Diagnosis
CCTV Drain Survey – See the Problem Before You Pay to Fix It
A CCTV drain survey sends a camera along the drain from an inspection chamber and records what it finds, with distances. It is the step that turns “the drain keeps blocking” into a specific defect at a specific point — and it is what any credible relining or patch quotation should be based on.
What a survey can identify
- Cracks — hairline through to open fractures along the pipe barrel
- Displaced joints — sections that have shifted, leaving a lip or gap
- Root intrusion — fine root hair or thick root masses inside the bore
- Collapsed sections — pipe that has lost its shape or partly fallen in
- Debris and build-up — silt, scale, fat, wipes and foreign objects
- Structural deterioration — worn, spalled or eroded pipe walls
A survey can also confirm the drain layout, depth and direction of flow, which matters if you are planning an extension or trying to establish where responsibility sits.
How the survey leads to a repair decision
- 01
CCTV survey
The camera records the run, with distances noted so any defect can be found again later.
- 02
Identify the defect
Crack, open joint, root intrusion, deformation, partial collapse or simply build-up.
- 03
Determine the method
Localised defect → patch repair. Damage along the run → full relining. Collapse or severe deformation → excavation of that section.
The order matters. A jetting visit that clears a blockage without a survey tells you nothing about why it blocked, which is why some drains are cleared repeatedly for years. See why a drain that keeps blocking may have an underlying pipe problem.
CCTV drain survey costs
Survey pricing depends on how much pipework is filmed, how accessible the chambers are and whether you need a formal written report. The figures below are market guidance only, not quotations.
| Work | Typical UK price guidance |
|---|---|
| Basic CCTV survey | £150–£300 |
| CCTV survey with detailed report | £250–£400 |
When the fuller report is worth it
- Pre-purchase or pre-extension checks where you may need evidence later
- Insurance or warranty claims relating to drainage damage
- Disputes about a shared drain or a boundary
- Any case where you plan to compare relining quotations properly
Some companies deduct the survey fee from subsequent repair work — worth asking before you book.
Next
What the footage usually leads to
Once you know the defect, the repair route becomes much clearer. These pages cover the common outcomes.
Next step
Ask about a CCTV survey and repair options
If you already have survey footage or a report, you can attach it to your enquiry — it helps a specialist assess the repair realistically.
We are an enquiry service, not a drainage contractor. The specialist who receives your enquiry carries out the CCTV survey, quotation and any repair work.