist waterproof camera through your drainage system to record the exact condition of every pipe, joint and connection. As a result, it is the fastest and least disruptive way to find the cause of a problem — or confirm that a system is sound — without any digging.
Our surveyors first capture full-colour footage, then log every defect against the industry WRc/MSCC coding standard. They turn that into a report you can actually use: what is wrong, where it is, how serious it is, and what, if anything, needs doing next.
When you need a CCTV drain survey
- Sinks, baths or toilets that drain slowly across the property
- Drains that keep blocking no matter how often they are cleared
- Foul smells, damp patches or unexplained wet ground
- You are buying a property and want the drains checked before exchange
- You are planning an extension or building work near a drain run
- An insurer, lender or solicitor has asked for a drainage report
Why it matters
See the real cause
The camera pinpoints cracks, root ingress, displaced joints, scale and blockages precisely. As a result, you diagnose the real fault instead of guessing at it.
No excavation
Because the camera works through existing access points, we diagnose the issue without digging up your garden or drive. You therefore avoid disruption and unnecessary reinstatement costs.
Documented evidence
You get full footage alongside a coded report. Consequently, you can share solid proof with insurers, buyers, landlords or contractors whenever you need it.
Accurate quotes
Knowing the exact defect and its location means any repair is priced correctly the first time. In other words, you only pay for the work the drain actually needs.
What's included
- High-resolution colour video of the full pipe run
- WRc/MSCC-coded log of every defect, with its distance and severity
- Location and depth of access chambers and connection points
- A plain-English summary of what is wrong and how urgent it is
- Prioritised repair recommendations, and a fixed quote if work is needed
- Report and footage delivered, usually the same day
How it works
- 01
Access & set-up
First, we locate a suitable access point — usually an inspection chamber — and prepare the camera crawler or push rod. Because the right entry point matters, we choose it carefully before any footage begins.
- 02
Camera inspection
Next, the camera travels the full pipe run and records its condition, gradient and defects in high resolution. Meanwhile, our surveyor watches the live feed and flags anything that needs a closer look.
- 03
Defect coding
We then log every observation against WRc/MSCC standards, noting its distance along the pipe and its severity. This coding turns raw footage into a report insurers and lenders recognise.
- 04
Report & advice
Finally, you receive the footage and a clear report, usually the same day. Alongside it, we set out prioritised recommendations so you know exactly what to do next.
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
There is no single price for a CCTV drain survey, because the cost depends on the length and accessibility of the system and whether it is a residential, homebuyer or commercial job. Send us your postcode and a short description of the problem, and we will give you a clear, fixed-price quote before any work starts.
What affects the price
- Length and complexity of the pipe run
- How accessible the inspection chambers are
- Whether the drains need clearing before the camera can pass
- Residential versus commercial system
- Where you are in the country
Because we quote every job on its specifics, send us the details and we will give you a firm, no-obligation, fixed-price figure. Get a free, no-obligation quote →
CCTV Drain Survey — your questions answered
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
It depends on the size and accessibility of the system, and on whether it is a standard residential survey, a homebuyer survey or a commercial job — larger and less accessible systems take longer to inspect. For a clear, fixed-price quote, send us your postcode and a short description of the problem.
How long does a CCTV drain survey take?
Most residential surveys take 45–90 minutes on site. Larger or commercial systems take longer, since there is more pipework to inspect. In most cases, your report is issued the same day.
Do you need to dig to do the survey?
No. Because the survey is carried out through existing access points such as inspection chambers, no excavation is needed just to diagnose the problem. As a result, your garden and driveway stay exactly as they are.
What is the difference between a CCTV survey and a drain inspection?
A drain inspection is a focused check to diagnose one specific problem. A full CCTV survey, by contrast, is a comprehensive, WRc/MSCC-coded condition report of the whole system, so it is well suited to buyers, insurers and lenders.
What do I get at the end?
You receive full-colour camera footage together with a written, WRc/MSCC-coded condition report. Specifically, it lists every defect, its location and a clear recommendation — usually the same day.
Is a CCTV drain survey worth it?
Almost always. Because a survey costs a fraction of a wrong repair, it tells you exactly what is wrong before anyone digs. As a result, you only pay for work you actually need — and you get evidence for insurers, buyers or solicitors.
Related services
Get a CCTV drain survey quote
Tell us what you need and where you are, and we will come back with a clear price and the earliest available appointment. Because we quote every job individually, you only pay for the work your drains actually need.