See Inside Your Drains Without Digging
We carry out CCTV drain surveys Gloucestershire homeowners, landlords and businesses use to find out what is happening below ground. A waterproof camera travels along the pipe and shows blockages, cracks, displaced joints and root ingress as they really are, so decisions are based on evidence rather than guesswork.
Jet Plumb is a local, family-run team with over 20 years of experience in drainage. Every survey is recorded, you receive a copy of the footage, and quotes are free with no call-out charge. We survey drains for homes, rental properties and business premises of every size.
What Happens During a Camera Survey
We lift a manhole cover or use an existing access point and feed a camera into the drain on a flexible rod. Images are sent live to a screen, so our engineer watches the inside of the pipe as the camera moves along it, noting the position of every joint, junction and defect. Junctions, bends and changes in pipe material are all noted as the camera passes them.
If the pipe is blocked or coated in debris, we may jet it clean first so the camera has a clear view. Our high-resolution cameras give a sharp picture, and the whole inspection is recorded from beginning to end. The distance the camera has travelled is tracked, so we can tell you how far from the access point each fault lies.
Afterwards we explain what we saw in plain English, show you the relevant parts of the footage and recommend the next step. That could be nothing at all, a clean, a patch repair, lining or excavation. Because we carry out all of those repairs ourselves, you deal with one team throughout.
- Live camera inspection of drains and private sewers
- Location of blockages, cracks, collapses and root ingress
- Pre-jetting where needed for a clear picture
- Recorded footage with a copy for your records
- Plain-English explanation of the condition of each run
- Recommendations for cleaning, lining or repair
Recurring Blockages
When the same drain keeps blocking, the camera shows why. It might be a sagging section holding waste, a displaced joint catching paper or a gradual build-up of fat. Once the cause is clear, the fix can be aimed squarely at it.
Pre-Purchase Checks
Buying a property? A survey before exchange shows the condition of the drains you are about to take on. Our dedicated homebuyer survey covers this in more detail, with recorded evidence you can use when negotiating with the seller.
Locating Damage
Cracks, fractures and collapsed sections are pinpointed by their distance along the pipe, so any excavation or patch repair happens in exactly the right place. That keeps digging, disruption and the cost of putting things right as low as possible.
Tracing Drain Runs
Not sure where your drains go, or which manhole connects to which? Following the camera through the pipe reveals the route, junctions and connections, which is useful before building work and when working out who is responsible for a section.
Odour Investigations
Persistent drain smells with no obvious source are often caused by a hidden crack, a broken joint or waste collecting in a dip. A camera survey finds the point where gas or sewage is escaping, so it can be properly repaired.
Post-Repair Inspections
After lining, patching or excavation, a final camera run confirms the work has done its job. It gives you a recorded view of the repaired pipe, which is useful for your own files or when you eventually come to sell.
Surveys Before Building Work
Extensions, conservatories and new driveways often sit close to existing drains. Surveying the pipes before work begins shows their route and condition, so any repairs can be done while the ground is open and access is easy.
It can also save an expensive surprise later, if a damaged pipe would otherwise end up buried under new foundations. Your builder can use the footage when planning the job. A second survey once the build is finished confirms the drains were not damaged during construction.
Common Faults a Camera Picks Up
Blockages are the most obvious finding, but a camera also reveals the slower problems that cause them. Fat and scale narrow the bore over the years. Joints shift as the ground moves, leaving a lip that catches waste. Roots push through tiny gaps and spread inside the pipe.
We also come across cracked and fractured clay pipes, sections that have sagged and now hold standing water, and pipes that have partly or fully collapsed under the weight of the ground above.
Pitch fibre pipes, found in some homes built in the mid-twentieth century, can blister and lose their shape, and a camera shows this clearly as well.
Knowing which of these you are dealing with tells us whether jetting will solve the problem or whether a liner, a patch or excavation is the lasting answer.
When a CCTV Survey Makes Sense
A survey is worth booking whenever a drain problem has no obvious cause, or before you spend money on the wrong fix. Common reasons include:
- The same drain blocking again and again
- A sewage smell with no visible source
- Water pooling or ground sinking near a pipe run
- Suspected cracked, broken or collapsed pipes
- Planning an extension or building near a drain
- Checking a drain after lining or repair work
- Confirming whether a fault sits on your side of the boundary
Book a Drain Camera Survey
To arrange a CCTV drain survey at your home, rental property or business premises, call Jet Plumb on 01453 827124. We give free, no-obligation quotes and never charge for the call-out.
Our engineers cover the whole county, including Gloucester, Cheltenham, Quedgeley, Hardwicke, Hucclecote and Stroud. If a survey uncovers a problem, we can quote for the repair as well and keep you informed at every stage, so you always know where things stand.
CCTV Drain Surveys FAQs
Common questions about cctv drain surveys in Gloucestershire.
Yes. We record every CCTV survey from start to finish and give you a copy to keep. It is useful for your own records, for insurance claims, for showing a landlord, managing agent or builder, and for comparing the condition of the pipe if you have it checked again in future.
No. The camera goes in through existing manholes, inspection chambers, gullies or rodding points. If there is no usable access point, we discuss the options with you before doing anything. The whole idea of a camera survey is to understand the drain without disturbing your garden, driveway or floors.
Often, yes. Persistent smells usually come from a blockage, a cracked pipe letting gas escape or a damaged joint. The camera shows where waste is collecting or where the pipe has failed. If the smell turns out to be coming from inside, such as a dry trap, we can check that on the same visit.
Yes. We clear blockages by rodding and high-pressure jetting, remove tree roots, fit patch and full CIPP liners, and carry out excavation and pipe repairs. You get one team from diagnosis to repair, and the footage means our quote is based on what we have actually seen.
Recorded footage gives clear evidence of the type, location and extent of a drain fault, which is the kind of information insurers usually want to see. We cannot tell you whether a claim will be accepted, but we can provide a visual record of the damage and explain what caused it.
Yes. Alongside domestic work, we survey drains and private sewers for offices, shops, restaurants, hotels, farms and industrial sites throughout Gloucestershire. Regular surveys suit businesses that cannot afford an unexpected blockage, and we can schedule visits outside your busiest periods.
The camera work is the same, but the purpose differs. A general CCTV survey investigates a problem you already have or a drain you are planning to build near. A homebuyer survey checks the drains of a property you are about to buy, so you know about faults before exchange and can factor repairs into your offer.
Related Drainage Services
Home Buyer Drain Surveys
A camera survey of the drains at the property you are buying, carried out before you exchange. You get recorded footage and clear advice to support your offer or your negotiations with the seller.
Drain Repairs
Cracked, leaking and collapsed drains diagnosed by CCTV, then repaired by patch lining, full relining or excavation, whichever suits the damage. Fully insured, with all work guaranteed.
Blocked Drains
Toilets, sinks, showers and outside drains cleared quickly by local engineers. We find the cause, clear the whole pipe and never charge for the call-out, day or night.