What a CCTV drain inspection is

A CCTV drain inspection puts a small camera inside your drain. The camera sends live pictures to a screen, so the engineer can see the pipe without digging. As a result, you get a clear answer about what is wrong and where.

The method suits most problems because every fault has a cause inside the pipe. A camera finds that cause, so the repair targets the real fault. If you want the basics first, read what a CCTV drain survey involves.

Why drains need inspecting

Drains wear out over the years. Several things damage them, and they often work together. For example:

Poor construction or badly fitted joints
Tree roots pushing into the pipe
Fat, grease and trade waste building up
Cracked or broken pipes
Ground movement

Each of these can cause a blockage that keeps coming back. Smells also appear, and they make a home unpleasant to use. Therefore it helps to learn the common causes of blocked drains before you decide on a fix.

How the survey works

The engineer feeds a camera head along the pipe from an access point, such as an inspection chamber. The camera records while it moves. The engineer watches the screen and notes each defect and its position.

The survey causes little mess because nothing needs digging up. Your garden and floors stay as they are. Additionally, you can keep a copy of the recording, which is handy if you need to show a buyer or an insurer.

What the camera can show

The picture shows the condition of the pipe walls and joints. It can also show what sits inside the pipe. For instance, you may see:

Roots growing through a joint
A crack or a pipe that has slipped out of line
Heavy scale, grease or debris
Signs that rats have found a way in

Rats can enter through a small gap at a joint. However, a camera shows that gap, so it can be repaired before the problem gets worse.

When a survey is worth it

Order a survey when the cause is unclear, since guessing wastes money. It also helps when a blockage keeps returning. Buyers often want one before they complete on a house. If you are buying or selling, see our page on a CCTV drain survey in Enfield.

A survey can come before or after cleaning. Many engineers clear the pipe first, although the order depends on the fault. Jetting blocked drains is the usual way to do it. You can also read how drain jetting can benefit you to see what it does to grease and debris.

Cost and next steps

The price depends on the length of the run and how easy it is to reach, because both change the time on site. We explain this in our guide to what changes the price of a CCTV survey. For general pricing, read how much it costs to unblock a drain.

Still not sure you need work at all? Our article on whether you need drain clearance helps you decide. Outside problems have their own guide, since they behave differently. It covers a blocked drain outside the house. You can also read a fuller account in about the CCTV drain survey.

We cover many parts of North London, for example drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Edgware and drain clearance in Wembley. See all our blocked drains services too.

Ready to book? Send the online enquiry form, because a short note on what you can see helps us plan.