There are several situations where a CCTV drain survey is worth arranging for your property. The inspection uses specialist equipment to examine your drainage from the inside: a camera is fed along the pipes and the picture is relayed to a screen, so our engineers can see exactly what is happening below ground.
This approach has changed the way drains are checked, because nobody needs to dig up or disturb your system just to take a look. We can see inside the pipes while everything stays in place, which is far cleaner for everyone.
So when does a survey make sense? Below are the most common reasons people book one.
Finding The Cause Of A Drainage Problem
The main purpose of a CCTV drain survey is to uncover faults in your drainage system. When something is clearly wrong but the cause has not been pinned down, a camera inspection is often the answer. As the camera travels along the pipe, the engineer watches for anything unusual, from cracked or collapsed sections to blockages and tree roots growing into the pipe.
If you suspect a problem, it pays to have it looked at. A survey can pick up faults at an early stage, before they grow into bigger jobs that cost more to put right.
Checking Drains Before Building Work
Planning an extension, or any project that means moving or building over part of your drainage? A survey beforehand shows the condition of the pipes and helps map out where any weak spots lie. Faults can then be dealt with before the builders arrive, which can save time and money once the project gets under way.
Building close to drains is covered by Part H of the Building Regulations, and building over or near a public sewer normally needs the agreement of the water company. Knowing exactly where your pipes run, and what condition they are in, makes those conversations with building control and the water company much simpler.
Surveys When Buying A Home
If you are moving house, you will want to know the drains are in good order. A survey sits alongside the other checks you carry out during a purchase and shows whether the system has any hidden faults. If it turns up something like a cracked pipe, you have evidence to raise with the seller when you discuss the price. We also carry out dedicated home buyer drain surveys.
When A Blockage Keeps Coming Back
A drain that blocks once may simply have been misused. A drain that blocks again and again usually has something wrong with the pipe itself. A joint that has slipped out of line can catch toilet paper, roots can form a net that traps waste, and a section that has sunk can hold silt and water in a dip.
Drain jetting clears the blockage and also leaves the pipe clean, so the camera can show the walls and joints clearly. Arranging a CCTV drain survey at that point means the real cause is found, rather than the same blockage being cleared over and over.
After Subsidence, Leaks Or Root Problems
Damp patches, dips in the paving above a drain, or cracking in walls near the pipe can all point to a leaking drain, and so can large trees growing close to your drainage. A camera inspection shows whether the pipe is cracked, has open joints or has roots inside. The recorded footage is useful evidence if you need to discuss the damage with your insurer or a neighbour.
What You Get From A Jet Plumb Survey
Our engineer will talk you through what the camera found, where any faults are and what they mean for your drains. The footage is yours to share with anyone else involved, such as a buyer, a builder or a landlord.
If work is needed, we explain the options, which may range from a simple clean to patch lining a single crack or a larger drain repair. The quote is free and carries no obligation, so you can decide what to do next in your own time.
Getting Ready For The Survey
There is very little to prepare. It helps if you know where your manhole covers are and can clear anything on top of them, such as plant pots, gravel or garden furniture. If the problem only happens at certain times, for example after heavy rain or when the washing machine empties, tell the engineer, as it helps them know where to look.
Book A CCTV Drain Survey With Jet Plumb
If you think something may be wrong with your drains, a camera survey lets us inspect the system and diagnose the fault without any disruptive building work. We record the footage and give you a copy to keep.
Homeowners, landlords and businesses in Stroud and across Gloucestershire can call Jet Plumb on 01453 827124 to book a survey or ask for a free, no-obligation quote.
