CCTV drain and pipe survey

Before major work it is critical to see what is actually happening inside the pipe. A camera survey is the only route to an accurate diagnosis without breaking ground, and we cover diameters from Ø40 to Ø1500.

When it is needed

• Recurring blockages — clearing solves it temporarily; the camera shows whether there is a structural defect.
• Slow drainage throughout a building — a sign of restriction in the main stack or the street connection.
• Unexplained damp and mould — where a fractured riser inside plasterboard boxing is suspected.
• Settling surfaces — a broken buried pipe washing out the ground beneath them.
• Before purchase or handover — to prove the infrastructure was laid correctly.

What we find

• Fractures, cracks and deformation in vitrified clay, PVC, concrete and cast-iron pipe.
• Tree roots through the joints of external drains and collectors.
• Displaced and sagging joints caused by ground movement.
• Construction debris, scale, silt and grease.

The equipment

For Ø40–Ø300 we use push-rod cameras with waterproof heads and a self-levelling image. From Ø300 to Ø1500 we deploy remotely operated crawlers with a lifting arm and a pan-and-tilt head for a full 360° inspection.

Every camera carries a locating sonde: we stop at the defect and mark the exact dig point at the surface with a Radiodetection receiver, together with its depth.