Drains and pipes are a crucial part of any building’s infrastructure, so it’s important to know what condition they’re in. Drain surveys can help you determine the quality of your existing pipework and locate any blocked drains.
These surveys are frequently used to diagnose drains that are experiencing poor drainage and continue to clog despite being cleaned out with a pressure flush or other methods. Common drain problems that produce clogs are cracked or collapsed pipes caused by material deterioration, tree roots, or other excavation.
A drain survey costs money, but it could save you a lot of money in the long run by preventing future drain blockages. Drain CCTV surveys are extensive and thorough, and they usually produce a full CCTV inspection report.
CCTV drainage surveys used to be expensive. However, the average CCTV drain survey cost has dropped significantly in recent years, so be aware of high survey charges; even a huge drainage system should not cost more than a few hundred pounds, with the typical cost being much lower.
The average cost of a CCTV drain survey is around £350, but this will vary depending on the size and condition of the drains being surveyed. CCTV drain survey cost, inspection, and reporting usually depend on the size of the property and drainage system being assessed. This is where the pricing varies across individuals.
What is a Drain CCTV Survey?
A drain survey is a full and thorough inspection of your drain and pipe system. Professional camera engineers will use commercial-grade pipes and CCTV cameras to inspect all the pipes in your system. They will look for any damage, blockages, or poor installation that could cause problems in the future. A full drain inspection report will be provided, detailing any issues that were found in your drainage pipes and what needs to be done to fix them.
The inspection will also let you check the integrity of your drain system and fully understand its condition while teaching you how to maintain it properly. This can save you money in the long run and prevent future drain blockages. Knowing how to keep your drains clear is essential for lasting drainage health.
Labour Costs and Timescales
The length of time a drain survey takes is dependent on how many outlets and drains the property has. The more outlets and drains found during the inspection, the longer it will take to complete. The average price will vary depending on the type of drain survey required. A basic drain survey to locate the issue can cost around £90 whereas a CCTV survey (including video mapping) may cost up to ~£330.
There are various drainage surveys, but the most common is a Standard Drain Survey. It’s important to hire a professional because such service isn’t one-size-fits-all — it’s imperative to find a surveyor who caters to your specific needs and situation. A standard drain survey involves the identification and recording of existing drainage lines and the identification of any defects that may exist.
During this process, the specialists will take satellite images and measurements to get an accurate scope of work. The cost for this type of service varies depending on both the length of your entire drainage system and if you want additional reports or advanced documentation for future reference.
Cost Factors That Affect Drain Surveys
The cost of a drain survey can range from £100 to ~£300 depending on the type of inspection that’s required. The factors that affect the price of a drain survey include:
The type of house you have
Different types of properties require different professional drainage services depending on how the house has been designed. If a home is large and winding or has sharp corners, larger pipes will need a larger camera to correctly visualize the piping structure — this naturally costs more than cameras for small pipes.
Is it accessible?
Drain surveys depend on accessibility. The more accessible the drain, the less costly it is and the faster you will be able to carry out a drain survey. Not all drains are easily accessible and having to excavate ground or employ someone to discover the entrance/exit to your drain may increase your costs. This can add £100-£300 in labour expenses and time to the overall job.
The length of the drain
The length of the drain is an important factor that is directly proportional to the cost of a drain survey. Longer drains will generally require more time and as such, you can expect to pay more for them. A CCTV check for a larger property costs between £350 and £450 and can take up to 4-6 hours.
What’s Involved in a Drain Survey?
Drain surveys involve the use of CCTV (closed-circuit television) to inspect your drains. They are used to diagnose drainage problems and to see if there is a blockage. Whether it is in your shower or within a pipe, or a drain. When engaging a tradesperson, the following is a general step-by-step guide to what a drain survey inspection comprises.
Inspection
The specialist will arrive with a variety of drain inspection tools, including a waterproof camera, access rods, remote-controlled crawlers, and solar units. Once installed, the specialist will get access to your drainage system and position the CCTV camera inside, pushing the access rods through the complete house system.
CCTV survey
The CCTV footage will be transmitted back to the engineer once the camera has done a thorough assessment of the entire property. Once the filming is complete, the engineer will inspect your drains and drainage system for any potential obstructions, infestations, corrosions, or rusts.
Results
The engineer will be able to report their findings on the condition of the drain pretty fast, as well as their advice and recommendations on what you should do, such as cleaning and repairs. Depending on how serious the problem is, you’ll be able to discuss possible solutions with your specialist and schedule a repair visit at a later time.
What Will a Drain Survey Find?
If a drain survey is performed, a professional will check the areas of your home that have been experiencing plumbing problems and look for the cause of these problems. Below is a list of the general reasons for a drainage report and what they can find.
Blockages
Tree roots can cause your drains to block up and close over. Blocked drains can also be caused by fractured or damaged pipework, tree roots seeping through the ground, or even nails protruding from your sink.
The Drain Survey will find any drain blockage that could cause the failure of plumbing. It should include details of any wet areas in the drains, blocked or poorly installed tubs and showers, and any problems with water supply pipes. If a pipe has been laid outside your property, you should also ask for details of its location and age.
Collapsed Drains
A drain survey will find the type of damage to your drains. Collapsed drains are a common problem and often repairable. If the hole is too large to be repaired or if it is in an area that cannot support the weight of a person, then you may have to replace the pipe.
If you suspect a collapsed drain, you should get your drainage system inspected by a professional. If they discover a collapsed or leaky drain, they must usually excavate the ground before repairing and replacing the pipes.
Corrosion
For homeowners, the drain survey should identify any potential problems related to corrosion. Corrosion is an interaction between two dissimilar metals that causes a reaction that results in the precipitation of elemental metal on the surface of a material.
Corrosion can occur in pipes that have been exposed to seawater, saltwater and freshwater are corrosive. If your water starts running colder, slower, and with a bad odour, you should get your pipes and drainage checked.
Animal Infestation
A drain survey can find animals living in your drainage system, including parts of your home like crawl spaces and basements. The animal infestation may be a root cause of serious problems such as backups and sewage flooding, making it important to identify the problem before it becomes worse.
The first step is to contact pest control to clean the area; once safe, you’ll need to have a drain study performed to ensure that no other areas of your drains were harmed in the process.
How Long Does a CCTV Drain Inspection Take?
The length of your home’s drainage system will determine how long it takes to do a drain survey. Larger homes usually have longer drainage systems.
The contractor will need to ensure that the drain CCTV camera has covered every section of the system for a comprehensive and thorough assessment, therefore the longer the drainage system, the longer it will take to conduct the study.
The survey should take about 1-2 hours to complete on average. It may take a little longer to complete your drainage system if it is exceptionally extensive or complex. It should, however, always be done within a day.
What Are The Types of CCTV Drain Survey?
When considering a drain study, it’s important to understand the scope of the survey. This will help you comprehend the prospective costs and will give you a better sense of which CCTV drain survey is right for you.
Your local drain specialists will offer you two types of CCTV drain surveys: a basic CCTV drain survey and a full CCTV drain study with a report. More information about these two types of drain surveys is provided below.
Basic CCTV Drain Survey
A basic survey will include an investigation in addition to the survey. The contractor will use the camera to inspect the drainage system, and the engineers will detail any faults discovered during the survey.
This type of survey is essentially a drainage system inspection. Keeping this in mind, you will not receive a report or any of the survey’s CCTV footage.
Full CCTV Drain Survey With Report
A full survey is the most extensive and thorough survey and contains everything that the basic CCTV drain survey provides, plus some extras. The drain engineer will supply you with a complete written report outlining everything discovered during the survey, as well as a copy of the CCTV footage.
A thorough drain survey report will often include a condition report for all drains on your property, a map of all drains, and some still photographs and video footage with survey details.
What Are The Benefits of CCTV Drain Survey?
CCTV drain surveys provide an efficient, cost-effective method for analyzing the condition of your entire drainage system. There are several common causes of blocked drains and knowing how to prevent drain blockages can save you money down the line.
This inspection provides more information than a standard visual inspection and can pinpoint potential issues. Below is a list of the main benefits of this type of work:
Fast Analysis
CCTV Drain Survey will help you identify problems with your plumbing system such as broken or clogged pipes, and water backup. A CCTV drainage survey is the fastest technique to analyse and diagnose these drainage system problems. When the camera is lowered into your system, the contractor may watch everything on a screen in real-time.
Cost-Effective
CCTV Drain Survey can help you identify your drainage issues and save on costly repair bills. CCTV has the power to detect problems before they become major problems. You can avoid these costly problems by getting a CCTV drain survey. A CCTV drain survey is an excellent value for money due to its accuracy and precision. Not only is it more accurate, but it also takes less time to detect the problem.
Accurate Diagnosis of Issues
A CCTV drain survey can help you know the exact location of the drainage problem and accurately diagnose the issues facing your drains and help you with their timely and cost-effective preventive maintenance. Increased knowledge about the drainage system allows for quick identification of potential problems, which in turn helps reduce downtime and maintenance costs.
Great For New Property Owners
A CCTV drain survey is great for new property owners who may be unfamiliar with the complexity of mains and sewerage systems. A qualified technician will identify issues that could cause future problems, giving you a fighting chance to avoid expensive repairs. The survey will also help to reduce some of the expenditures associated with the pricey process of purchasing a new home.
Minimum Disruption
A CCTV drain study will not only save you money and time, but it will also reduce any inconvenience to an absolute minimum. The CCTV camera is modest and does the entire job of diagnosing and finding any problems within the drain.
This means that once the problem has been identified, the contractors may focus their efforts just on that section of the drain. This eliminates the need for a full-scale excavation to discover the problem.
Can I Conduct a Drain Survey Myself?
A drain survey is an excellent approach to inspect your drainage system and identify any issues. So, you may believe that you can save money by performing a DIY drain survey rather than hiring a professional, but is it worth it?
To begin with, these surveys are not particularly expensive, frequently costing less than a hundred pounds, so you are not saving a fortune for your budget!
Secondly, professionals will be fully equipped with industrial standard cameras and drain rods; when conducting a DIY assessment, you will most likely need to purchase or rent this equipment.
Then you’ll need experience to completely comprehend the footage and pinpoint the issue and jetting tools to clear away any small debris. You can buy the equipment on eBay and hope for the best, but cheap setups are prone to breaking or malfunctioning, resulting in a significant loss of time and money.
The best advice is to outsource your drain camera inspection to a professional company to carry out the CCTV drain surveys for you. In this case, If you are a resident of Brighton and the surrounding areas, you may decide to outsource this project to Regency Drainage Brighton. We can efficiently inspect in a professional manner and at an affordable cost.
