What Is a CCTV Drain Survey and Do You Need One?

What Is a CCTV Drain Survey?

A CCTV drain survey involves inserting a small waterproof camera into your drainage system to inspect the condition of your pipes from the inside. The camera feeds live footage to an engineer above ground, who can identify blockages, cracks, root ingress, collapsed sections, and other defects without any excavation.

The whole process is non-invasive. There's no digging, no disruption to your garden or driveway, and in most cases the survey takes less than an hour.

What Does a CCTV Drain Survey Show?

The camera records high-definition footage that can reveal:

• Blockages — including grease, scale, and debris build-up
• Root ingress — tree and shrub roots penetrating joints
• Cracked or broken pipes — often caused by ground movement or age
• Collapsed sections — where pipes have caved in entirely
• Misaligned joints — common in older clay pipework
• Rat infestation — entry points visible in the survey footage

After the survey, you receive a full written report with footage timestamps, photographs, and a clear explanation of any defects found.

When Do You Need a CCTV Drain Survey?

There are several situations where a CCTV drain survey is the right call:

• Before buying a property — Standard homebuyer surveys don't inspect drainage. A CCTV survey before exchange of contracts can uncover costly problems while you still have negotiating power.
• Recurring blockages — If your drains keep blocking, a survey identifies the root cause rather than just clearing the symptom.
• Before building work — Planning an extension, new build, or driveway? You'll need to know the exact location and condition of existing drains before you dig.
• Subsidence or damp — Leaking underground pipes can cause ground movement and persistent damp. A survey rules drainage in or out quickly.
• Insurance claims — Many insurers require a CCTV survey report to support drainage-related claims.

What Happens During the Survey?

The engineer arrives with a push-rod or crawler camera unit depending on the size and depth of your drainage system. Access is typically through an inspection chamber or rodding eye.

The camera travels through the pipe network while the engineer monitors footage in real time. Problem areas are logged with GPS coordinates and footage timestamps. The full report is usually delivered the same day or the following morning.

How Much Does a CCTV Drain Survey Cost?

Pricing depends on the size of the property and the extent of the drainage network to be inspected. Residential surveys are typically straightforward. Commercial and pre-development surveys involving larger or more complex systems take longer and are priced accordingly.

Call us or fill in the form and we'll give you a clear price before any work begins.

Get a Survey Booked

Yorkshire Drain Survey covers the full Yorkshire region — from Leeds and Sheffield to York, Bradford, and beyond. Same-day appointments are available in most areas.

Call 0113 734 2245 or fill in the contact form and we'll be in touch within the hour.