CCTV drain surveys in South and West Wales
A camera inspection of underground drains for buyers, homeowners, landlords and businesses, with each defect logged by its distance from the starting manhole.
When a survey is worth having
A survey shows the condition of pipes you cannot see. It is most useful before you commit to something that depends on them.
Buying an older house
Clay drains under Victorian and Edwardian terraces can be cracked, displaced or full of roots.
Building an extension
Shows where the drains run. Building over or near a public sewer needs agreement from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.
Blockages that keep coming back
Finds the cause after the drain has been cleared, such as a sag, a root or a broken joint.
Insurance claims
Records damage to the pipe where subsidence or a leak is suspected.
Rats getting in
Broken pipes are a common way in for rats. A survey shows where the break is.
Taking on a rental property
A record of the drains at the start of a let or a management contract.
What the survey records
The camera runs between manholes. Each run is recorded separately so a defect can be found from the surface later.
| Item | Recorded for each run |
|---|---|
| Pipe details | Material, size and direction of flow |
| Defects | Cracks, fractures, displaced joints, roots, deformation and collapse, each with its distance from the starting manhole |
| Remedy | A suggested repair against each defect, such as a patch repair, a liner or excavation |
| Footage and stills | The video recording of each run, and stills of each defect |
| Written report | A PDF report with the defect list, sent within 3 working days of the survey |
Clearing before the camera goes in
A camera cannot see through standing water, grease or silt. If the drain is blocked or dirty, it is jetted first and the survey is carried out straight after, on the same visit.
If there is no manhole, the camera can go in through a gully or a rodding point.
What we need to book a survey
- The reason. Buying, building, repeat blockages, a claim or rats.
- Manholes. How many you know of and where, with photos if possible.
- Current state. Whether anything is blocked or slow now.
- Deadline. For purchases, the date you need the report by.
Questions about drain surveys
Do I need a survey before buying a house?
It is not required. Buyers of older properties often have one because a standard homebuyer survey does not inspect the drains in detail.
Can the survey go beyond my boundary?
The camera can follow the pipe into a shared sewer. Any defect found there is a matter for Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, and we note where the boundary is.
Do you carry out the repairs?
No. The report suggests a remedy for each defect, which you can take to a drain repair contractor or your insurer.
Other drain services
Book a drain survey
Tell us why you need the survey and where the manholes are. For a purchase, include the date you need the report by.