How much does a CCTV drain survey cost?

If you're having problems with your drains and you seem to have tried everything to solve repeated blockages, it might be time to consider a CCTV drain survey. Once you've identified the problem, you should be able to move forward and get your drain unblocked.

The average cost of a full CCTV drain survey is £275, but it will vary depending on the size of your home, the type of survey and your location in the country. HaMuch has a large database of average prices based on your local area, but here is a breakdown of the average costs: 

Job description	Duration	Average total labour cost
Basic CCTV drain survey to identify a blockage	1 hour	£160
Full CCTV drain survey with report	3-4 hours	£275
Full survey with robotic crawler CCTV cameras	1-3 hours	£350
Full survey with push CCTV drainage cameras	3-4 hours	£500
Ground excavation	1-3 hours	£200

What does a drain survey involve?

A drain survey involves passing CCTV cameras down your drains to do an inspection of your drainage system. The cameras provide a live feed of your drains, so the engineer can get an in-depth look of your drains and see if there are any problems.

A CCTV drain survey is a useful tool if you are having repeated blockages or you suspect there is damage to old pipework. It’s important to remember that a CCTV drain survey only identifies any problems and clears minor blockages - you will have to pay separately, and potentially another drain specialist, to clear any blockages or repair any collapsed drains. 

Once an engineer has inspected your drains, they will tell you whether they have identified any problems and may recommend how to solve them. They may advise that you have your drains lined or have them rodded or jetted to clear blockages.

How long does a drainage survey take?

A drainage survey can take anywhere between 1 to 4 hours, depending on the type of investigation and how complex the job is. For example, larger houses tend to have a longer drainage system, so you should expect a basic CCTV drain survey to take longer than an hour if your property is large.

Basic CCTV drain survey

A basic drain survey will usually take around an hour to complete, and the engineer will tell you what the issues are once they’ve explored them. You won’t get a report or any of the footage, which is why it generally costs less and doesn't take as much time.

Full CCTV drain survey with report

A full CCTV drain survey can take between 3 and 4 hours. It includes an in-depth investigation of your drainage system and a detailed report of any issues the engineer found, along with a copy of the CCTV footage. The report will include a description of the condition of all the drains on your property as well as a map of all the drains.

Should you get a drain survey before buying a house?

If you're buying an old property, it is certainly worth considering getting a CCTV drain survey carried out before buying it. Older properties are susceptible to collapsed drains simply due to their age, as well as tree root ingress.

Generally, a full building survey will not include an inspection of the drains, but the surveyor may be able to tell you if they suspect any issues with the drains to help you decide whether you want to carry out a CCTV survey or not.

It is also worth having a look around the property yourself - can you see and access any manholes? Is there any damp on external walls near drain pipes, or can you smell anything that could indicate a blockage? If you notice any warning signs, it is probably worth getting a drain survey before finalising your purchase.

Is a drainage survey worth it?

If you suspect problems with your drains or you are already experiencing persistent blockages, a drainage survey is definitely worth it. A drainage survey will be able to identify whether the drains have collapsed, whether there are any blockages and will also tell you the condition of the drains so you know whether to expect any problems further down the line.

Although a full CCTV survey may seem like a big cost, it is important to remember that collapsed drains, if left untreated, can cause subsidence. The potential cost and hassle of subsidence to your property will be much more than the cost of a drain survey to identify any problems before they get too large.

Can I carry out a CCTV drain survey myself?

No, you cannot carry out a CCTV drain survey by yourself. You need specialist equipment to carry out the survey, and without proper training and experience you could damage your drains by trying to carry out a survey yourself. If you have already got a problem, you don't want to make it worse!

The best thing to do is to get a range of quotes from trusted drain specialists in your area. Use HaMuch to find local drain specialists who can give you a price for a CCTV drain survey at your property.

Estimates for common drain specialist jobs;

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