How Drain Surveys Work: CCTV Drain Inspection Explained
A CCTV drain survey uses a camera pushed through the pipework to find blockages, damage and misconnections without digging anything up. Here's how it works and when you need one.
Short answer: a CCTV drain survey uses a waterproof camera on a flexible rod, pushed or fed through the drain, to record live footage of the inside of the pipework, showing exactly where a blockage, crack, root ingress or misconnection is located, without any digging.
What the survey involves
The camera is inserted at an access point, usually a manhole or inspection chamber, and fed along the pipe run while recording. The engineer watches the live feed, notes the distance travelled using a built-in counter, and can pinpoint the exact location of any defect from the surface using a locator signal, which is what allows a repair crew to dig in precisely the right spot rather than guessing.
When you typically need one
- Recurring blockages that keep coming back after rodding or jetting, suggesting a structural cause rather than just debris
- Before buying a property, particularly older ones or those with a history of drainage issues, as part of pre-purchase due diligence
- Before building work near existing drain runs, to confirm exactly where pipework is and its condition before you build over or near it
- For an insurance claim, where a survey provides evidence of the cause and location of a drainage problem
What the survey can reveal
Common findings include tree root ingress through pipe joints, cracked or collapsed sections of pipe, displaced joints, and misconnections where a pipe has been incorrectly connected to the wrong system. Each of these shows up clearly on camera in a way that isn't possible to diagnose from ground level.
What happens next
The outcome depends what's found. A blockage from debris or roots is usually cleared by high-pressure jetting. A cracked or displaced section can often be repaired without digging using a patch repair or full relining, while a fully collapsed section may need traditional excavation. You'll typically receive a written report with the footage and a clear recommendation, so you know exactly what's needed before agreeing to any further work.
Talk to us about your project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind. We'll arrange a site visit and provide a written, itemised quotation.