A CCTV drain survey uses a small camera to look inside a pipe. Because the camera records video, you can see the pipe’s condition without digging. This guide explains how a survey works, what it finds and when to book one.

How a CCTV drain survey works

An engineer feeds a waterproof camera into the drain through an access point, such as a manhole or an inspection chamber. The camera sits on a flexible cable and sends live pictures to a screen. Because the drain is usually cleared first, the picture is clear. The engineer records the video and notes where each fault sits along the pipe.

What a survey can find

A survey shows problems that you cannot see from above ground. For example, it can reveal cracks, displaced joints and roots growing through the pipe wall. It can also show scale, grease build-up and sections that have collapsed. While a rod can only tell you that a pipe is blocked, a camera shows why. How CCTV drain inspections work covers the process in more depth, and about the CCTV drain survey explains what the report includes.

When to book a survey

Several situations call for a camera check. A drain that blocks again and again is the clearest one. If you are buying a property, a survey shows the drains’ condition before you commit. Similarly, damp patches, sinking ground or a strange smell can all point to a hidden fault. Do you need a CCTV drain survey helps you decide, and main drain keeps clogging explains the repeat-blockage case.

What happens after the survey

The engineer reviews the footage and explains what it shows. Some faults only need cleaning, while others need repair. For example, a cracked pipe may be lined from the inside, so nobody has to dig it up. Why we use drain relining explains when that makes sense, and how drain lining can improve your drain describes the method. If the drain just needs routine care, why drain maintenance matters shows how to plan it.

What you receive

After the survey, you should get the video and a written note of what the camera saw. The note lists each fault and says where it sits along the pipe. For example, it may mark a crack near a joint or roots entering a few metres from the chamber. Because the record is clear, it helps you compare quotes, and it helps a buyer or a surveyor understand the drain.

What a survey cannot do

A camera shows the inside of a pipe, but it cannot see through a full blockage. That is why the pipe is cleared first. It also cannot see beyond a collapsed section. In that case, the engineer reports where the camera stopped, and the next step is usually a repair. A survey does not replace advice from a structural surveyor if you suspect movement in a building.

What it costs

Price depends on the length of the pipe, since a long run takes more time. It also reflects the access, and the work needed first. CCTV drain survey cost: what changes the price explains the factors. We agree a fixed price before work starts, and there is no call-out fee.

Who does the work

A drain specialist handles both clearing and inspection, so one visit can often cover both. What a drain specialist does explains the role in plain terms. Because the survey is a record, keep a copy of the video and report for your files.

CCTV surveys in North London

Although we are based in Enfield, we offer surveys across the area, while our CCTV drain survey service page gives details for Enfield. We also take blocked drains work, including drain unblocking in Enfield, blocked drains in Barnet and drain clearance in Edgware. To ask about a survey, use the online enquiry form.