CCTV Drain Surveys
A high-resolution camera films your drains and sewers in full colour. Ask for a fully coded condition report and plain-English advice.
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.
Because you can rarely see a blocked or failing drain from the surface, a CCTV drain survey sends a waterproof camera through the system instead. It records each pipe, joint and connection. You can then find the cause of a problem, or check a system is sound, with no digging.
The surveyor films the pipes in full colour, then logs each defect. Ask the surveyor to code the defects to the WRc/MSCC standard. That gives you a report you can use. It should say what is wrong, where it is, how serious it is, and what needs doing next.
For more detail, read how to read a drain survey report, the signs of a collapsed drain and what a CCTV drain survey costs.
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 shows cracks, roots, displaced joints, scale and blockages. You can then deal with the real fault, rather than guess at it.
No excavation
Since the camera goes in through the access points you already have, nobody digs up your garden or drive. That saves mess, and it saves the cost of putting things back.
Documented evidence
Ask for the full footage along with a coded report. You can then share clear proof with insurers, buyers, landlords or builders when you need to.
Accurate quotes
Once you know the exact fault and where it sits, a repair quote can match it. You then pay only for the work the drain needs.
What it usually includes
Ask the engineer to confirm what their quote covers, since this varies.
- 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 advice, and a written quote if work is needed
- Footage and a written report (ask when it will be ready)
How it 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 CCTV drain survey cost?
There is no single price for a CCTV drain survey. The cost depends on the length of the system and how easy it is to reach. It also depends on the type of job: home, homebuyer or commercial. Send us your postcode and a short note on the problem. Ask for a written 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
Each job gets its own price. Send us the details, with no obligation. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
Request a no-obligation quote →CCTV Drain Survey — your questions answered
How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?
It depends on the size of the system and how easy it is to reach. It also depends on the type of survey: home, homebuyer or commercial. Larger systems take longer to film. Send us your postcode and a short note on the problem. Ask for a written quote before any work starts.
How long does a CCTV drain survey take?
It depends on the length of the pipe runs and on access. A larger or commercial system takes longer, since there is more pipe to film. Ask the engineer when your written report will be ready.
Do you need to dig to do the survey?
No. The camera goes in through access points you already have, such as inspection chambers. Since nobody needs to dig just to find the problem, your garden and drive stay as they are.
What is the difference between a CCTV survey and a drain inspection?
A drain inspection is a short check to find the cause of one problem. A full CCTV survey covers the whole system. It usually comes with a WRc/MSCC-coded condition report, so it suits buyers, insurers and lenders.
What do I get at the end?
You should get full-colour camera footage and a written condition report. Ask for it to follow the WRc/MSCC coding standard. It should list each defect, where it is, and a clear next step. Ask the engineer when it will be ready.
Is a CCTV drain survey worth it?
Usually, yes. A survey costs far less than the wrong repair, and it shows what is wrong before anyone digs. You can then pay only for work you need, and you have evidence for insurers, buyers or solicitors.
Further reading
Get a CCTV drain survey quote
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.