Drain survey Guildford: a camera look inside your pipes
A drain survey in Guildford uses a small camera to show the inside of a pipe, so decisions about repairs or repeat blockages rest on what is actually there. Ring and say what's prompting the question.
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CCTV drain survey Guildford: what the camera shows
A pipe is out of sight, so problems can sit there unnoticed. The picture from a camera turns a guess into something you can see.
Cracks and breaks
Fine cracks, longer splits and fully collapsed sections show up clearly on the screen.
Roots entering a joint
Roots appear as pale strands or dense mats coming in at a joint.
Displaced joints and sags
Where a pipe has shifted, there is a visible step or a low spot where water sits.
Build-up and debris
Grease, scale and silt show how much of the pipe bore is left.
Pipe material and layout
The picture can show what the pipe is made of and where it changes direction or meets another run.
When a drain survey is worth having
Tap the one that sounds like yours to ring about it.
- 01The same drain keeps blocking after being clearedCall
- 02Buying a property and want to know the drains' conditionCall
- 03Ground sinking or a damp patch along the pipe runCall
- 04A smell that no cleaning has shiftedCall
- 05Planning building work near or over a drainCall
- 06A drain that gurgles for no obvious reasonCall
A survey costs money, so it's fair to ask whether it is needed. If a single blockage was cleared and hasn't returned, it may not be. If it keeps returning or the property is changing hands, it is usually the more sensible spend.
How a drain survey works
The process is straightforward, and it helps to know what to expect before someone arrives.
Access to the pipe
The camera is put in through a manhole, a gully, an inspection point or a removed toilet pan, depending on the drain.
The pipe may need cleaning first
A pipe coated in grease or silt blocks the view, so cleaning can come before the camera. The drain cleaning page explains what that involves.
The camera runs along the pipe
It is pushed or fed along on a flexible cable while a screen shows the picture. Anything unusual is noted along with how far along the pipe it sits.
The findings are explained
You can ask for the recording and a written summary. Ask what each finding means in practice, not just its technical name.
After the survey: what the findings can mean
Many surveys find nothing that needs urgent attention, and that in itself is useful: a clean bill for the drains at a property you're buying, or the ruling-out of the pipe as the cause of a smell.
If the camera finds build-up, the next step is usually cleaning. If it finds roots, a break or a displaced joint, the options range from monitoring through to repair or replacing a section, and they are worth discussing before any work starts.
Building over or close to a drain can need the water company's agreement, depending on the pipe. If you are planning an extension, mention it when you ring so the survey can note where the pipes run.
Drain survey questions, answered
What is a CCTV drain survey?
It is an inspection in which a small waterproof camera travels through a drain while a screen shows the picture. The aim is to see the pipe's condition, find the cause of a problem and record it, without digging anything up.
Do I need a drain survey when buying a house?
It isn't a legal requirement, and a general building survey doesn't look inside the drains. A drain survey can show hidden damage, root problems or unusual pipework before you commit, so many buyers think it's worth considering.
Does the drain need clearing before a survey?
Sometimes. If the pipe is full of debris or standing water, the camera can't see the walls, so it may need clearing first. Ring and describe the symptoms, and ask whether that's likely for your drain.
Can a survey show where my drain runs?
The camera can show direction changes, and with a locating device the position and depth of a pipe above ground can often be traced. Ask whether this is included if you need it for planning work.
How much does a drain survey cost?
No figure is quoted here. The cost depends on the length of drain, how easy it is to reach, whether it needs cleaning first and what you want in the report. Ask what is included before you agree.
Want a drain survey in Guildford? Ring now.
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