Do You Need A CCTV Drain Survey?
Getting to drain blockages can be challenging. A huge issue with sewer or drainage system problems is that they’re hidden in pipes or under the ground, so you can’t easily find out what’s going on.
A pipe can become blocked for many reasons. It might be a tree root that’s come through and caused the blockage, or the accumulation of debris that’s built up over time.
If a blockage occurs, especially deep in the pipe, it can be challenging to locate. Acting swiftly prevents further damage and potential flooding.
But how do you look at something this hard to see?

CCTV Drain Surveys
Drain surveys using CCTV involve having a specially designed camera fed down the drain. Live footage is sent back to a screen where the engineer can look at the blockage in more detail, uncovering what it is and where it is.
CCTV drain surveys are also useful with ongoing maintenance too.
Checking for Drain Problems
A CCTV drain survey shows you the current condition of your existing drains and those blockages can also be found.
Often drains are jet cleaned first too, which helps the CCTV image quality. In some cases, the jetting can also free the blockage.
With all this in mind, a CCTV survey is usually the fastest and most effective way to get to the bottom of the problem.
Other Uses for CCTV Surveys
It’s a great solution if you’re buying a property and you want to check the status of the drains when you move in too. That quick check early on could save you stressful repairs down the line.
Cleaning Your Drains with Water Jetting
Power jetting cleans your drains and can remove stubborn blockages. With water jetting, high pressure water is jetted along the drain cleaning. It needs to be carried out by a qualified engineer, as the high pressure can cause damage to the drain and the pressurised water comes from a special pump that creates a force of water powerful enough to break down any blockages.
Jetting at regular intervals or as part of an overall programme of preventative drain services also keeps drains and pipes free from obstructions and washes any debris away before it has the chance to become a blockage, causing problems later on.
Invasive Tree Roots
Drains are filled with water, oxygen and when organic material is flushed along them there are also nutrients that tree roots love. A small crack, or misplaced joint means an escape of water and a magnet for nearby tree roots.
The tree roots will follow the source of water and eventually grow through the pipe.
In extreme cases the tree roots will grow to fill the entire pipe, blocking your drain completely and slowing down your water flow. In the very worst examples, the pipes will collapse.
And big problems can require big solutions. In the worst cases it may be necessary to dig out around the drain and replace it. It’s a big job and so preventing this is a better solution.
Sometimes it’s possible to replace the liner of the drain to seal the crack but depending on the damage and nature of the root growth, digging out the drain might be the only option.
When root growth occurs water jetting can break down roots. Other methods involve sending chemicals along the pipe to dissolve the roots, the residue has a preventative effect too. Mechanical cutting is also used to remove roots and can be a lot faster than using water jets.
Tree root problems can be fixed, but it’s always better to deal with issues when they first appear, rather than fix them later, when it becomes a bigger job.
Final Thoughts
With any home maintenance issues, it’s much better to nip them in the bud and prevent future problems before you have to go to the expense and disruption of fixing them after the damage has occurred.
When it comes to drains it’s even harder to find the cause of a problem, but a CCTV survey can help identify issues, and regular jetting can help prevent problems before they occur. Easy.